HEBREW WORD STUDY – HE WILL COME BACK – YESHAV  ושב  Vav Shin Beth

Deuteronomy 30:3: “That the LORD your God will bring you back from captivity, and have compassion on you, and gather you again from all the nations where the LORD your God has scattered you. NKJV

The word in Hebrew used for God will bring you back should be veheishiv which is in a second person singular masculine which it is not.  The word used in the Hebrew text is veshav which means He will come back. This is a verb used in a Qal conjunctive perfect singular masculine third person. The conjunctive perfect is a form not used in most modern languages including modern Hebrew or Israeli as it is more correctly known. The conjunctive perfect is sort of like an interjection which could be used to show a sense of irony. The irony here is that it is literally saying that God is going to redeem Himself. 

Such irony may likely be why translators will not translate it that way as is seems odd that God would redeem Himself.  But let’s look at the context. God is literally prophesying that Israel will one day go into captivity. In this context that would suggest something important not only to Israel but us as the servants of God. 

The word captivity in Hebrew is shaboth which comes from the root word shabah which means to be exiled in the sense of being turned away from a place which is rightfully yours or your home. Shabah could mean anything that takes you away from home; a business trip, a hospital stay, prison or anything where you are removed or turned away against you own wishes and desires. It is separation from home and family against your will. You are literally held captive. 

In this context it is referring to God scattering His people among all the nations. When we read about the captivity of Israel in 740 BC and Judah some fifty four years later in 586 BC we think in terms of tragedy something terrible or horrible.  When we think of someone in the hospital or in prison we think that is terrible and they are to be pitied. 

I was reading a book by Jim Bakker who spent time in prison which he admits was a terrible experience in his life but he also indicated it was a kindness by God.  I believe many of us remember a woman who recently received a presidential pardon from prison for a crime she did commit but was deemed to be an excessive punishment. During her time in prison she found the Lord as her Savior, she witnessed to other women in the prison and led them to the Lord and started a Bible study. She spoke of the kindness of God.  

That made think of something I read in the Talmud in Pesachim 87b.  “It was a kindness God did for Israel, that He scattered them amongst the nations…The people of Israel were exiled amongst the nations only so that converts be added to them.”  

This is where the conjunctive form of the verb yeshav becomes important.  Because what Deuteronomy 30:3 is saying is that God went with His people into exile and when they returned God also redeemed Himself from exile.  God went into exile with His people.  No matter where you find yourself, God is right there with you.  You end up in a hospital, a nursing home, homeless from financial reasons or disaster or forced to leave your home for months for a job you may wonder why God is doing this to you.  Yet, you might want to consider if this exile is not a kindness on the part of God, for He has not left you, He has followed you into your captivity.  He can use it to being you closer to Him or to reach others with His message of love and salvation. 

I recall the story of a missionary during World War II who taken into a Japanese prison camp for a number of years. She never asked God why or even asked to be released, she only said: “Lord show me how you want to use me.”  God used her in some amazing ways during her imprisonment, He was with her every moment in that prison camp and never left her. You can listen to her story on You Tube, Darlene Rose Deibler or read her book Evidence Not Seen on Amazon.  My personal relationship with God was changed after listening to her testimony as I am sure it will change your life with God.  

If you live your life always acknowledging that you are in His presence and everything you do you do as unto Him then you need never fear what happens in the future; economic collapse, pandemic, job loss, eviction or whatever befalls you. Satan will try to tell you that God has left you and let you down, but you only need to pray – not: “Lord get me out of this,”  but “Lord Your in the mud right here with me, how can I praise You and honor You in this mess.”  

Never forget that if you end up being toss overboard, God is right there treading water with you and if a great fish swallows you, like Jonah, that fish will have to swallow God as well.

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