Turned to Jehovah

Shuwb (7725) Yehovah (3068) without including Elohyim in the title—9 uses

Shuwb (7725) Yehovah (3068) with Elohyim in the title—9 uses

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In the Greek New Testament the use of the Old Testament phrase turning to the Lord is especially difficult to rightly divide when God is not part of the title. Nevertheless, in the Old Testament Hebrew turn to the Lord appears in reference to tuning to Jehovah eighteen times. Of these eighteen times fully half, nine, do not include God in the title. These are listed below in italicized print.

It is important to rightly dividing the New Testament uses of “turning to the Lord” that the full depth and importance of the Old Testament phrase is understood. The Hebrew verb, shuwb for “to turn” or “to return to” Jehovah, appears at the heart of the Isaiah 6:8-10 prophecy concerning Israel’s national blindness:

Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.

And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.

Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert (shuwb), and be healed.

These verses are referred to seven times in the New Testament: Matthew 13:14, Mark 4:12, Luke 8:10 as Christ’s wisdom in speaking of the kingdom in parables. Those who had been blinded considered the truths given in parables rather than rejecting them outright as foretold. In John 12:40 this prophecy is given as fulfilled. Despite his many miracles Christ was rejected by the nation. Lastly, this prophecy is cited again In Acts 28:25-27 and Romans 11:8 as fulfilled and in application. Hence, in Acts for anyone of Israel to accept the Lord Jesus Christ is for them to return to the Jehovah their Elohim. These events were miraculous occurrences longed for in heaven.

In 1 Thessalonians 1:9 the Gentiles don’t turn to the Covenant God, Jehovah, they turn to God:

For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;

This use occurs again when Paul and Barnabas are speaking to the Lycaonians in Acts 14:15

And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:

So also Acts 15:19:

Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:

Acts 26:18:

To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

Acts 26:20

But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

However, when the Old Testament phrase turned to the Lord is used in the New Testament, it always refers to believers of the nation of Israel turning from false religion back to the Living God, Jehovah:

Luke 1:16 And many of the children of Israel shall he (John the Baptist) turn to the Lord their God.

Acts 9:35 And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him (a man delivered under Peter’s minisry), and turned to the Lord.

Acts 11:21 And the hand of the Lord was with them (Peter and John in their ministry to the Jews): and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.

2 Corinthians 3:16 Nevertheless when it (the heart of those of the Judeans who were blinded) shall turn to the Lord, the vail (of Israel’s national blindness) shall be taken away.

Shuwb (7725) El (0413—to) Yehovah (3068)—14 uses

Deuteronomy 30:10 If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, and if thou turn unto the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul.

1 Samuel 7:3 And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.

2 Kings 23:25 And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the LORD with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him.

*2 Chronicles 15:4 But when they in their trouble did turn unto the LORD God of Israel, and sought him, he was found of them.

2 Chronicles 19:4 And Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem: and he went out again through the people from Beersheba to mount Ephraim, and brought them back unto the LORD God of their fathers.

2 Chronicles 24:19 Yet he sent prophets to them, to bring them again unto the LORD; and they testified against them: but they would not give ear.

2 Chronicles 30:6 So the posts went with the letters from the king and his princes throughout all Israel and Judah, and according to the commandment of the king, saying, Ye children of Israel, turn again unto the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and he will return to the remnant of you, that are escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria.

2 Chronicles 36:13 And he also rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God: but he stiffened his neck, and hardened his heart from turning unto the LORD God of Israel.

Psalm 22:27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.

Isaiah 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

Hosea 6:1 Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.

Hosea 7:10 And the pride of Israel testifieth to his face: and they do not return to the LORD their God, nor seek him for all this.

*Hosea 14:1 O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.

Hosea 14:2 Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips.

Joel 2:13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.

Shuwb (7725) ada (5704—particle preposition—even to) Yehovah (3068)—4 uses

Deuteronomy 4:30 When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice;

Deuteronomy 30:2 And shalt return unto the LORD thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul;

Isaiah 19:22 And the LORD shall smite Egypt: he shall smite and heal it: and they shall return even to the LORD, and he shall be intreated of them, and shall heal them.

Lamentations 3:40 Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD.

*shuwb is out of sequential order.