לחזור בתשובה
lachzor bitshuvah
To repent in Hebrew is לחזור בתשובה (lachzor bitshuvah).
The phrase means to feel sorrow or regret for what one has done or omitted to do. While it can be used in a general moral sense, it is most commonly used in a religious context to describe a person returning to a life of religious observance.
Meaning: to feel sorrow or regret for what one has done or omitted to do (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is literally composed of the verb לחזור, meaning 'to return' and the prepositional phrase בתשובה, meaning 'in repentance'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The present tense masculine singular form חוזר בתשובה can be used as a noun to describe a person who has undergone a religious or moral transformation, meaning 'one who repents' or 'a penitent'.
How do you pronounce it?
lachzor bitshuvah
When do people say it?
The noun תשובה (repentance) is a central concept in Jewish theology, implying a return to one's true self or to God.
Did you know?
- The word תשובה shares a root with the word for 'answer'. In a spiritual sense, repenting is viewed as providing an 'answer' to God's call or correcting a mistake in a conversation.
- In Jewish tradition, true תשובה is not complete until the person has made a tangible restitution to the human party they harmed, even if they have already prayed to God.
- The concept of תשובה is linked to the 'Days of Awe' between the New Year and Yom Kippur, where the process of returning is considered a formal seasonal cycle.
Examples in context
- היא רוצה לחזור בתשובה ולשנות את חייה.Hi rotza lakhzor bitshuvah ule-lashanot et khayeha.She wants to repent and change her life.
