Bible Lexicons

Girdlestone's Synonyms of the Old TestamentGirdlestone's OT Synonyms

Conversion

Two words answer to the English word conversion in the O.T. Haphac (הפך ), to turn, is used in Isaiah 60:5, 'The abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee.' Shuv (שׁוב ), to return, is the general word. It is found in Psalms 51:13, 'Sinners shall be converted unto thee;' Psalms 19:7, 'The law of the Lord is perfect, converting (or restoring) the soul;' Isaiah 1:27, 'Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts (or they that return of her) with righteousness;' 6:10, 'Lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert and be healed.' in these passages, with the exception of Psalms 19:7, the word is used in the active voice, and in a neuter sense, and might be rendered return. It is frequently used with a second verb to give the sense of 'again' or 'back.'

The LXX usually renders Shuv by ἐπιστρέφω, which is the general word used to represent the turning of the heart to God, whether from Judaism, idolatry, or sin, in the N. T see, for example, Galatians 4:9; 1 Thessalonians 1:9; James 5:19-20. The process called conversion or turning to God is in reality a re-turning, or a turning back again to Him from whom sin has separated us, but whose we are by virtue of creation, preservation, and redemption. The form is used in Matthew 18:3.