Biblical Meaning Of Renew And Restore
The concepts of "renew" and "restore" in the Bible encompass a range of meanings, often pointing to a return to an original or improved state, both physically and spiritually.
In the Old Testament, the Hebrew verb ḥādaš (חָדַשׁ) is frequently translated as "renew" or "repair" [7]. This verb appears in poetic and later texts. For instance, Psalm 104:30 states, "You send out your Spirit and they are created. You renew the face of the ground" [2]. This illustrates a sense of re-creation or revitalization of the natural world. Similarly, Isaiah 61:4 speaks of rebuilding and repairing: "They shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations" [3]. Here, ḥādaš is used in conjunction with other verbs of rebuilding, indicating a restoration of what was once ruined [7]. Another related Hebrew term is ʾarûkāh (אֲרוּכָה), which refers to the "healing of a wound" or "restoration," specifically the new flesh that grows over a wound. This term is used metaphorically for the healing and restoration of Israel or the rebuilding of walls, as seen in 2 Chronicles 24:13 and Nehemiah 4:1 [6]. The concept of "restoring" also appears with the Hebrew verb šûḇ (שׁוּב), meaning "to return" or "bring back." In Genesis 20:7, God commands Abimelech to "restore the man’s wife" [5]. In Psalm 51:12 (KJV 51:11), David prays, "Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation" [8].
In the New Testament, the Greek word palingenesia (παλιγγενεσία) is translated as "regeneration" and signifies a "new birth" [1]. It appears in Matthew 19:28, referring to the "restitution of all things," and in Titus 3:5, denoting a change of heart, a spiritual transformation [1]. This spiritual renewal is described as "passing from death to life" (1 John 3:14), "becoming a new creature in Christ Jesus" (2 Corinthians 5:17), and "being born again" (John 3:5) [1, 4]. Charles Hodge notes that terms like "new birth," "resurrection," "new life," and "renewing of the mind" are often used interchangeably in Scripture to describe the subjective change wrought by God's grace [10]. This renewal is not merely a superficial change but a profound transformation of the inner person, "renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him" (Colossians 3:10) [11, 13]. The Holy Spirit is understood as the author and finisher of this work of renovation [12]. The concept of being "renewed again" implies a prior state of renewal, as seen in Hebrews 6:6, where the author warns against falling away after having been "once" renewed [9].
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Regeneration — Only found in Matt. 19:28 and Titus 3:5. This word literally means a "new birth." The Greek word so rendered (palingenesia) is used by classical writers with reference to the changes produced by the return of spring. In Matt. 19:28 the word is equivalent to the "restitution of all things" (Acts 3:21). In Titus 3:5 it denotes that change of heart elsewhere spoken of as a passing from death to life (1 John 3:14); becoming a new creature in Christ Jesus (2 Cor. 5:17); being born again (John 3:5); a renewal of the mind (Rom. 12:2); a resurrection from the ”
- Psalms “You send out your Spirit and they are created. You renew the face of the ground. -- Psalms 104:30”
- Isaiah “They shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations. -- Isaiah 61:4”
- King James Version “[KJV] 1 Peter 1:23 — Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.”
- Genesis “Now therefore, restore the man’s wife. For he is a prophet, and he will pray for you, and you will live. If you don’t restore her, know for sure that you will die, you, and all who are yours.” -- Genesis 20:7”
- Brown-Driver-Briggs “[BDB H724] arukah — H724. arukah אֲרוּכָה noun feminine healing of a wound, restoration (properly the new flesh that grows at the wounded spot, Arabic ; FiJPh xiii. 114-6, so Fl De on Isa 58:8; see also Di) — ׳א2Chr 24:13; Neh 4:1; אֲרֻכָה Jer 30:17; 33:6; construct אֲרֻכַת 8:22; אֲרֻכָֽתְךָ Isa 58:8; — alwaysfig. a. healing, restoration of Israel Isa 58:8, here with verb צָמַח, elsewhere with עָלָה; Jer 8:22 (|| רָפָא), with עָלָה Hiph`il, subject ׳י, 30:17; 33:6 (|| id.) b. restoration of walls of temple 2Chr 24:13, of walls of Jerusalem (compare Fi above) Neh 4:1 (both with עלה).”
- Brown-Driver-Briggs “[BDB H2318] chadash — H2318. chadash [חָדַשׁ] verb only Pi`el (and Hithpa`el) renew, repair (in poetry and late) (Late Hebrew id., Phoenician חדש; noun חדש new moon, also in קרתחדשת new-city = Carthage; Aramaic and חַדֵּשׁ; Arabic be new, Ethiopic 1. 2. renew; Sabean החדתֿ, see Os (Levy):ZMG 1865, 204 MordtZMG 1876, 30; Assyrian [adâšu], uddiš, renew, eššu, new, etc. DlW 199 ff.) — Pi`el Perfect וְחִדְּשׁוּ consecutive Isa 61:4; Imperfect וַיְחַדֵּשׁ2Chr 15:8; 2 masculine singular תְּחַדֵּשׁ Job 10:17; Psa 104:30; וּנְחַדֵּשׁ 1Sam 11:14; Imperative חַדֵּשׁ Psalm 51:21; Infinitive לְחַדֵּשׁ2Chr 24:4, 1”
- MACULA Hebrew “Psalms 51:14 — Hebrew linguistic analysis (MACULA): Text: הָשִׁ֣יבָ ה לִּ֭ י שְׂשׂ֣וֹן יִשְׁעֶ֑ ךָ וְ ר֖וּחַ נְדִיבָ֣ה תִסְמְכֵֽ נִי Word-by-word: הָשִׁ֣יבָ = "restore" [7725] Vhv2ms; ה [1886j] Sh; לִּ֭ = "to" [3807a] R; י = "me" [2967a] Sp1cs; שְׂשׂ֣וֹן (śəśôn) = "joy" [8342] Ncmsc; יִשְׁעֶ֑ = "salvation" [3468] Ncmsc; ךָ = "your" [3509b] Sp2ms; וְ (wə) = "and" [2050b] C; ר֖וּחַ (rûᵃḥ) = "spirit" [7307] Ncbsa; נְדִיבָ֣ה (nəḏîḇāh) = "willing" [5082] Aafsa; תִסְמְכֵֽ = "sustain" [5564] Vqi2ms; נִי = "me" [5204a] Sp1cs”
- Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 6:6: If--Greek, "And (yet) have fallen away"; compare a less extreme falling or declension, Gal 5:4, "Ye are fallen from grace." Here an entire and wilful apostasy is meant; the Hebrews had not yet so fallen away; but he warns them that such would be the final result of retrogression, if, instead of "going on to perfection," they should need to learn again the first principles of Christianity (Heb 6:1). to renew them again--They have been "once" (Heb 6:4) already renewed, or made anew, and now they need to be "renewed" over "again." crucify to themselve”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 4: § 1. Usage of the Word. The subjective change wrought in the soul by the grace of God, is variously designated in Scripture. It is called a new birth, a resurrection, a new life, a new creature, a renewing of the mind, a dying to sin and living to righteousness, a translation from darkness to light, etc. In theological language, it is called regeneration, renovation, conversion. These terms are often used interchangeably. They are also used sometimes for the whole process of spiritual renovation or restoration of the image of God, and some”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 58: the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, as by the Spirit of the Lord.” Again, “Be renewed in the spirit of your minds” and “put ye on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” Again, “Put ye on 516 the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.” 310 310 2 Cor. 3:18 ; Eph. 4:23, 24 ; Col. 3:10 ; 2 Cor. 4:16 . Accordingly through the blessing of Christ we are renewed by that regeneration into the righteousness of God from which we had falle”
- Ephesians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ephesians 4:22: And be renewed in the spirit of your mind. Or by the Spirit that is in your mind; that is, by the Holy Spirit; who is in the saints, and is the author of renovation in them; and who is the reviver and carrier on, and finisher of that work, and therefore that is called the renewing of the Holy Spirit, Tit 3:5 or rather the mind of man, which is a spirit, of a spiritual nature, immaterial and immortal, and is the seat of that renewing work of the Spirit of God; which shows, that the more noble part of man stands in need of renovation, being corrupted by sin: and this”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, section 25: In the firmer case, the meaning would be, the believer is renewed after the image of his Creator. In the latter, the sense is that the renovation is after the image of the creator of the new man. According to the one mode of explanation the idea is more clearly expressed that man, as originally created, was endowed with true knowledge. According to the other interpretation this may be implied, but is not asserted. All that the Apostle in that case affirms is that the regenerated man is made like God in knowledge. But as the original man w”