Sh-B-Q means to leave, let go, or release. Fishermen leave their nets, a fever leaves a body, a debt is cancelled, a wrong is let go. The Qala renders it release where most translations say forgive, to keep that plain sense of letting go.
| Form | Pattern | Script | Standard | Qala rendering |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| shvaq (šbaq) | Peal verb | שבק ܫܳܒ݂ܶܩ | to forgive, to leave | to release, to let go |
| shbuq | Peal imperative: "release!" | שבוק ܫܒ݂ܽܘܩ | forgive | release (Matthew 6:12, washbuq) |
| shuvqana (šubqānā) | noun in -ānā: the act of release | שובקנא ܫܘܒܩܢܐ | forgiveness | release |
| neshtveq (neštbeq) | Ethpeel imperfect: passive | נשתבק ܢܶܫܬ݁ܒ݂ܶܩ | will be forgiven | will be released (Matthew 12:31) |
In the Gospels the verb appears 158 times, mostly in the Peal, shvaq, to release or leave, and also in its passive, the Ethpeel neshtveq, will be released (Matthew 12:31).
Think of one grievance and what you feel you are owed. Close your hand around it for ten breaths, then open it as you breathe out and say shbuq, release.