Ḥ-W-B is the root of debt, something owed and not yet paid between two people. A wrong done becomes a debt, and to condemn someone is to declare them in debt. The Prayer speaks of our debts and pairs this root with Sh-B-Q, release.
| Form | Pattern | Script | Standard | Qala rendering |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ḥawbayn | noun + -ayn "our" (plural) | חובין ܚܰܘܒ݁ܰܝܢ | our debts | our debts (Matthew 6:12) |
| ḥawbta | noun, feminine: a debt | חובתא ܚܘܒܬܐ | debt | debt |
| ḥayavayn | noun: debtors, + -ayn "our" | לחיבין ܠܚܰܝܳܒ݂ܰܝܢ | our debtors | those in debt to us (Matthew 6:12) |
| mḥayev | Pael participle: active | מחיב ܡܚܰܝܰܒ݂ | condemns | condemns: declares in debt, holds liable |
| ḥubba | same letters, separate word | חובא ܚܽܘܒ݁ܳܐ | love | love: a separate root, Ḥ-B-B (day 13) |
In the Gospels the verb appears in the Pael, ḥayev, to condemn or declare in debt (mḥaybin, Matthew 12:7), and in its passive, the Ethpaal ʾetḥayav, to be condemned or held liable (tetḥayav, Matthew 12:37), while the simple stem appears only in the nouns.
Write two short lists, who owes you and whom you owe. Pray the line about debts from the Prayer, release one claim you keep returning to, and say ḥawba, debt, aloud.