Meshuvah (מְשׁוּבָה) means faithlessness, apostasy, or backsliding — the act and condition of turning away from God. It derives from the root shuv (to turn/return) but in a negative direction. It appears about 12 times, predominantly in Jeremiah and Hosea, who use it to describe Israel's chronic spiritual infidelity.
Jeremiah and Hosea are the prophets of meshuvah. Hosea 14:4 contains God's tender promise: 'I will heal their waywardness [meshuvah] and love them freely.' This is remarkable — God does not merely forgive but heals the disposition toward backsliding itself. Jeremiah 3:22 records God's call: 'Return, faithless people [meshuvah]; I will cure you of backsliding [meshuvah].' The word is both diagnosis and call to repentance. Apostasy is not the final word for those who return. God who called Israel first and Israel last will heal the very condition that makes them wander.