סְבָאִי
𐤎𐤁𐤀𐤉
Sevai
H5436 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A person originating from or belonging to Seba, an ancient region or kingdom mentioned in biblical texts, usually associated with Nubia or the Upper Nile area. The term is an ethnonym identifying an inhabitant or descendant of Seba, distinct from adjacent groups such as Cushites or Egyptians. The designation primarily serves a geographic and ethnic function and does not inherently indicate religious or social status beyond place of origin.
Semantic Range
inhabitant of Seba, person of Sebaite descent, member of the Sebaite community, ethnonym for group from the region of Seba
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root סְבָא (Seba), referencing the place name Seba, with the adjectival or patronymic ending -י indicating origin or descent ('of Seba,' 'Sebaite'). The root itself has no independent lexical meaning beyond the toponym.
Historical & Contextual Notes
סְבָאִי appears in post-exilic biblical texts (e.g., Nehemiah 7:47) as a designation for individuals or families associated with Seba during lists of temple servants returning from Babylonian exile. Seba is mentioned elsewhere in the Hebrew Bible as a distant, notable region in Africa (Genesis 10:7; Isaiah 43:3; Psalm 72:10). English translations often render this term as 'Sabean,' a form influenced by later Greco-Roman usage, but historically, it referred to peoples of the region broadly associated with the Upper Nile, not the South Arabian Sabaeans. Use of 'Sabean' in translations can obscure the connection to the Nile Valley and suggest a link to South Arabia that is not substantiated contextually. Usage in the Hebrew Bible emphasizes ethnic and geographic identity linked to Seba, with little reference to specific social or religious traits.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
patrial from סְבָא; a Sebaite, or inhabitant of Seba; Sabean.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
סבא (s-b-ʾ) — to surround, turn, go around (root); as a toponym, Seba
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H5433 | סָבָא | deep-drinkers |
| H5434 | סְבָא | Seba |
| H5435 | סֹבֶא | their intoxicating drink |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5436-01 |
וּ/סְבָאִים֮ | usevaim | HC/Np |
and-Sabeans | and Sebaites | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5436-01 |
Isaiah 45:14 | וּ/סְבָאִים֮ | usevaim | HC/Np |
and-Sabeans | and Sebaites |