סָבַב
𐤎𐤁𐤁
çâbab
H5437 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To go around, encircle, or surround something, either physically or metaphorically. סָבַב is used for a wide variety of actions that involve circular, peripheral, or encompassing motion or position, whether literal (encircling a city or object, walking around an area) or figurative (changing direction, turning, shunning, turning attention elsewhere, or enveloping). In some cases, it denotes returning or coming back to a previous point, or causing someone or something to turn.
Semantic Range
to encircle, surround, go around, make a circuit, change direction, turn aside, besiege, envelop, cause to turn, bring around, return, avoid, shun, be surrounded, come full circle, turn attention
Root / Etymology
Root: סבב (Samekh-Bet-Bet). The root fundamentally means 'to turn,' 'go round,' or 'encircle.' The verb סָבַב is a simple stem (Qal) formation based on this root, and its semantics develop from the basic notion of circular or enveloping motion.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Throughout the Hebrew Bible, סָבַב is applied in a broad spectrum of contexts. In military narrative, it refers to encircling cities or enemies (often in besieging contexts—e.g., Judges 6:3). In narrative and descriptive language, it is used for making a circuit or journey around an area (e.g., Numbers 21:4). The verb appears in both active and passive senses, referring either to one who surrounds or the one being surrounded. While later English translations sometimes render it with anachronistic or idiomatic expressions (such as 'fetch a compass,' meaning 'to move around'), the basic idea of movement around or enclosure applies in nearly all biblical cases. Notably, the term can carry both a hostile sense (e.g., besieging or surrounding in threat) and a neutral or even positive sense (e.g., a festival procession, or a return journey). In poetic contexts, it can extend metaphorically to being surrounded by circumstances, people, or divine presence. Distinct from related roots such as סוב ('go around' in a more general or circuitous sense), סָבַב often implies a tighter circle or a complete enclosing action. Its figurative development in later Hebrew and post-biblical usage continues to expand, but in the biblical texts the primary senses remain rooted in motion and spatial relationship.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to revolve, surround, or border; used in various applications, literally and figuratively; bring, cast, fetch, lead, make, walk, [idiom] whirl, [idiom] round about, be about on every side, apply, avoid, beset (about), besiege, bring again, carry (about), change, cause to come about, [idiom] circuit, (fetch a) compass (about, round), drive, environ, [idiom] on every side, beset (close, come, compass, go, stand) round about, inclose, remove, return, set, sit down, turn (self) (about, aside, away, back).
Bantu Hebrew
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+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
סבב (s-b-b) — turn, encircle, go around, surround
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4036 | מָגוֹר מִסָּבִיב | from around |
| H4141 | מוּסָב | encircling structure of |
| H4142 | מוּסַבָּה | turned-around ones of |
| H4524 | מֵסַב | at his encircling couch |
| H5252 | נְסִבָּה | turning circumstance |
Word Forms
72 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5437-43 |
וַ/יַּסֵּ֨ב | vayasev | HC/Vhw3ms |
and turned | and he caused to turn | 12 |
H5437-44 |
וַ/יָּסֹ֨בּוּ | vayasobu | HC/Vqw3mp |
and they surrounded | and they encircled | 11 |
H5437-46 |
וַ/יִּסֹּ֥ב | vayisov | HC/Vqw3ms |
And he turned | and he turned around | 9 |
H5437-49 |
וְ/נָסַ֣ב | venasav | HC/VNq3ms |
and shall turn | and he turned himself around | 8 |
H5437-23 |
סְבָבֻ֤/נִי | sevavuni | HVqp3cp/Sp1cs |
surrounded me | they encircled me | 7 |
H5437-70 |
יִסַּ֣בּוּ | yisabu | HVNi3mp |
they turned | they will be surrounded | 6 |
H5437-27 |
סֹ֖ב | sov | HVqc |
Turn | to encircle | 6 |
H5437-36 |
תִסֹּ֤ב | tisov | HVqi3fs |
shall be transferred | she will turn around | 5 |
H5437-18 |
סַבֻּ֑/נִי | sabuni | HVqp3cp/Sp1cs |
surrounded me | they encircled me | 4 |
H5437-71 |
יִסֹּ֔ב | yisov | HVqi3ms |
let him turn | he will go around | 4 |
Occurrences in Scripture
158 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5437-04 |
Genesis 2:11 | הַ/סֹּבֵ֗ב | hasovev | HTd/Vqrmsa |
which surrounds | the one who encircles |
H5437-04 |
Genesis 2:13 | הַ/סּוֹבֵ֔ב | hasovev | HTd/Vqrmsa |
that surrounds | the one who encircles |
H5437-13 |
Genesis 19:4 | נָסַ֣בּוּ | nasabu | HVNp3cp |
surrounded | they were encircled |
H5437-35 |
Genesis 37:7 | תְסֻבֶּ֨ינָה֙ | tesubeynah | HVqi3fp |
gathered around | they will encircle |
H5437-46 |
Genesis 42:24 | וַ/יִּסֹּ֥ב | vayisov | HC/Vqw3ms |
he turned away | and he turned around |
H5437-43 |
Exodus 13:18 | וַ/יַּסֵּ֨ב | vayasev | HC/Vhw3ms |
led around | and he caused to turn |
H5437-10 |
Numbers 21:4 | לִ/סְבֹ֖ב | lisevov | HR/Vqc |
to go around | to go around |
H5437-12 |
Numbers 32:38 | מֽוּסַבֹּ֥ת | musabot | HVHsfpc |
whose names were changed | caused-to-be-encircled ones |
H5437-49 |
Numbers 34:4 | וְ/נָסַ֣ב | venasav | HC/VNq3ms |
and shall turn | and he turned himself around |
H5437-49 |
Numbers 34:5 | וְ/נָסַ֧ב | venasav | HC/VNq3ms |
and shall turn | and he turned himself around |