סָבַל
𐤎𐤁𐤋
çâbal
H5445 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To carry or bear a load, whether physical or figurative; to endure a burden; specifically, to labor under a weight or hardship. The semantic range includes the act of physically lifting or carrying loads, as well as bearing figurative burdens such as suffering, hardship, or responsibility. In certain contexts, it can refer to enduring labor or toil, and in rare cases, to being pregnant (bearing a fetus as a physical burden).
Semantic Range
to carry a physical load, to bear a burden, to endure hardship, to be made to labor, to sustain suffering, to bear (offspring, rarely), to act as porter or laborer, to tolerate
Root / Etymology
From the root סבל, which conveys the core idea of bearing or carrying. The verb's form reflects the concept of transporting or shouldering a load, literal or metaphorical. Its derivation emphasizes physical endurance and the act of picking up, transporting, or tolerating a burden.
Historical & Contextual Notes
סָבַל predominantly appears in biblical Hebrew to denote the action of carrying or bearing something, frequently referring to physical labor or servitude, such as bearing loads as a porter or laborer (cf. 1 Kings 5:15). The term also develops figurative sense in later texts or poetic use, reflecting the enduring of hardships or sorrows (e.g., Job 7:20, metaphorical 'bearing' of error or suffering). It is occasionally distinguished from נָשָׂא, which often means 'to lift, carry' but is broader and can include forgiveness or removal of sin. סָבַל is more strongly associated with enduring the weight or difficulty of the burden. In Aramaic and later Hebrew, cognates continue to denote 'enduring' or tolerance. Modern translations may narrow the sense to 'labor' or 'bear', but the biblical nuance includes both physical and enduring metaphorical suffering. Usage is mostly found in the monarchy period texts, with rare poetic or wisdom literature appearances, diminishing in post-exilic Hebrew.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to carry (literally or figuratively), or (reflexively) be burdensome; specifically, to be gravid; bear, be a burden, carry, strong to labour.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
סבל (s-b-l) — to bear, to carry, to endure burden
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H5446 | סְבַל | being set-up ones |
| H5447 | סֵבֶל | in the burden |
| H5448 | סֹבֶל | his burden-load |
| H5449 | סַבָּל | the load-bearer |
| H5450 | סְבָלָה | in their carried-loads |
Word Forms
8 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5445-01 |
אֶסְבֹּ֑ל | esebol | HVqi1cs |
will carry | I will bear | 2 |
H5445-05 |
סְבָלָ֑/ם | sevalam | HVqp3ms/Sp3mp |
He carried them | he bore them | 1 |
H5445-06 |
וְ/יִסְתַּבֵּ֣ל | veyisetabel | HC/Vti3ms |
and drags itself | he will bear himself under burden | 1 |
H5445-03 |
מְֽסֻבָּ֫לִ֥ים | mesubalim | HVPsmpa |
well-laden | burden-laden ones | 1 |
H5445-07 |
יִסְבְּלֻ֜/הוּ | yisebeluhu | HVqi3mp/Sp3ms |
and carry it | they bear him | 1 |
H5445-02 |
לִ/סְבֹּ֔ל | lisebol | HR/Vqc |
to bear | to bear a burden | 1 |
H5445-08 |
יִסְבֹּֽל | yisebol | HVqi3ms |
will bear | he will bear a burden | 1 |
H5445-04 |
סָבָֽלְנוּ | savalenu | HVqp1cp |
have borne | we bore | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
9 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5445-02 |
Genesis 49:15 | לִ/סְבֹּ֔ל | lisebol | HR/Vqc |
to bear | to bear a burden |
H5445-01 |
Isaiah 46:4 | אֶסְבֹּ֑ל | esebol | HVqi1cs |
will carry | I will bear |
H5445-01 |
Isaiah 46:4 | אֶסְבֹּ֖ל | esebol-2 | HVqi1cs |
will carry | I will bear |
H5445-07 |
Isaiah 46:7 | יִסְבְּלֻ֜/הוּ | yisebeluhu | HVqi3mp/Sp3ms |
and carry it | they bear him |
H5445-05 |
Isaiah 53:4 | סְבָלָ֑/ם | sevalam | HVqp3ms/Sp3mp |
He carried them | he bore them |
H5445-08 |
Isaiah 53:11 | יִסְבֹּֽל | yisebol | HVqi3ms |
will bear | he will bear a burden |
H5445-03 |
Psalms 144:14 | מְֽסֻבָּ֫לִ֥ים | mesubalim | HVPsmpa |
well-laden | burden-laden ones |
H5445-04 |
Lamentations 5:7 | סָבָֽלְנוּ | savalenu | HVqp1cp |
have borne | we bore |
H5445-06 |
Ecclesiastes 12:5 | וְ/יִסְתַּבֵּ֣ל | veyisetabel | HC/Vti3ms |
and drags itself | he will bear himself under burden |