סֵבֶל
𐤎𐤁𐤋
çêbel
H5447 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A load, burden, or something that is carried, referring both to physical objects placed upon someone or something for transport and, by extension, metaphorically to duties, responsibilities, or hardships experienced by individuals or groups. Semantically, the word covers the concrete sense of an encumbrance or weight as well as the figurative sense of an emotional, social, or political burden.
Semantic Range
load, burden, something carried physically, figurative burden or hardship, task or duty imposed, charge
Root / Etymology
From the root סבל (samekh–bet–lamed), which fundamentally means 'to carry a load, bear, endure.' סֵבֶל is a substantive form referring to that which is borne, i.e., the load or burden itself, rather than the action of bearing it.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, סֵבֶל most often denotes an actual, tangible load placed upon a person or animal for carrying (cf. Exodus 1:11, describing the forced labor and burdens of the Israelites in Egypt), but can also extend to describe metaphorical burdens such as oppression or heavy obligations (see, e.g., Job 7:20). During the monarchic period, usage tends to associate more with state-imposed labor or tasks, particularly under oppressive regimes. The term is distinct from similar Hebrew words such as מַשָּׂא (massa’), which can also mean 'burden' but often with a broader range including prophetic oracles. While most modern English translations render סֵבֶל as 'burden' or 'load,' nuances tied to forced labor and imposed hardship may be under-represented. The meaning of the term remains relatively consistent across periods, though in exilic/post-exilic texts it is often associated with hardship or suffering imposed by others, especially foreign powers. The term may be rendered in later translations as 'burden' or 'charge,' but care should be taken to recognize both physical and figurative dimensions in context.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from סָבַל; a load (literally or figuratively); burden, charge.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
סבל (s-b-l) — to carry, to bear, to endure
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H5445 | סָבַל | I will bear |
| H5446 | סְבַל | being set-up ones |
| H5448 | סֹבֶל | his burden-load |
| H5449 | סַבָּל | the load-bearer |
| H5450 | סְבָלָה | in their carried-loads |
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5447-01 |
בַּ/סֶּ֖בֶל | basevel | HRd/Ncmsa |
of the load | in the burden | 1 |
H5447-02 |
מִ/סֵּ֣בֶל | misevel | HR/Ncmsa |
from burden | burden-load | 1 |
H5447-03 |
סֵ֖בֶל | sevel | HNcmsc |
burden | burden-of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5447-03 |
1 Kings 11:28 | סֵ֖בֶל | sevel | HNcmsc |
burden | burden-of |
H5447-02 |
Psalms 81:7 | מִ/סֵּ֣בֶל | misevel | HR/Ncmsa |
from burden | burden-load |
H5447-01 |
Nehemiah 4:11 | בַּ/סֶּ֖בֶל | basevel | HRd/Ncmsa |
of the load | in the burden |