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שִׁבֹּל

𐤔𐤁𐤋

shibbôl

H7641 noun

SILEX Entry

Root שׁבל to flow, project, extend outward

Definition

A stream or channel of water (as a current or flowing body); also, an ear of grain (as the part projecting from the stalk); by extension in some contexts, a sprout or branch. The term denotes either a moving stream of water or the mature head of grain, depending on context. In rare cases, it can refer metaphorically to abundance or growth.

Semantic Range

stream, channel (of water), ear (head) of grain, branch (rare), sprout, projection or outgrowth

Root / Etymology

From the root שׁבל (sh-b-l), meaning 'to flow' or 'to project/extend outward.' The noun שִׁבֹּל (shibbôl) is a derivative signifying that which flows (stream/channel) or projects from something (an ear or head of grain). The root meaning focuses on a physical extension or flowing motion, which applies metaphorically to both water and grain.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, שִׁבֹּל most commonly refers to a stream or channel of water, especially in poetic or descriptive contexts (e.g., Job 24:24), and to an ear of grain, particularly in agricultural settings (e.g., Genesis 41:5). In agricultural usage, the word signifies the mature part of cereal plants that contains the seeds. The distinction between the two senses is based on context, and both probably developed from a shared underlying idea of projection or flowing forth. The related term שֹׁבֶל (shôvel) is often used for the flowing hem of a garment or a tail, showing a similar semantic extension. In Judges 12:6, שִׁבֹּלֶת (shibbôleth) is famously used as a pronunciation shibboleth, marking linguistic identity, but this is a special case; the meaning there is not the word’s primary sense. English translations usually capture either 'stream' or 'ear of grain' depending on context but do not always reflect the full semantic flexibility seen in Hebrew. The association with 'branch' is rare and generally reflects later or metaphorical usage.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or (feminine) שִׁבֹּלֶת; from the same as שֹׁבֶל; a stream (as flowing); also an ear of grain (as growing out); by analogy, a branch; branch, channel, ear (of corn), (water-)flood, Shibboleth. Compare סִבֹּלֶת.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שׁבל (sh-b-l) — to flow, project, extend outward

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H788 אַשְׁבֵּל Ashbel

Word Forms

7 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H7641-01 הַ/שִּׁבֳּלִ֣ים hashibolim HTd/Ncfpa ears of grain the grain-heads 6
H7641-05 שִׁבֳּלִ֗ים shibolim HNcfpa ears of grain projecting heads of grain 6
H7641-04 שִׁבֹּ֜לֶת shibolet HNcfsa flood projecting ear 3
H7641-06 בַ/שִׁבֳּלִ֔ים vashibolim HRd/Ncfpa among the ears projecting heads 1
H7641-02 מִ/שִּׁבֹּ֥לֶת mishibolet HR/Ncfsc from the channel from a flowing channel 1
H7641-07 וְ/שִׁבֹּ֥לֶת veshibolet HC/Ncfsa and flood and stream 1
H7641-03 שִׁבֲּלֵ֣י shibaley HNcfpc branches ears of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

19 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H7641-05 Genesis 41:5 שִׁבֳּלִ֗ים shibolim HNcfpa ears of grain projecting heads of grain
H7641-05 Genesis 41:6 שִׁבֳּלִ֔ים shibolim HNcfpa ears (of grain) projecting heads of grain
H7641-01 Genesis 41:7 הַ/שִּׁבֳּלִ֣ים hashibolim HTd/Ncfpa ears the grain-heads
H7641-01 Genesis 41:7 הַֽ/שִּׁבֳּלִ֔ים hashibolim-2 HTd/Ncfpa ears the grain-heads
H7641-05 Genesis 41:22 שִׁבֳּלִ֗ים shibolim HNcfpa ears of grain projecting heads of grain
H7641-05 Genesis 41:23 שִׁבֳּלִ֔ים shibolim HNcfpa heads of grain projecting heads of grain
H7641-01 Genesis 41:24 הָ/שִׁבֳּלִ֣ים hashibolim HTd/Ncfpa ears of grain the grain-heads
H7641-01 Genesis 41:24 הַֽ/שִׁבֳּלִ֖ים hashibolim-2 HTd/Ncfpa ears of grain the grain-heads
H7641-01 Genesis 41:26 הַֽ/שִּׁבֳּלִים֙ hashibolim HTd/Ncfpa ears the grain-heads
H7641-01 Genesis 41:27 הַֽ/שִׁבֳּלִים֙ hashibolim HTd/Ncfpa ears of grain the grain-heads
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