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שָׂבַע

𐤔𐤁𐤏

sâbaʻ

H7646 verb

SILEX Entry

Root שׂבע to be full, to be satisfied, to have enough

Definition

To be or become satisfied, filled, or sated (primarily with food or drink, but also by extension with other things). Used both in literal senses (e.g., to eat or drink one's fill) and metaphorically (e.g., to be satisfied by abundance, by years, or with experience). May carry the nuance of reaching a state where no more is desired or needed.

Semantic Range

to be sated with food or drink, to be satisfied, to be filled (emotionally or otherwise), to have in abundance, to have enough, to be satiated, to be content, (rare) to be weary of abundance

Root / Etymology

From the root שׂבע (s-b-‘), which at its core means 'to be full' or 'to have in abundance.' The verb שָׂבַע (sâbaʻ) is the Qal form, indicating a state of being filled or satisfied. Derived forms (such as the adjective שָׂבֵעַ, 'full/satisfied') share this general meaning. The fundamental sense is completion or sufficiency, not just of material needs but sometimes of life span or experience.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In most occurrences, שָׂבַע describes being filled with food (e.g., after a meal, as a blessing or fulfillment of need). In poetic and wisdom texts, usage expands metaphorically to being 'full' in broader senses—content with life, satisfied with blessings, or, less commonly, weary with abundance (the latter nuance is rare and context-dependent). While English renderings such as 'satisfy,' 'have enough,' or 'be full' capture the typical meaning, the ancient context often included implicit ideas of security, sufficiency, and sometimes divine blessing. The term is distinct from similar verbs like מלא ('to fill') in that שָׂבַע stresses the result: not just something being filled, but the subjective experience of being satisfied. Standard English translations sometimes narrow the term to food, but its Hebrew scope is wider. In post-exilic usage, the metaphorical sense often predominates.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or שָׂבֵעַ; a primitive root; to sate, i.e. fill to satisfaction (literally or figuratively); have enough, fill (full, self, with), be (to the) full (of), have plenty of, be satiate, satisfy (with), suffice, be weary of.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שׂבע (ś-b-ʿ) — fullness, satisfaction, sufficiency, abundance

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H7647 שָׂבָע the fullness
H7648 שֹׂבַע to fullness
H7649 שָׂבֵעַ Sated-one
H7653 שִׂבְעָה satiety of
H7654 שׇׂבְעָה to full satisfaction

Word Forms

54 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H7646-50 יִשְׂבָּ֔ע yiseba HVqi3ms will have plenty he will be satisfied 11
H7646-23 תִּשְׂבַּ֥ע tiseba HVqi3fs be satisfied she will be satisfied 8
H7646-52 יִשְׂבָּ֖עוּ yisebau HVqi3mp shall be satisfied they will be satisfied 6
H7646-53 יִשְׂבְּע֥וּ yisebeu HVqi3mp are satisfied they will be satisfied 5
H7646-39 וְ/שָׂבָֽעְתָּ vesavaeta HC/Vqq2ms and are satisfied and you were satisfied 4
H7646-19 שָֽׂבְעָ֣ה saveah HVqp3fs filled she was satisfied 3
H7646-29 וּ/שְׂבַעְתֶּ֔ם usevaetem HC/Vqq2mp and be satisfied and you were satisfied 3
H7646-24 תִשְׂבַּ֑עְנָה tisebaenah HVqi3fp are satisfied they will be satisfied 3
H7646-35 וַ/יִּשְׂבְּע֣וּ vayisebeu HC/Vqw3mp and they were filled and they became satisfied 2
H7646-42 וְ/שָׂבֵ֑עוּ vesaveu HC/Vqq3cp and be satisfied and they became satisfied 2

Occurrences in Scripture

97 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H7646-11 Exodus 16:8 לִ/שְׂבֹּ֔עַ liseboa HR/Vqc to be satisfied to be satisfied
H7646-27 Exodus 16:12 תִּשְׂבְּעוּ tisebeu HVqi2mp you shall be filled you will be satisfied
H7646-26 Leviticus 26:26 תִשְׂבָּֽעוּ tisebau HVqi2mp be satisfied you will be satisfied
H7646-39 Deuteronomy 6:11 וְ/שָׂבָֽעְתָּ vesavaeta HC/Vqq2ms and are satisfied and you were satisfied
H7646-39 Deuteronomy 8:10 וְ/שָׂבָ֑עְתָּ vesavaeta HC/Vqq2ms and are satisfied and you were satisfied
H7646-39 Deuteronomy 8:12 וְ/שָׂבָ֑עְתָּ vesavaeta HC/Vqq2ms and are satisfied and you were satisfied
H7646-39 Deuteronomy 11:15 וְ/שָׂבָֽעְתָּ vesavaeta HC/Vqq2ms and you will be satisfied and you were satisfied
H7646-42 Deuteronomy 14:29 וְ/שָׂבֵ֑עוּ vesaveu HC/Vqq3cp and be satisfied and they became satisfied
H7646-42 Deuteronomy 26:12 וְ/שָׂבֵֽעוּ vesaveu HC/Vqq3cp and be satisfied and they became satisfied
H7646-38 Deuteronomy 31:20 וְ/שָׂבַ֖ע vesava HC/Vqq3ms and be satisfied and he became satisfied
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