שֵׂבֶר
𐤔𐤁𐤓
sêber
H7664 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
An attitude or state of hopeful anticipation; 'expectation' as an inward disposition of awaiting a future outcome—often one that is favorable or wished for. In Biblical Hebrew, שֵׂבֶר (sêber) describes a future-oriented mindset, typically characterized by confidence or longing for relief, help, or positive intervention, and can carry emotional nuances of hopefulness, trust, or anxious waiting depending on context.
Semantic Range
expectation, hope, hopeful anticipation, longing, waiting in hope, confident or anxious awaiting
Root / Etymology
שֵׂבֶר derives from the root שׂבר, which means 'to look with anticipation, to hope.' The noun form abstracts the verbal sense into a state or feeling of hopeful anticipation. The root is used in Hebrew to denote the act of gazing into the distance, hence metaphorically expressing waiting for or expecting something to come.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In Israelite texts, שֵׂבֶר is relatively rare and is most notably found in poetic and wisdom literature to denote hope or patient expectation for adversity to be resolved, such as awaiting deliverance or relief from hardship (see Job 6:8; Psalm 146:5; Proverbs 10:28). The usage does not imply guaranteed fulfillment, but rather the inner attitude of hope. In contrast to other Hebrew terms for 'hope,' like תִּקְוָה (tiqvah), שֵׂבֶר emphasizes the personal, emotional experience of waiting, sometimes tinged with uncertainty. English translations as 'hope' or 'expectation' communicate most but not all of the nuance, especially the element of inward longing and the emotional dimension. In later periods, more technical or theological language for hope developed, but in biblical usage, שֵׂבֶר is tied to lived, immediate experience rather than doctrinal assurance.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from שָׂבַר; expectation; hope.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שׂבר (ś-b-r) — to look toward, to expect, to hope
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H7663 | שָׂבַר | I have watched expectantly |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7664-02 |
שִׂ֝בְר֗/וֹ | sivero | HNcmsc/Sp3ms |
is in | his hopeful expectation | 1 |
H7664-01 |
מִ/שִּׂבְרִֽ/י | misiveri | HR/Ncmsc/Sp1cs |
of my hope | from my hopeful anticipation | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7664-01 |
Psalms 119:116 | מִ/שִּׂבְרִֽ/י | misiveri | HR/Ncmsc/Sp1cs |
of my hope | from my hopeful anticipation |
H7664-02 |
Psalms 146:5 | שִׂ֝בְר֗/וֹ | sivero | HNcmsc/Sp3ms |
is in | his hopeful expectation |