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שָׁבַר

𐤔𐤁𐤓

shâbar

H7666 verb

SILEX Entry

Root שבר to break, to deal in grain (denominative)

Definition

to trade in grain, to engage in the purchase or sale of grain supplies, typically in a commercial setting. By extension, to serve as a grain merchant or broker. In narratives, refers specifically to the act of obtaining grain during times of scarcity or famine, often from a central authority or royal granary.

Semantic Range

to trade in grain, to buy grain, to sell grain, to procure grain during famine or shortage, to act as a grain dealer

Root / Etymology

Denominative verb formed from the noun שֶׁבֶר (shever, 'grain' or 'broken grain'). The root שָׁבַר (ש-ב-ר) primarily means 'to break; to break open', but in this denominative usage, the verb means 'to deal in grain,' not 'to break.' The verb derives its specific commercial sense from the noun for grain or provisions.

Historical & Contextual Notes

This denominative sense of שָׁבַר is chiefly attested in Genesis 41–42 and related narratives, referring to the regulated grain trade in Egypt during famine under the authority of a central power (e.g., Pharaoh's administration in Joseph's story). The verb does not appear in this sense elsewhere in the Hebrew Bible and is distinct from the much more common use of שָׁבַר meaning 'to break.' English translations typically render this as 'buy grain,' but a more accurate sense includes both purchasing and other forms of acquiring grain through trade. The activity implies the existence of an organized grain market or distribution system. Later Hebrew and Aramaic retain related terms for buying/providing grain, indicating the enduring commercial sense.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

denominative from שֶׁבֶר; to deal in grain; buy, sell.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שבר (sh-b-r) — to break, to deal in grain (denominative)

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4866 מִשְׁבֵּר in the birth-breaking of
H4867 מִשְׁבָּר your breaking waves
H7665 שָׁבַר I will cause to shatter
H7667 שֶׁבֶר in breaking-of
H7668 שֶׁבֶר in the broken grain

Word Forms

13 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H7666-02 לִ/שְׁבָּר lishebar HR/Vqc to buy to trade in grain 4
H7666-06 שִׁבְרוּ shiveru HVqv2mp buy Trade in grain! 4
H7666-03 לִ/שְׁבֹּ֖ר lishebor HR/Vqc to buy to trade in grain 3
H7666-13 וְ/שִׁבְרוּ veshiveru HC/Vqv2mp and buy and trade in grain 1
H7666-10 וַ/יִּשְׁבֹּ֣ר vayishebor HC/Vqw3ms sold and he traded grain 1
H7666-01 הַ/מַּשְׁבִּ֖יר hamashebir HTd/Vhrmsa the one who sold the grain-dealer 1
H7666-04 מַשְׁבִּֽיר mashebir HVhrmsa him who sells it grain-dealer 1
H7666-08 תַּשְׁבִּרֵ֨/נִי֙ tashebireni HVhi2ms/Sp1cs you shall sell me you will supply me grain 1
H7666-09 תִּשְׁבְּר֧וּ tisheberu HVqi2mp you shall buy you will trade in grain 1
H7666-11 וְ/נַשְׁבִּ֣ירָה venashebirah HC/Vhh1cp that we may sell let us trade in grain 1

Occurrences in Scripture

21 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H7666-10 Genesis 41:56 וַ/יִּשְׁבֹּ֣ר vayishebor HC/Vqw3ms sold and he traded grain
H7666-03 Genesis 41:57 לִ/שְׁבֹּ֖ר lishebor HR/Vqc to buy to trade in grain
H7666-13 Genesis 42:2 וְ/שִׁבְרוּ veshiveru HC/Vqv2mp and buy and trade in grain
H7666-03 Genesis 42:3 לִ/שְׁבֹּ֥ר lishebor HR/Vqc to buy to trade in grain
H7666-03 Genesis 42:5 לִ/שְׁבֹּ֖ר lishebor HR/Vqc to buy to trade in grain
H7666-01 Genesis 42:6 הַ/מַּשְׁבִּ֖יר hamashebir HTd/Vhrmsa the one who sold the grain-dealer
H7666-02 Genesis 42:7 לִ/שְׁבָּר lishebar HR/Vqc to buy to trade in grain
H7666-02 Genesis 42:10 לִ/שְׁבָּר lishebar HR/Vqc to buy to trade in grain
H7666-06 Genesis 43:2 שִׁבְרוּ shiveru HVqv2mp buy Trade in grain!
H7666-12 Genesis 43:4 וְ/נִשְׁבְּרָ֥ה venisheberah HC/Vqh1cp and buy and let us procure grain
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