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שֶׁבֶר

𐤔𐤁𐤓

sheber

H7668 noun

SILEX Entry

Root שבר to break, shatter, crush

Definition

Edible grain, typically referring to cereal crops such as wheat or barley, especially as procured for consumption or storage. The term denotes grain as a staple food, particularly in contexts of supply, trade, or famine relief, with a specific emphasis on processed or consumable form rather than standing crop.

Semantic Range

grain for consumption, provision of cereal, store of grain, food supply in times of famine; also (distinctly) fracture, breaking, collapse

Root / Etymology

From the root שבר (shin-bet-resh), which carries the core meaning 'to break, shatter, fracture.' The noun שֶׁבֶר (sheber) most frequently means 'fracture, breaking' in biblical Hebrew. Its use for 'grain' arises from the idea of kernels being broken off from the stalk, or from the general process of preparing grain for consumption (by threshing or grinding). Thus, the meaning 'grain' or 'corn' represents a specialized, secondary meaning developed by metonymy from the root sense of breaking.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, שֶׁבֶר as 'grain' is attested primarily in narrative and administrative contexts, notably in Genesis during the narratives about famine and the procurement of food from Egypt. The term emphasizes grain as an item for provision and survival. This sense is rare compared to the word's primary meaning ('breaking, fracture'). Its usage overlaps with but should be distinguished from דָּגָן (dagan), which refers more generally to grain as an agricultural product, especially in the context of offerings or harvest (Levitical terminology). English translations often render שֶׁבֶר as 'corn' (in archaic sense, meaning general cereal grain) or 'grain,' but the nuance of prepared or apportioned grain is often lost. The use of שֶׁבֶר for 'grain' is largely restricted to Genesis (esp. Genesis 41–47), reflecting Egyptian administrative language and practice of grain storage during periods of famine. The term later fell out of common usage for 'grain' in favor of terms like דָּגָן or בָּר. It should not be confused with שֶׁבֶר as 'fracture, breaking,' which is much more frequent and appears in prophetic literature and laments relating to disaster and calamity.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

the same as שֶׁבֶר; grain (as if broken into kernels); corn, victuals.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שבר (sh-b-r) — to break, shatter, crush

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4866 מִשְׁבֵּר in the birth-breaking of
H4867 מִשְׁבָּר your breaking waves
H7665 שָׁבַר I will cause to shatter
H7666 שָׁבַר the grain-dealer
H7667 שֶׁבֶר in breaking-of

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H7668-03 שֶׁ֖בֶר shever HNcmsa grain broken grain 5
H7668-02 הַ/שֶּׁ֔בֶר hashever HTd/Ncmsa the grain the broken grain 1
H7668-05 שִׁבְר֑/וֹ shivero HNcmsc/Sp3ms for his grain his grain supply 1
H7668-04 שִׁבְרָ֖/ם shiveram HNcmsc/Sp3mp their grain their broken grain 1
H7668-01 בַּ/שֶּׁ֖בֶר bashever HRd/Ncmsa for the grain in the broken grain 1

Occurrences in Scripture

9 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H7668-03 Genesis 42:1 שֶׁ֖בֶר shever HNcmsa grain broken grain
H7668-03 Genesis 42:2 שֶׁ֖בֶר shever HNcmsa grain broken grain
H7668-03 Genesis 42:19 שֶׁ֖בֶר shever HNcmsc grain broken grain
H7668-04 Genesis 42:26 שִׁבְרָ֖/ם shiveram HNcmsc/Sp3mp their grain their broken grain
H7668-02 Genesis 43:2 הַ/שֶּׁ֔בֶר hashever HTd/Ncmsa the grain the broken grain
H7668-05 Genesis 44:2 שִׁבְר֑/וֹ shivero HNcmsc/Sp3ms for his grain his grain supply
H7668-01 Genesis 47:14 בַּ/שֶּׁ֖בֶר bashever HRd/Ncmsa for the grain in the broken grain
H7668-03 Amos 8:5 שֶּׁ֔בֶר shever HNcmsa grain broken grain
H7668-03 Nehemiah 10:32 שֶׁ֜בֶר shever HNcmsa grain broken grain
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