Lexical Summary sabaóth: Hosts, Armies Original Word: σαβαώθ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Sabaoth, Lord of ArmiesOf Hebrew origin (tsaba' in feminine plural); armies; sabaoth (i.e. Tsebaoth), a military epithet of God -- sabaoth. see HEBREW tsaba' HELPS Word-studies 4519 sabaṓth (the Greek transliteration of the Hebrew term, bā̓āh, OT 6635) – host(s), an innumerable throng (limitless company). 4519 /sabaṓth ("the Lord of hosts") only occurs in Ro 9:29 and Js 4:5, and correlates to the familiar phrase, "the Lord of hosts" in the OT and LXX. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof Hebrew origin tsaba in fem. pl. Definition Sabaoth, i.e. armies NASB Translation Sabaoth (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4519: σαβαώθσαβαώθ (Hebrew צְבָאות, plural of צָבָא, an army): κύριος σαβαώθ (צְבָאות יְהוָה) (A. V. Lord of Sabaoth), i. e. lord of the armies namely, of Israel, as those who under the leadership and protection of Jehovah maintain his cause in war (cf. Schrader, Ueber d. ursprüngl. Sinn des Gottesnamens Jahve Zebaoth, in the Jahrbb. f. protest. Theol. for 1875, p. 316ff, and in Schenkel see 702f; cf. Herm. Schultz, Alttest. Theol. ii., p. 96ff; (B. D. under the word Topical Lexicon Designation and Meaning Σαβαώθ (Sabaōth) is the Greek transliteration of the Hebrew צְבָאוֹת (tseba’oth, “hosts, armies”). Coupled with κύριος (“Lord”), it forms the title “Lord of Hosts,” presenting God as Commander-in-Chief of the angelic armies and sovereign over all cosmic and earthly powers. Old Testament Background “Yahweh Sabaoth” appears more than two hundred times in the Hebrew Scriptures, especially in 1 Samuel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Zechariah. The title is invoked in contexts of covenant warfare, prophetic warning, and eschatological hope. It underlines God’s power to protect His people (1 Samuel 17:45), to discipline them (Jeremiah 25:8-9), and to bring final victory (Zechariah 14:16-17). The hosts encompass both celestial armies (Psalm 103:20-21) and all created forces marshalled for God’s purposes (Genesis 2:1). Septuagint Usage Greek translators normally rendered the Hebrew phrase as Κύριος Σαβαώθ, preserving the Hebrew word for “hosts” rather than translating it. This choice retained its martial and majestic overtones while reminding Greek readers of the sacred name. New Testament Occurrences 1. Romans 9:29 cites Isaiah 1:9: “If the Lord of Hosts had not left us descendants, we would have become like Sodom”. Paul appeals to the title to emphasize God’s sovereign mercy in preserving a remnant within Israel despite deserved judgment. Theological Themes Sovereignty: “Lord of Hosts” magnifies God’s unrivaled authority over every power. Protection and Remnant: The title signals divine safeguarding of a faithful nucleus, guaranteeing the continuity of God’s redemptive plan (Isaiah 10:21-22; Romans 11:5). Judgment: Invoked when injustice reaches heaven’s courts, it warns oppressors that the Commander’s armies stand poised for action (James 5:5-6; Malachi 3:5). Eschatology: Prophets employ “Lord of Hosts” when describing the Day of the Lord, linking the title with final victory and universal worship (Zechariah 14:9, 16). Practical and Ministerial Implications Pastoral Comfort: Believers facing persecution can rest in the assurance that the Lord of Hosts surrounds them (2 Kings 6:17) and will vindicate them (Romans 12:19). Social Ethics: The title undergirds biblical teaching on justice; those who exploit the vulnerable stand before the Commander of angelic armies (James 5:1-4). Mission and Prayer: Invoking the Lord of Hosts in prayer aligns the Church with heaven’s forces, strengthening confidence for evangelism and spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:10-18). Christological Connection The New Testament implicitly identifies Jesus Christ with the Lord of Hosts. He commands legions of angels (Matthew 26:53), conquers demonic powers (Colossians 2:15), and will return “with the armies of heaven” (Revelation 19:14-16). Thus, the title enriches Christology by portraying the risen Lord as the Divine Warrior who secures redemption and executes final judgment. Worship and Devotional Application Hymns such as “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” echo the theme of God’s martial sovereignty. In corporate worship, addressing God as “Lord of Hosts” fosters reverence, courage, and a missionary spirit. Related Names of God Lord Almighty (Pantokrator) – emphasizes omnipotence. Lord, the King of Glory – focuses on royal majesty. Lord, the God of Heaven’s Armies – an English paraphrase bringing together both dominion and martial imagery. The two New Testament uses of Σαβαώθ anchor the ancient title within apostolic teaching, reminding every generation that the same Lord who commands angelic hosts remains faithful to preserve, protect, and ultimately perfect His people. Forms and Transliterations εσαββάτισεν Σαβαωθ Σαβαώθ Σαβαὼθ σαββατιεί σαββατιείτε σαββατίσαι Sabaoth Sabaōth SabaṑthLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Romans 9:29 HebGRK: μὴ Κύριος Σαβαὼθ ἐγκατέλιπεν ἡμῖν NAS: THE LORD OF SABAOTH HAD LEFT KJV: Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us INT: not [the] Lord of Hosts had left us James 5:4 Heb |