4519. sabaóth
Lexical Summary
sabaóth: Hosts, Armies

Original Word: σαβαώθ
Part of Speech: Hebrew Form (Indeclinable)
Transliteration: sabaóth
Pronunciation: sah-bah-OHTH
Phonetic Spelling: (sab-ah-owth')
KJV: sabaoth
NASB: Sabaoth
Word Origin: [of Hebrew origin (H6635 (צָּבָא צֶּבָאָה - hosts) in feminine plural)]

1. armies
2. sabaoth (i.e. tsebaoth), a military epithet of God

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Sabaoth, Lord of Armies

Of 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 Origin
of Hebrew origin tsaba in fem. pl.
Definition
Sabaoth, i.e. armies
NASB Translation
Sabaoth (2).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 4519: σαβαώθ

σαβαώθ (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 , the Lord of. But for the other view, according to which the heavenly hosts arc referred to, see Hackett in B. D., American edition, under the phrase, , Lord of, and Delitzsch in the Luth. Zeitschr. for 1874, pp. 217ff; so Riehm (HWB, under the word Zebaoth) as respects the use of the sphrase by the prophets). On the diverse interpretations of the word cf. Oehler in Herzog xviii., p. 400ff (and in his O. T. Theol. (edited by Day) § 195f; cf. T. K. Cheyne, Isaiah, edition 3 vol. i. 11f)): Romans 9:29; James 5:4.

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.
2. James 5:4 confronts wealthy oppressors: “The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of Hosts”. James invokes the title to assure exploited laborers that the Almighty Warrior hears and will act in righteous 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 Sabaṑth
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Romans 9:29 Heb
GRK: 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
GRK: ὦτα Κυρίου Σαβαὼθ εἰσεληλύθασιν
NAS: the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.
KJV: the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.
INT: ears of [the] Lord of Hosts have entered

Strong's Greek 4519
2 Occurrences


Σαβαὼθ — 2 Occ.

4518
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