Original Word: שְׁבָאִי
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: Shba'iy
Pronunciation: sheb-ai'
Phonetic Spelling: (sheb-aw-ee')
KJV: Sabean
NASB: Sabeans
Word Origin: [patronymic from H7614 (שְׁבָא - Sheba)]

1. a Shebaite or descendant of Sheba

Sabean

Patronymic from Shba'; a Shebaite or descendant of Sheba -- Sabean.

see HEBREW Shba'

Word Origin
from Sheba
Definition
desc. of Sheba
NASB Translation
Sabeans (1).

שְׁבָאִי adjective, of a people only plural as substantive, לִשְׁבָאִים (Baer Ginsb שְׁבָא֯יִם) Joel 4:8 ("" אֶלאגּוֺי רָחוֺק, compare Jeremiah 6:20 above), > ᵐ5 Me Now לַשְּׁבִי into captivity.

I. שׁבב (Late Hebrew שָׁבַב Pi`el hew; Arabic cut, Aramaic (Talmud) שִׁבָּא splinter, of Mandean diminutive שאבוניא Nö^{M 140}).

Identity and Etymology

The term designates a member of the ancient people of Sheba—a trading nation situated at the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula, across the Red Sea from East Africa. In Scripture they are renowned for commercial prowess, opulent wealth, and geographic remoteness, making them a fitting symbol of “the ends of the earth.” Although several ancestral lines named Sheba appear in Genesis, the group addressed by Joel almost certainly belongs to the South-Arabian kingdom that dominated the incense routes between Arabia, Africa, and the Mediterranean world.

Historical and Geographical Background

Archaeological and extra-biblical records locate Sheba’s heartland in what is now Yemen, with colonies extending into present-day Ethiopia and Eritrea. Their culture flourished through caravan trade in frankincense, myrrh, spices, gold, and precious stones. Monumental inscriptions speak of a highly organized monarchy, sophisticated irrigation, and temple complexes dedicated to astral deities—features that parallel the biblical picture of a wealthy, cosmopolitan power (compare the Queen of Sheba’s visit, 1 Kings 10; 2 Chronicles 9).

Role in the Old Testament Economy

Sheba’s strategic position made its merchants indispensable to Near-Eastern commerce. Ezekiel describes their role in Tyre’s global marketplace (Ezekiel 27:22-23). Isaiah envisions them bringing gold and frankincense in homage to Zion’s restored glory (Isaiah 60:6). Such passages confirm the Sabeans as archetypal long-distance traders whose wealth ultimately serves God’s redemptive purposes.

Joel 3:8—Prophetic Reversal of Captivity

Joel proclaims divine recompense upon the nations that plundered Judah:

“I will sell your sons and daughters into the hand of the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans, to a distant nation, for the LORD has spoken” (Joel 3:8).

Here the Sabeans function as an emblem of extreme remoteness and purchasing power. The prophecy dramatizes a complete reversal: those who exiled Judah will themselves be exiled beyond the farthest commercial horizon known to the prophet’s audience. The mention underscores three themes:

1. The universality of the LORD’s sovereignty—His justice reaches nations both near and far.
2. The certainty of covenant vindication—no wrong against God’s people escapes redress.
3. The missional breadth of God’s plan—wealthy peoples at the earth’s edge are drawn into the drama of salvation history.

Connections to Wider Biblical Theology

• Judgment and Mercy: As in Isaiah 45:14, where Sabeans “bow down” before Israel, Joel’s oracle anticipates the eventual subjugation—and possible inclusion—of all nations under Messiah’s reign.
• Wealth Redeemed: Gold and incense once used for idolatry (Matthew 2:11 alludes to Sheba’s commodities) become gifts for the true King, foreshadowing the eschatological transfer of resources to the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:24-26).
• Gospel Horizon: The Sabeans’ geographic distance prefigures the Great Commission’s command to disciple “all nations” (Matthew 28:19). God’s plan never stops at Israel’s borders; even the most remote traders are within His redemptive aim.

Ministry Implications

1. Confidence in Divine Justice—Believers may rest assured that God rights every wrong, however delayed or distant the process may appear.
2. Global Vision—The mention of a far-off mercantile people encourages the church to maintain a missions mindset that embraces unreached and resource-rich cultures alike.
3. Stewardship of Wealth—Just as Sheba’s riches ultimately serve God’s purposes, modern wealth should be leveraged for kingdom advance rather than self-indulgence.

Key References for Further Study

Joel 3:1-8; 1 Kings 10:1-10; 2 Chronicles 9:1-9; Isaiah 45:14; Isaiah 60:6; Ezekiel 27:22-23; Job 1:15; Matthew 2:1-12.

לִשְׁבָאיִ֖ם לשבאים liš·ḇā·yim lišḇāyim lishvaYimInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts