Original Word: שׂבַע
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: soba`
Pronunciation: SO-bah
Phonetic Spelling: (so'-bah)
KJV: fill, full(-ness), satisfying, be satisfied
NASB: full, abundance, fill, fullness, fully satisfied, satisfied, satisfy
Word Origin: [from H7646 (שָׂבַע שָׂבֵַע - satisfied)]

1. satisfaction (of food or (figuratively) joy)

fill, fullness, satisfying, be satisfied

From saba'; satisfaction (of food or (figuratively) joy) -- fill, full(-ness), satisfying, be satisfied.

see HEBREW saba'

Word Origin
from saba
Definition
satiety, abundance
NASB Translation
abundance (1), fill (1), full (2), fullness (1), fully satisfied (1), satisfied (1), satisfy (1).

שׂ֫בַע noun [masculine] satiety, abundance; — absolute ׳לָשׂ Exodus 16:3 +, cstr שׂבַע Psalm 16:11, ׳לְשׂ Proverbs 13:25; suffix שָׂבֶעֶ֑ךָ Deuteronomy 23:25, שָׂבְעָהּ Ruth 2:18; —

1satiety as to food Ruth 2:18; ׳לָשׂ (לֶחֶםׅ אָכַל Exodus 16:3 (P), Leviticus 25:19; Leviticus 26:5 (both H), compare ׳לָשׂ Psalm 78:25; ׳אָכַלכְּ֗֗֗נַפְשְׁךָ שׂ Deuteronomy 23:25 eat grapes according to thine appeitite, (namely) thy fill, compare נַפְשׁוֺ ׳אָכַל לְשׂ Proverbs 13:25.

2 satisfying abundance, שְׂמָחוֺת ׳שׂ Psalm 16:11.

Overview

שׂבַע (sovaʿ) gathers into one word the ideas of fullness, satisfaction, and abundance—whether of food, joy, security, or blessing. Across its eight occurrences the term consistently links the experience of “having enough” with the gracious provision of God and the reliability of His covenant promises.

Contexts of Use

1. Divine Provision in the Wilderness
• Exodus 16:3 records Israel’s nostalgic complaint: “when we sat by the pots of meat and ate our fill of bread.” Their memory of שׂבַע in Egypt exposes their unbelief, while the ensuing gift of manna demonstrates that true satisfaction comes only from Yahweh, not from former masters.

2. Covenant Blessings on the Land
• Leviticus 25:19 and Leviticus 26:5 promise agricultural prosperity to an obedient nation: “you may eat your fill and dwell in security.” Here שׂבַע stands as a barometer of covenant health—abundance accompanies faithfulness, scarcity accompanies rebellion.
• Deuteronomy 23:24 applies the principle to everyday ethics, allowing a passer-by to “eat your fill of grapes” in a neighbor’s vineyard, yet forbidding exploitation. The Law safeguards both generosity and personal responsibility.

3. Mercy Toward the Vulnerable
• Ruth 2:18 highlights Boaz’s kindness: Ruth shares with Naomi what she had left “after she had eaten her fill.” The widow’s table, once empty, is now marked by שׂבַע because a kinsman-redeemer obeyed the spirit of the covenant.

4. Spiritual Satisfaction
• Psalm 16:11 shifts the word from the stomach to the soul: “You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.” Material fullness anticipates an unending communion with God.
• Psalm 78:25 recounts manna as “food in abundance,” reminding every generation that heaven supplies what earth lacks.
• Proverbs 13:25 contrasts the “righteous man” who “eats to his heart’s content” with the chronic want of the wicked; moral alignment with God underwrites genuine fullness.

Historical Significance

In the Ancient Near East, survival depended on predictable harvests; famine threatened covenant identity. By tying שׂבַע to obedience, the Torah embedded theological meaning into daily meals. Later writers—psalmists, sages, narrators—echo the term to trace a straight line from the Exodus, through the Conquest, into monarchy and exile: whenever Israel experiences fullness, the source is always covenant faithfulness.

Theological Threads

• Providence: Every appearance of שׂבַע, whether physical or spiritual, is credited to God. Even lawful gleaning (Ruth 2) is framed as the LORD’s kindness mediated through human agents.
• Security: Fullness is coupled with “dwell securely” (Leviticus 25:19; 26:5). Satisfaction is not mere consumption but a settled peace under divine protection.
• Eschatology: Psalm 16:11 projects fullness beyond temporal life into eternal joy, foreshadowing resurrection hope confirmed in Acts 2:25-28.
• Ethics: Deuteronomy 23:24 and Proverbs 13:25 teach that true satisfaction is never selfish; it fosters generosity and righteous conduct.

Christological Fulfillment

While שׂבַע never appears in the New Testament Greek text, its concept reverberates in Jesus’ ministry: “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to Me will never hunger” (John 6:35). The wilderness manna (Psalm 78:25) finds its ultimate expression in the incarnate Word who feeds multitudes and offers Himself as the lasting provision (John 6:51-58). The covenant promise of fullness thus climaxes in Christ, who “came that they may have life, and have it in abundance” (John 10:10).

Practical Ministry Implications

• Preaching: Use שׂבַע to proclaim God as the only source of genuine satisfaction, countering materialism and anxiety.
• Counseling: Direct believers struggling with discontent to the Psalms where fullness is rooted in God’s presence, not circumstances.
• Social Action: Ruth 2 and Deuteronomy 23 invite churches to practical generosity that turns others’ scarcity into fullness.
• Spiritual Formation: Encourage practices of gratitude and Sabbath rest, trusting the Lord of the harvest to provide “food in abundance.”

Summary

שׂבַע threads through Scripture as a witness that the God who redeemed Israel still delights to fill His people—body and soul—with every good thing. From wilderness manna to the risen Messiah’s promise of life abundant, fullness remains God’s gracious answer to human need.

לְשֹׂ֣בַע לָשֹֽׂבַע׃ לָשֹׂ֑בַע לָשֹׂ֔בַע לשבע לשבע׃ מִשָּׂבְעָֽהּ׃ משבעה׃ שָׂבְעֶ֑ךָ שֹׂ֣בַע שבע שבעך lā·śō·ḇa‘ laSoa lāśōḇa‘ lə·śō·ḇa‘ leSoa ləśōḇa‘ miś·śā·ḇə·‘āh miśśāḇə‘āh missaveAh śā·ḇə·‘e·ḵā śāḇə‘eḵā saveEcha śō·ḇa‘ Soa śōḇa‘Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts