Original Word: שְׁבִי
Part of Speech: noun masculine; Adjective; noun masculine; noun feminine
Transliteration: shbiy
Pronunciation: sheb-ee'
Phonetic Spelling: (sheb-ee')
KJV: captive(-ity), prisoners, X take away, that was taken
Word Origin: [from H7618 (שְׁבוּ - agate)]

1. exiled
2. captured
3. (as noun) exile (abstractly or concretely and collectively)
4. (by extension) plunder

captivity, prisoners, take away, that was taken

From shbuw; exiled; captured; as noun, exile (abstractly or concretely and collectively); by extension, booty -- captive(-ity), prisoners, X take away, that was taken.

see HEBREW shbuw

שְׁבִי noun masculine^{Isaiah 49:24} captivity, captives (collective); — ׳שׁ absolute Exodus 12:29 +, construct Ezra 2:1 +; שֶׁ֑בִי Numbers 21:1 +; suffix שֶׁבְיְךָ Judges 5:12, שִׁבְיוֺ Deuteronomy 21:10, שְׁבִיכֶם Numbers 31:19, etc.; —

1 = state of captivity, ׳הָלַךְ בַּשְּׁ Amos 9:4; Deuteronomy 28:41; Nahum 3:10; Jeremiah 20:6; Jeremiah 22:22; Jeremiah 30:16; Ezekiel 12:11 (+ בַּגּוֺלָה) Ezekiel 30:17,18; Isaiah 46:2; Lamentations 1:18, = הָלַךְ שְׁבִי Lamentations 1:5 בַּשְּׁבִי יָבִא Daniel 11:8; ׳נָתַן בַּשְּׁ Ezra 9:7, ׳נָתַן לַשְּׁ Psalm 78:61, לֻקַּח בַּשֶּׁ֑בִי Jeremiah 48:46;וַאֲשֶׁר לַשְּׁבִי לַשֶּׁ֑בִי Jeremiah 15:2; Jeremiah 43:11, ׳וְנָשֵׁינוּ בַּשְּׁ2Chronicles 29:9 בִּשְׁבִי instrument of judgment Daniel 11:33; ׳אֶרֶץ שׁ Jeremiah 30:10; Jeremiah 46:27; 2Chronicles 6:37,38; phrase of deliverance (only Ezra Nehemiah): ׳נִשְׁאֲרוּ מִןהַֿשְּׁ Nehemiah 1:2, cf .Nehemiah 1:3, ׳הַשָּׁבִים מִןהַֿשְּׁ Nehemiah 8:17, הָעֹלִים מִשְּׁבִי הַגּוֺלָה Ezra 2:1 = Nehemiah 7:6, ׳הַבָּאִים מֵהַשְּׁ Ezra 3:8; Ezra 8:35.

2 act of capture, סוּסֵיכֶם ׳עִם שׁ Amos 4:10; שִׁמְלַת שִׁבְיָהּ Deuteronomy 21:13 i. e. garb in which she was captured (> others captivity, in both: Amos 4:10 = your captive horses; Deuteronomy 21:13 he captive's garb).

3 = captives (coll): Exodus 12:29 (J), Numbers 31:12,19,26 (man and beast), Isaiah 20:4 ("" גָּלוּת Isaiah 49:24,25; Habakkuk 1:9 + Ezekiel 32:9 ᵐ5 and others (see שֶׁבֶר near the end); apparently feminine singular Isaiah 52:2 (but see שָׁבִי); object of שָׁבָה (q. v.) Judges 5:12 (> שֹׁבֶיךָ ᵑ6 JDMich We Bu Now), Numbers 21:1 (JE), Deuteronomy 21:10; Psalm 68:19; 2Chronicles 28:17.

שָׁבִי adjective or

noun masculine whence] שְׁבִיָּה

noun feminine captive (compare Rahlfs^{עני u. ענר in Psalm 63}); — בַּתצִֿיּוֺן ׳שׁ Isaiah 52:2b (Bev^{JPhII. xcii (1888) p.127 ingeniously}, שְׁבִי הַבַּת, ׳וגו compare "" שְׁבִי, v^{a and, on {abbrev}}הַבּ, Lamentations 2:13; read also יְרוּשָׁלָ֑םִ ׳שׁ v^a (for שְׁבִי) Oort Bu Du Che^HParticiple Marti.

Semantic Range and Conceptual Overview

שְׁבִי (shebi) denotes both the condition of captivity and the persons who are carried away as prisoners or spoil. The term ranges from the literal removal of populations after military defeat to the figurative description of spiritual bondage. It also embraces the goods, livestock, and wealth seized in warfare. While the word is rooted in ancient Near Eastern warfare, Scripture employs it to unfold larger theological themes of judgment, mercy, and ultimate restoration.

Occurrences and Literary Distribution

Approximately forty-seven occurrences appear across the Old Testament:
• Pentateuch – From the Amorite raid in Numbers 21:1 to the regulations concerning the foreign woman taken in war (Deuteronomy 21:10-14; 28:41).
• Historical Books – Descriptions of plunder in Numbers 31; the Amalekite raid on Ziklag (1 Samuel 30:2-19); Assyrian and Babylonian deportations (2 Kings 24:12-16).
• Wisdom and Poetry – Reflective use in Job 42:10 and multiple psalms (Psalm 14:7; 53:6; 68:18; 85:1; 126:1, 4).
• Prophets – Announcements of judgment and promises of release (Isaiah 20:4; 45:13; 49:24-25; 61:1; Jeremiah 29:14; Amos 1:6, 9).

Judgment and Consequence of Sin

Recurrent references present captivity as the covenantal penalty for rebellion. Deuteronomy 28:41 warns, “You will have sons and daughters, but they will not be yours, for they will go into captivity.” The Babylonian exile actualizes this threat (2 Kings 24:14-16; Jeremiah 13:19). Captivity therefore functions as a sobering testimony to divine justice.

Divine Sovereignty in Deliverance

Even in judgment, God reserves the right to reclaim His people. Psalm 85:1 celebrates a national restoration: “You showed favor to Your land, O LORD; You restored Jacob from captivity.” Job’s personal reversal mirrors the corporate hope: “After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his prosperity and doubled all that he had possessed” (Job 42:10). The recurring refrain “restore our captives” (Psalm 126:4) turns captivity into a canvas for showcasing covenant faithfulness.

Hope of Restoration

Prophetic literature repeatedly couples שְׁבִי with deliverance promises. Jeremiah 29:14 assures the exiles, “I will be found by you... and restore you from captivity.” Isaiah broadens the scope to include the nations: “Can plunder be taken from a warrior?... I will contend with those who contend with you, and I will save your children” (Isaiah 49:24-25). The same book portrays the Servant announcing “freedom to the captives” (Isaiah 61:1), foreshadowing the Messiah’s ministry.

The Captive Woman in Deuteronomy 21

Deuteronomy 21:10-14 regulates the treatment of a female captive, curbing ancient war practices. The Israelite warrior must permit her a month of mourning, honor her personhood, and release her if he cannot uphold marital responsibilities. The law transforms a symbol of conquest into an occasion for mercy, asserting that even the defeated bear God’s image.

Warfare and Spoil

Numbers 31 offers the fullest narrative on the distribution of שְׁבִי, differentiating between people and material goods, and allocating a sacred share to both the warriors and the sanctuary (Numbers 31:26-30). The passage underlines that victory and its proceeds are ultimately owned by the LORD.

Liturgical and Messianic Dimensions

Psalm 68:18 pictures God as the triumphant King: “When You ascended on high, You led captives; You received gifts from men, even from the rebellious, that the LORD God might dwell there.” The New Testament cites this verse (Ephesians 4:8) to describe Christ’s ascension, re-casting captivity in terms of defeated spiritual powers and distributed grace-gifts.

Practical Ministry Applications

1. Intercession for the oppressed. Psalm 126:4 models prayer for those in captivity today.
2. Gospel proclamation. Isaiah 61:1 motivates ministries aimed at spiritual and social liberation.
3. Pastoral counseling. Job 42:10 encourages sufferers that God can reverse the most desperate “captivity.”
4. Ethical treatment of the vulnerable. Deuteronomy 21:10-14 informs a biblical ethic toward refugees and victims of human trafficking.

Related Hebrew and Greek Terms

While שְׁבִי focuses on the state or persons of captivity, related Hebrew words such as גּוֹלָה (exile) highlight displacement, and שָׁבָה (to take captive) stresses the act. In the Septuagint, terms like aichmalōsia and aichmalōtos carry the concept into Greek, enabling New Testament writers to draw on the imagery.

Summary

שְׁבִי threads through Scripture as a dual sign of judgment and redemption. It warns of the cost of covenant infidelity, yet it also magnifies the LORD’s power to rescue, restore, and ultimately triumph over every form of bondage through the Messiah who “led captives” in His train and gives gifts to His people.

בִּשְׁבִ֥י בַּשְּׁבִ֔ית בַּשְּׁבִ֖י בַּשְּׁבִ֣י בַּשְּׁבִ֥י בַּשְּׁבִ֧י בַּשֶּֽׁבִי׃ בַּשֶּׁ֑בִי בַּשֶּׁ֔בִי בַשְּׁבִ֖י בַשְּׁבִי֙ בַשֶּֽׁבִי׃ בַשֶּׁ֔בִי בשבי בשבי׃ בשבית הַשְּׁבִ֔י הַשְּׁבִ֥י ׀ הַשְּׁבִ֧י הַשְּׁבִי֙ הַשֶּׁ֖בִי השבי וּֽשֲׁבֵ֥ה וּשְׁבִיכֶֽם׃ ושבה ושביכם׃ לַשְּׁבִ֖י לַשְּׁבִ֣י לַשְּׁבִי֙ לַשֶּֽׁבִי׃ לַשֶּׁ֔בִי לשבי לשבי׃ מִשְּׁבִ֣י מֵֽהַשְּׁבִ֨י מֵהַשְּׁבִ֣י מהשבי משבי שְׁבִ֖י שְׁבִ֣י שְׁבִ֤י שְׁבִ֥י שְׁבִ֨י שְׁבִיָּ֖ה שְׁבִיתַ֖יִךְ שִׁבְיָ֑ם שֶּׁ֗בִי שֶֽׁבִי׃ שבי שבי׃ שביה שבים שביתיך baš·še·ḇî baš·šə·ḇî ḇaš·še·ḇî ḇaš·šə·ḇî baš·šə·ḇîṯ bashShevi bashsheVit baššeḇî baššəḇî ḇaššeḇî ḇaššəḇî baššəḇîṯ biš·ḇî bišḇî bishVi haš·še·ḇî haš·šə·ḇî hashsheVi haššeḇî haššəḇî laš·še·ḇî laš·šə·ḇî lashsheVi laššeḇî laššəḇî mê·haš·šə·ḇî mehashsheVi mêhaššəḇî miš·šə·ḇî mishsheVi miššəḇî še·ḇî šə·ḇî šə·ḇî·ṯa·yiḵ šə·ḇî·yāh šeḇî šəḇî šəḇîṯayiḵ šəḇîyāh Shevi sheviTayich sheviYah shivYam šiḇ·yām šiḇyām ū·šă·ḇêh ū·šə·ḇî·ḵem ūšăḇêh ūšəḇîḵem ushaVeh usheviChem vashSheviInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts