Lexical Summary shaba: To swear, to take an oath, to adjure Original Word: שָׁבַע Strong's Exhaustive Concordance adjure, charge by an oath, with an oath, feed to the full A primitive root; propr. To be complete, but used only as a denominative from sheba'; to seven oneself, i.e. Swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times) -- adjure, charge (by an oath, with an oath), feed to the full (by mistake for saba'), take an oath, X straitly, (cause to, make to) swear. see HEBREW sheba' see HEBREW saba' NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origindenominative verb from sheba Definition to swear NASB Translation adjure (6), curse (1), exchanged oaths (1), made a covenant (1), made an oath (1), promised on oath (1), promised them by oath (1), put the under oath (1), put them under oath (1), solemn (1), solemnly swear (1), strictly put (1), swear (40), swearer (1), swearing (1), swears (6), swore (62), sworn (41), take an oath (2), take the oath (1), take oath (1), takes (1), took an oath (3), took the oath (1), under oath (3), used (1), vow (1), vowed (6). Brown-Driver-Briggs [שָׁבַע]186 verb swear (probably, so to say, seven oneself, or bind oneself by seven things, compare Thes (as alternative), Gerb108ff; Late Hebrew Niph`al= Biblical Hebrew; ᵑ7 שְׁבַע Ithpe`el, Aph`el; see also DrGenesis 21:28 KöHast. DB NUMBER, 565 RSSemitic i. 166, 2nd ed., 182 WeReste Arabic Heid. 2, 186); — Qal (according to Thes Rob Ges) Passive participle שְׁבֻעֵי שְׁבֻעוֺת Ezekiel 21:28 those sworn with (= who have sworn) oaths; both from שְׁבוּעָה, according to Krae, oaths of oaths (the most sacred); ᵐ5 ᵑ6 Co omitted; both from שָׁבוּעַ, Ew Sm ׳שָׁ ׳שׁ weeks on weeks (plenty of time). Niph`al Perfect, 3 masculine singularנִשְׁבַּע Genesis 24:7, + etc.;Imperfect3masculine singularיִשָּׁבַע Leviticus 5:24 +, וַיִּשָּׁ֫בַע Genesis 24:9 +; 2 masculine singular תִּשֶּׁבֵ֑עַ Deuteronomy 6:13; Deuteronomy 10:20; 1singular אִשָּׁב֑עַ Genesis 21:24, וָאֶשָּׁ֫בַע 1 Kings 2:8; Ezekiel 16:8, etc.; Imperative masculine singular הַשָּֽׁבְעָה Genesis 21:23 +, etc.; Infinitive abs הִשָּׁבֵע Numbers 30:3, הִשָּׁבֵעַ Jeremiah 7:9; construct הִשָּׁבֵעַ Jeremiah 12:16 (twice in verse) + 1 Samuel 20:17 see infra; Participle נִשְׁבָּע Zechariah 5:3 +, etc.; — swear, take an oath: 1 subj man : a. in asseveration, absolute Genesis 21:24,31 (E), Judges 21:1,18; 2 Samuel 21:2 +; also followed byוַיּאֹמֶר 1 Samuel 20:3; 1 Kings 1:29, followed by לֵאמֹר 2 Samuel 3:35; Joshua 14:9 (D); with accusative of congnate meaning with verb Numbers 30:3 (P; "" נָדַר); + לַשֶּׁקֶר Jeremiah 5:2; Jeremiah 7:9; Leviticus 5:24 (P; + עַל of thing), Malachi 3:5 + ׳עלשֿׁ Leviticus 5:22 (P); + לְמִרְמָה Psalm 24:4; followed by infinitive Leviticus 5:4 (P), Psalm 15:4; Psalm 119:106; + ל person take an oath to, Joshua 6:22 (JE), Joshua 9:20 (P; accusative of congnate meaning with verb) Genesis 24:9 (+ עַלהַֿדָּבָר הַזֶּה +, so also 1 Samuel 20:17 (read לְהִשָּׁבֵעַ אֶלֿ for לְהַשְׁבְּיעַ אֶתֿ, ᵐ5 ᵑ9 Th We Dr and others); oath allegiance (׳לי ) Isaiah 19:18; Isaiah 45:23; Zephaniah 1:5; 2Chronicles 5:14, compare(absolute) 2 Chronicles 5:15 (Joshua 23:7 see Hiph`il); also sq וַיּאֹמֶר 2 Kings 25:24, followed by לֵאמֹר 2 Samuel 21:17; 1 Kings 1:13; Jeremiah 40:9; followed byמֶּן = that not Judges 15:12, followed by אִם = id. 1 Kings 1:51; + אֶל person followed by לֵאמֹר Jeremiah 38:16; + ׳בי by ׳י, followed by infinitive Judges 21:7; + ׳בְּשֵׁם י 1 Samuel 20:42; Isaiah 48:1, compare Genesis 31:53 (E), Deuteronomy 6:13; Deuteronomy 10:20; Jeremiah 12:16 (+ ׳חַייֿ), Isaiah 65:16; Zechariah 5:4 (לַשָּׁ֑קֶר), Leviticus 19:12 (id.), Psalm 63:12; Daniel 12:7; ׳בי followed by אִם 2 Samuel 19:8; + ל person with ׳בי Joshua 9:18,19 (P; pledge faith), followed byלֵאמֹר 1 Samuel 28:10; 1 Kings 11:30; 1 Kings 2:8,23, followed by כִּי of object clause Joshua 2:12 (JE), 1 Kings 1:17; + ל person with ׳בא, followed by אִם Genesis 21:23 (E), 1 Samuel 30:15; as verb of quotation + object ׳חַייֿ Hosea 4:15; Jeremiah 4:2; 1 Samuel 19:6 (+ אִם), + אִם in oratio recta [direct speech] Psalm 132:2 ("" נָדַר); also כְּלֹא אֱלֹהִים Jeremiah 5:7, בַּבָּ֑עַל Jeremiah 12:16, בְּמַלְכָּם Zephaniah 1:3, compare Amos 8:14 (+ וְאָמַר). b. imprecate, curse, בִּי by me Psalms; Psalm 102:9 (compare שְׁבוּעָה 1.b קְלָלָה). 2 subject ׳י: swear, with בִּי by myself Genesis 22:16 (JE), Jeremiah 22:5 (clause כִּי), Jeremiah 49:13 (id.), Isaiah 45:23 (id.), with בְּקָדְשׁוֺ Amos 4:2 (id.), compare Psalm 89:36 ("" אִם אֲכַזֵּב), compare also Amos 6:8; Amos 8:17; Jeremiah 44:26; Jeremiah 51:14; Isaiah 62:8; swear, followed by infinitive Deuteronomy 1:35; Deuteronomy 4:21; Joshua 21:41 (van d. H. Baer; Joshua 21:43 Gi), followed by מִן infinitive= not to Isaiah 54:9 (twice in verse) followed by אִם Psalm 90:10, followed by לֵאמֹר Deuteronomy 1:34; Isaiah 14:24; Numbers 32:10(P); followed by oratio recta [direct speech] Psalm 110:4; with ל person take an oath to, Genesis 24:7(J), Exodus 13:11 (J), Deuteronomy 2:14 7t. Deuteronomy (accusative of congnate meaning with verbDeuteronomy 7:8; verbDeuteronomy 9:5), Ezekiel 16:8 ("" בּוֺא בִבְרִית, Psalm 89:4 ("" כָּרַת בְּרִית), Psalm 89:50 (בֶּאֱמוּנָתֶ֑ךָ), +; ל person + infinitive (usually to give land Exodus 13:5 (J), Deuteronomy 1:8 9t. Deuteronomy; Joshua 1:6; Joshua 5:6 (twice in verse) (all RD), Jeremiah 11:5 (+ accusative of congnate meaning with verb), Jeremiah 32:22; ל person + accusative of thing (usually land) = promise by oath to Genesis 50:24; Exodus 33:1; Numbers 11:12 (all J), Numbers 14:16,23 (JE), Numbers 32:11 (P), Judges 2:1; Micah 7:20; Deuteronomy 6:18+ 8 t. Deuteronomy (object covenant Deuteronomy 4:31; Deuteronomy 8:18); ל person omitted Deuteronomy 31:21. Hiph`il Perf.3masculine singular הִשְׁבִּיעַ Exodus 13:19 +, 1 singular הִשְׁבַּעְתִּי Songs 2:7 +, etc.; Imperfect3masculine singular וַיַּשְׁבַּע Genesis 50:25 +, suffix וַיַּשְׁבִּעֵנִי Genesis 24:37, etc.; Infinitive absolute הַשְׁבֵּעַ Exodus 13:19; 1 Samuel 14:28; construct הַשְׁבִּיעַ 1 Samuel 14:27 (1 Samuel 20:17 see Niph`al); Participle suffix מַשְׁבִּיעֶ֑ךָ 1 Kings 22:16; 2Chronicles 18:15; — 1 cause to take an oath, subject always man: with accusative of person Genesis 50:6 (J), + 1 Samuel 14:27; 1 Kings 18:10; 2 Kings 11:4, + accusative of cognate meaning Joshua 2:17,20 (J), לֵאמֹר Genesis 24:37; Genesis 50:5 (both J), Genesis 50:25 (E), Joshua 6:26 (J; accusative of person omitted), so (Infinitive absolute + Perfect) Exodus 13:19 (JE), 1 Samuel 14:28, + וְאָמַר Numbers 5:19 and (with accusative of congnate meaning with verb) Numbers 5:21 (both P), + infinitive clause Nehemiah 5:12; Ezra 10:5; + ׳בי by ׳י Genesis 24:3 (J; clause אֲשֶׁר), 1 Kings 2:42 ("" וָאָעִד בְּךָ, + לֵאמֹר, compare Joshua 23:7 (RD; but read perhaps Niph`al תִּשָּֽׁבְעוּ Gr and others; ᵐ5 strike out), Nehemiah 13:25 (clause אִם, oratio recta), 2 Chronicles 36:13. 2 adjure, with accusative of person 1 Kings 22:16; 2Chronicles 18:15 (both + clause אֲשֶׁר); elsewhere only Canticles: Songs 5:9, with clause מַהֿ interrogative Songs 5:8, with clause אִם that not Songs 2:7; Songs 3:5 (both + ב of oath), = clause מַהֿ Songs 8:4 (see מָה 2a (b)). — 1 Samuel 20:17 see Niph`al Topical Lexicon Overview of UsageThe Hebrew verb שָׁבַע occurs roughly 187 times, stretching from Genesis to Malachi. Its basic sense is “to swear” or “to take an oath,” and the contexts cluster around covenant ratification, courtroom procedure, political loyalty, worship, and prophetic promise. The term appears in every major corpus: Torah, Historical Books, Wisdom Literature, and Prophets, demonstrating that oath-making is a thread woven through the entire Old Testament narrative. Patriarchal Beginnings The first occurrences are in Genesis, where oaths protect life and property and anchor covenant relationships: • Abraham and Abimelech settle water rights: “Abraham said, ‘I will swear.’” (Genesis 21:24). These narratives establish שָׁבַע as a solemn, binding act that invokes divine oversight. Divine Self-Oaths Unique to Scripture is the LORD’s willingness to swear by His own name, underscoring the absolute reliability of His word. Key texts include: • Exodus 32:13; Deuteronomy 7:8 – recalling the oath to the patriarchs. Such passages reveal a God who accommodates human need for assurance without compromising His transcendence. Sinai Legislation and Judicial Procedure Under Mosaic Law, oaths regulate justice and worship: • Exodus 22:10-11 sets forth an oath to resolve disputes over lost property. Here שָׁבַע preserves community integrity; false swearing invites divine judgment (Leviticus 19:12). National and Political Loyalty Kings and subjects cement alliances by oath: • Israel swears allegiance to David (2 Samuel 5:3). Failure to honor political oaths becomes not merely treason but covenant infidelity toward God who witnesses every vow. Prophetic Promises and Warnings Prophets employ שָׁבַע both to assure hope and to expose sin: • Amos 6:8 – “The Lord GOD has sworn by Himself…” announces coming judgment. Oaths thus frame both impending discipline and ultimate redemption. Psalms and Worship Psalms highlight personal devotion expressed through oath: • Psalm 132:2 – David “swore an oath to the LORD” concerning the temple. Worshipers respond to divine faithfulness by pledging obedience, turning שָׁבַע into liturgical commitment. Wisdom Literature Ecclesiastes 8:2 urges, “Keep the king’s command, I say, because of the oath before God.” The sage ties civil obedience to sacred vow, illustrating how שָׁבַע informs ethical life beyond cultic settings. Post-Exilic Renewal After exile, community identity is rebuilt on oath: • Nehemiah 10:29 – “They joined their brothers… to enter into a curse and an oath to follow the Law of God.” Shaba becomes a tool for covenant renewal, binding a fragile remnant to obedience. Positive and Negative Models Positive: Negative: The Number Seven Connection Though not strictly lexical here, Scripture occasionally pairs “seven” with oath-making, hinting at completeness (Genesis 21:28-31, naming Beersheba). The cultural link underscores an ideal of total, perfect binding. New Testament Echoes While the Greek Testament employs different vocabulary, Hebrews 6:13-18 draws directly from the Old Testament pattern: “For when God made His promise to Abraham, since He had no one greater to swear by, He swore by Himself.” The writer anchors Christian assurance in the same divine self-oath that undergirds the patriarchal covenant. Jesus’ directive in Matthew 5:33-37, urging integrity beyond oath formulas, presupposes the Old Testament seriousness of שָׁבַע. Ministry Implications 1. Trustworthiness of God: Because the LORD binds Himself, believers rest in immutable promises of salvation and future glory. Key Representative Passages Genesis 22:16; Exodus 22:11; Deuteronomy 10:20; Joshua 2:12; 1 Samuel 20:17; 2 Samuel 19:7; 1 Kings 2:43; Psalm 95:11; Isaiah 54:9; Jeremiah 12:16; Ezekiel 36:7; Zephaniah 1:5. Summary Shaba frames the Old Testament account of covenant creation, national identity, worship, justice, and prophetic hope. Whether uttered by patriarchs, kings, prophets, or the LORD Himself, the oath stands as a sacred pledge requiring unwavering fidelity—an enduring call for God’s people to mirror His faithfulness in word and deed. Forms and Transliterations אִשָּׁבֵֽעַ׃ אשבע׃ בְּהַשְׁבִּ֣יעַ בהשביע הִשְׁבִּ֜יעַ הִשְׁבִּ֨יעַ הִשְׁבִּיע֖וֹ הִשְׁבִּיעֶֽךָ׃ הִשְׁבִּיעַ֣נִי הִשְׁבַּ֥עְתִּי הִשְׁבַּ֨עְתִּי הִשְׁבַּעְתִּ֣יךָ הִשְׁבַּעְתָּֽנוּ׃ הִשָּֽׁבְעָה֙ הִשָּֽׁבְעוּ־ הִשָּׁ֤בְעָה הִשָּׁ֤בַע הִשָּׁ֨בְעָה הִשָּׁבְע֣וּ הִשָּׁבְעָה֩ הַֽנִּשְׁבָּעִ֣ים ׀ הַנִּ֨שְׁבָּ֔ע הַנִּשְׁבָּ֕ע הַנִּשְׁבָּ֣ע הַנִּשְׁבָּ֥ע הַנִּשְׁבָּעִ֣ים הַנִּשְׁבָּעִים֙ הַשְׁבֵּ֨עַ הַשְׁבֵּעַ֩ הנשבע הנשבעים השביע השביעו השביעך׃ השביעני השבע השבעה השבעו השבעו־ השבעתי השבעתיך השבעתנו׃ וְאַשְׁבִּ֣יעֲךָ֔ וְהִשְׁבִּ֤יעַ וְהִשְׁבִּ֨יעַ וְהִשָּׁבֵ֥עַ וְהַנִּשְׁבָּ֣ע וְהַנִּשְׁבָּעִ֖ים וְנִשְׁבַּ֙עְתָּ֙ וְנִשְׁבַּ֣ע וְנִשְׁבָּע֖וֹת וַיִּשָּֽׁבְעוּ֙ וַיִּשָּׁ֣בַֽע וַיִּשָּׁ֤בַֽע וַיִּשָּׁ֥בַֽע וַיִּשָּׁבְע֖וּ וַיִּשָּׁבְע֣וּ וַיִּשָּׁבֵֽעוּ׃ וַיִּשָּׁבַ֖ע וַיִּשָּׁבַ֗ע וַיִּשָּׁבַ֞ע וַיִּשָּׁבַ֣ע וַיִּשָּׁבַ֥ע וַיִּשָּׁבַ֨ע וַיִּשָּׁבַע֙ וַיַּשְׁבִּעֵ֥נִי וַיַּשְׁבַּ֣ע וַיַּשְׁבַּ֤ע וָֽאַשְׁבִּיעֵ֔ם וָאֶשָּׁ֣בַֽע וָאֶשָּׁ֨בַֽע וָאַשְׁבִּיעֵ֣ם וָאַשְׂבִּ֤עַ וּבַנִּשְׁבָּעִ֖ים ואשביעך ואשביעם ואשבע ובנשבעים והנשבע והנשבעים והשביע והשבע וישבע וישבעו וישבעו׃ וישבעני ונשבע ונשבעות ונשבעת יִשָּֽׁבַֽע־ יִשָּׁבֵֽעוּ׃ יִשָּׁבַ֖ע יִשָּׁבַ֣ע ישבע ישבע־ ישבעו׃ לְהִשָּׁבֵ֖עַ לְהִשָּׁבֵ֤עַ לְהַשְׁבִּ֣יעַ להשביע להשבע מַשְׁבִּיעֶ֑ךָ מַשְׁבִּעֶ֑ךָ משביעך משבעך נִ֝שְׁבַּ֗עְתִּי נִ֠שְׁבַּעְתִּי נִ֭שְׁבַּע נִֽשְׁבַּֽע־ נִשְׁבְּע֖וּ נִשְׁבְּע֣וּ נִשְׁבְּע֤וּ נִשְׁבְּעוּ֩ נִשְׁבַּ֔עְתִּי נִשְׁבַּ֖ע נִשְׁבַּ֖עְתִּי נִשְׁבַּ֖עְתָּ נִשְׁבַּ֗עְתִּי נִשְׁבַּ֙עְתִּי֙ נִשְׁבַּ֙עְתָּ֙ נִשְׁבַּ֛ע נִשְׁבַּ֛עְתִּי נִשְׁבַּ֜עְתִּי נִשְׁבַּ֜עְתָּ נִשְׁבַּ֣ע נִשְׁבַּ֣עְנוּ נִשְׁבַּ֣עְתִּי נִשְׁבַּ֣עְתָּ נִשְׁבַּ֤ע נִשְׁבַּ֤עְתָּ נִשְׁבַּ֥ע נִשְׁבַּ֥עְנוּ נִשְׁבַּ֥עְתִּי נִשְׁבַּ֥עְתָּ נִשְׁבַּ֧ע נִשְׁבַּ֨ע נִשְׁבַּ֨עְנוּ נִשְׁבַּ֨עְתִּי נִשְׁבַּֽע־ נִשְׁבַּע֙ נִשְׁבַּע֩ נִשְׁבַּעְתֶּ֖ם נִשְׁבָּ֔עוּ נִשְׁבָּֽעְתִּי׃ נִשְׁבָּֽעוּ׃ נשבע נשבע־ נשבעו נשבעו׃ נשבענו נשבעת נשבעתי נשבעתי׃ נשבעתם שְׁבֻעֵ֥י שבעי תִּשָּׁבְע֖וּ תִּשָּׁבֵֽעַ׃ תִּשָּׁבַ֖ע תִשָּׁבְע֥וּ תִשָּׁבַע֩ תַשְׁבִּ֔יעוּ תשביעו תשבע תשבע׃ תשבעו ’iš·šā·ḇê·a‘ ’iššāḇêa‘ bə·haš·bî·a‘ bəhašbîa‘ behashBia han·niš·bā‘ han·niš·bā·‘îm hannišbā‘ hannišbā‘îm hannishBa hannishbaIm haš·bê·a‘ hašbêa‘ hashBea hiš·ba‘·tā·nū hiš·ba‘·tî hiš·ba‘·tî·ḵā hiš·bî·‘a·nî hiš·bî·‘e·ḵā hiš·bî·‘ōw hiš·bî·a‘ hiš·šā·ḇa‘ hiš·šā·ḇə·‘āh hiš·šā·ḇə·‘ū hiš·šā·ḇə·‘ū- hišba‘tānū hišba‘tî hišba‘tîḵā hišbî‘anî hišbî‘eḵā hišbî‘ōw hišbîa‘ hishbaTanu hishBati hishbaTicha hishBia hishbiAni hishbiEcha hishbiO hishShava hishShaveah hishshaveu hiššāḇa‘ hiššāḇə‘āh hiššāḇə‘ū hiššāḇə‘ū- ishshaVea lə·haš·bî·a‘ lə·hiš·šā·ḇê·a‘ ləhašbîa‘ lehashBia lehishshaVea ləhiššāḇêa‘ maš·bi·‘e·ḵā maš·bî·‘e·ḵā mašbi‘eḵā mašbî‘eḵā mashbiEcha niš·ba‘ niš·ba‘- niš·ba‘·nū niš·ba‘·tā niš·ba‘·tem niš·ba‘·tî niš·bā·‘ə·tî niš·bā·‘ū niš·bə·‘ū nišba‘ nišba‘- nišbā‘ətî nišba‘nū nišba‘tā nišba‘tem nišba‘tî nišbā‘ū nišbə‘ū nishba nishBaeti nishBanu nishBata nishbaTem nishBati nishBau nishbeU šə·ḇu·‘ê šəḇu‘ê shevuEi ṯaš·bî·‘ū ṯašbî‘ū tashBiu tiš·šā·ḇa‘ ṯiš·šā·ḇa‘ tiš·šā·ḇə·‘ū ṯiš·šā·ḇə·‘ū tiš·šā·ḇê·a‘ tishshaVa tishshaVea tishshaveU tiššāḇa‘ ṯiššāḇa‘ tiššāḇə‘ū ṯiššāḇə‘ū tiššāḇêa‘ ū·ḇan·niš·bā·‘îm ūḇannišbā‘îm uvannishbaIm vaasBia vaashbiEm vaeshShava vaiyashBa vaiyashbiEni vaiyishShava vaiyishshaveU veashBiacha vehannishBa vehannishbaIm vehishBia vehishshaVea venishBa venishbaot venishBata wā’ašbî‘êm wā’aśbia‘ wā’eššāḇa‘ wā·’aš·bî·‘êm wā·’aś·bi·a‘ wā·’eš·šā·ḇa‘ way·yaš·ba‘ way·yaš·bi·‘ê·nî way·yiš·šā·ḇa‘ way·yiš·šā·ḇê·‘ū way·yiš·šā·ḇə·‘ū wayyašba‘ wayyašbi‘ênî wayyiššāḇa‘ wayyiššāḇê‘ū wayyiššāḇə‘ū wə’ašbî‘ăḵā wə·’aš·bî·‘ă·ḵā wə·han·niš·bā‘ wə·han·niš·bā·‘îm wə·hiš·bî·a‘ wə·hiš·šā·ḇê·a‘ wə·niš·ba‘ wə·niš·ba‘·tā wə·niš·bā·‘ō·wṯ wəhannišbā‘ wəhannišbā‘îm wəhišbîa‘ wəhiššāḇêa‘ wənišba‘ wənišbā‘ōwṯ wənišba‘tā yiš·šā·ḇa‘ yiš·šā·ḇa‘- yiš·šā·ḇê·‘ū yishshaVa yishshaVeu yiššāḇa‘ yiššāḇa‘- yiššāḇê‘ūLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 21:23 HEB: וְעַתָּ֗ה הִשָּׁ֨בְעָה לִּ֤י בֵֽאלֹהִים֙ NAS: now therefore, swear to me here by God KJV: Now therefore swear unto me here INT: now swear God here Genesis 21:24 Genesis 21:31 Genesis 22:16 Genesis 24:3 Genesis 24:7 Genesis 24:9 Genesis 24:37 Genesis 25:33 Genesis 25:33 Genesis 26:3 Genesis 26:31 Genesis 31:53 Genesis 47:31 Genesis 47:31 Genesis 50:5 Genesis 50:6 Genesis 50:24 Genesis 50:25 Exodus 13:5 Exodus 13:11 Exodus 13:19 Exodus 13:19 Exodus 32:13 Exodus 33:1 187 Occurrences |