Original Word: שִׂבְעָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: sib`ah
Pronunciation: see-BAH
Phonetic Spelling: (sib-aw')
KJV: fulness
Word Origin: [feminine of H7647 (שָׂבָע - abundance)]

1. satiety

fullness

Feminine of saba'; satiety -- fulness.

see HEBREW saba'

Word Origin
the same as sobah, q.v.

שָׂבְעָה, [שִׂבְעָה] noun feminine satiety; — absolute ׳שׂ Isaiah 56:11 +, construct שִׂבְעַתֿ Ezekiel 16:49, sf, שָׂבְעָתַךְ Ezekiel 16:28; —

1 as to food, especially ׳אָכַל לְשׂ eat to satiety, one's fill, Isaiah 23:18; Ezekiel 39:19; ׳לְשׂ also Isaiah 55:2 (figurative); ׳שׂ of dogs Isaiah 56:11 (figurative); לֶֿחֶםָ׳שׂ leading to arrogance, as sin of Sodom Ezekiel 16:49 (+ גָּאוֺם, etc.).

2 to carnal desire Ezekiel 16:28 (figurative).

Conceptual Overview

שִׂבְעָה (sibʿah) denotes a condition of material satiety—“plenty of food” or “fullness.” Scripture treats such fullness as a blessing when received with gratitude and shared in covenant faithfulness, yet a snare when it breeds pride and indifference toward God or neighbor.

Biblical Usage

The term appears once, in Ezekiel 16:49. Jerusalem is compared to Sodom, whose guilt included “plenty of food” coupled with arrogance and neglect of the poor. The prophet thus exposes a spiritual paradox: abundance can coexist with moral bankruptcy when covenant responsibilities are ignored.

Historical Setting

Ezekiel prophesied to exiles in Babylon. Many of them had experienced the collapse of Judah’s economic and social structures. By reminding the displaced community that Sodom’s downfall stemmed from complacent abundance rather than mere sexual immorality, Ezekiel challenged survivors to reassess their own attitudes toward prosperity as they awaited restoration.

Theological Implications

1. Gift and Responsibility

Creation theology affirms that God “gives food to every creature” (Psalm 136:25). Yet sibʿah exposes the heart: “When you have eaten and are satisfied, be careful that you do not forget the LORD” (Deuteronomy 6:11-12). Fullness is meant to evoke worship and generosity, not self-sufficiency.

2. Social Justice

Failure to share abundance is condemned: “He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker” (Proverbs 14:31). Ezekiel’s indictment echoes the Torah’s call to leave gleanings for the needy (Leviticus 19:9-10) and anticipates New Testament teaching: “Whoever has worldly goods and sees his brother in need… how can the love of God reside in him?” (1 John 3:17).

3. Eschatological Warning

Jesus likens the days before His return to “the days of Lot” (Luke 17:28-30). Complacent prosperity blinded Sodom to impending judgment; the same danger faces any generation that mistakes temporal fulness for security.

Christological Fulfillment

Earthly sibʿah points beyond itself to the true fullness found in Christ. “From His fullness we have all received grace upon grace” (John 1:16). The Bread of Life satisfies the deepest hunger (John 6:35), turning mere abundance of bread into a signpost toward eternal provision.

Ministry Applications

• Stewardship: Believers are stewards, not owners. Regular generosity—to the church, missions, and the poor—guards against the pride that destroyed Sodom.
• Contentment: Paul’s testimony, “I have learned to be content in any and every situation” (Philippians 4:12), models a heart liberated from both lack and surplus.
• Prophetic Advocacy: The Church must speak against societal structures that allow indulgence for some while others lack daily bread, embodying Isaiah’s call to “share your bread with the hungry” (Isaiah 58:7).

Related Biblical Themes

Fullness as blessing acknowledged: Deuteronomy 8:10; Psalm 107:9.

Fullness leading to forgetfulness: Deuteronomy 31:20; Hosea 13:6.

Divine satisfaction surpassing material fullness: Psalm 63:5; Matthew 5:6; Revelation 7:16-17.

Summary

שִׂבְעָה spotlights the moral test of prosperity. When abundance is received with humility, shared freely, and directed toward worship, it honors the Giver. When hoarded in pride, it invites judgment. Ezekiel’s lone usage therefore reverberates through all of Scripture, calling every generation to steward temporal fullness in anticipation of the eternal fullness secured in Jesus Christ.

שִׂבְעַת־ שבעת־ śiḇ‘aṯ- śiḇ·‘aṯ- sivatInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts