Original Word: שָׂבְעָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: sob`ah
Pronunciation: SO-bah
Phonetic Spelling: (sob-aw')
KJV: (to have) enough, X tillbe full, (un-)satiable, satisfy, X sufficiently
NASB: satisfied, abundant, glutted, sufficient, what does not satisfy
Word Origin: [feminine of H7648 (שׂוֹבַע - full)]

1. satiety

to have enough, till

Feminine of soba'; satiety -- (to have) enough, X till...be full, (un-)satiable, satisfy, X sufficiently.

see HEBREW soba'

Word Origin
from saba
Definition
satiety
NASB Translation
abundant (1), glutted (1), satisfied (2), satisfied* (1), sufficient (1), what does not satisfy (1).

Semantic range and usage

The noun שָׂבְעָה conveys the idea of being satisfied, filled, or having fullness. It can describe literal satiety from food or drink, but just as often it points to a deeper sense of satisfaction that only God can grant. In each of its five occurrences the term functions as a mirror, reflecting either the wholesome fullness given by the Lord or the hollow satisfaction promised by idols and self-effort.

Representative passages

• Isaiah 55:2: “Why spend money on that which is not bread, and your labor on that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of foods.” Here שָׂבְעָה stands in stark contrast to the emptiness of self-chosen pursuits. Real fullness is found by turning to the word of the Lord.
• Ezekiel 39:19: “You will eat fat until you are satisfied and drink blood until you are drunk, at the sacrifice I am preparing for you.” In this judgment oracle, the word underlines the completeness of God’s triumph and the exhaustive nature of His retribution upon Gog.
• Haggai 1:6: “You eat, but are not satisfied; you drink, but are not filled with drink.” Post-exilic Judah experiences economic frustration because the people have neglected the house of the Lord. שָׂבְעָה exposes the futility of placing personal comfort above covenant obedience.

Historical and cultural context

Ancient Near Eastern economies, whether Phoenician (Isaiah 23), Babylonian (Ezekiel 16), or Persian-era Judah (Haggai 1), measured success in terms of plentiful food, wine, and luxury items. Scripture does not deny the goodness of material provision; rather, it insists that true fullness depends on covenant faithfulness. When the prophets employ שָׂבְעָה, they tap into the audience’s everyday longing for security and declare that only Yahweh can ultimately meet that longing.

Theological themes

1. Divine sufficiency: God alone supplies lasting satisfaction (Isaiah 55:2).
2. Judgment and reversal: Those who seek fullness apart from God experience ironic emptiness (Ezekiel 16:28; Haggai 1:6).
3. Eschatological hope: The banquet imagery of Ezekiel 39 anticipates the ultimate victory feast of Revelation 19:17-18, where evil is decisively overthrown and the redeemed enjoy everlasting fullness.

Intertextual echoes

The Septuagint often renders שָׂבְעָה with words that appear in the New Testament, such as χορτασμός and πλήρωμα, highlighting continuity between Testaments. Jesus’ feeding miracles (for example, John 6:12) demonstrate messianic authority to satisfy completely, foreshadowing the “bread of life” discourse that promises spiritual fullness to all who believe (John 6:35).

Practical ministry applications

• Preaching: Use Isaiah 55:2 and Haggai 1:6 to confront consumerism and invite hearers to seek satisfaction in Christ.
• Pastoral counseling: When believers chase substitute satisfactions—work, relationships, entertainment—direct them to the soul-filling promises of Scripture.
• Worship planning: Songs that celebrate God as the giver of every good and perfect gift (James 1:17) reinforce the biblical theme of true satisfaction.

Devotional insight

The repeated prophetic refrain “but you were not satisfied” (Ezekiel 16:28; Haggai 1:6) serves as a gracious warning. Whenever life feels hollow, the Spirit is pointing us back to the One who declares, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled” (Matthew 5:6). In Christ, the deepest longing expressed by שָׂבְעָה finds its final, overflowing answer.

לְשָׂבְעָ֑ה לְשָׂבְעָ֔ה לְשָׂבְעָ֖ה לְשָׂבְעָה֙ לשבעה שָׂבָֽעַתְּ׃ שבעת׃ lə·śā·ḇə·‘āh ləśāḇə‘āh lesaveAh śā·ḇā·‘at śāḇā‘at saVaatInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts