σαββατισμός
sabbatismós
G4520 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Special observance of Sabbath rest; the practice or experience of Sabbath observance. In context, primarily denotes a type or state of sacred rest modeled on the Sabbath, often interpreted as a divinely appointed cessation of labor.
Semantic Range
practice or observance of Sabbath, Sabbath rest, institution of Sabbath observance, divinely appointed rest, ultimate sacred rest
Root / Etymology
From σαββατ- ('sabbath'), itself derived from the Hebrew שַׁבָּת (shabbat), with the abstract noun ending -ισμός forming 'the practice or observance of Sabbath.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
σαββατισμός occurs only once in extant Greek literature, notably in Hebrews 4:9 (NT), where it denotes a remaining 'Sabbath observance' or 'Sabbath rest' for the 'people of God.' In Hellenistic Judaism, similar constructions with -ισμός indicate habitual practice (e.g., ἑλληνισμός, ἰουδαϊσμός). Here, it implies not merely an abstract state but the act or institution of Sabbath observance, and by extension in Hebrews, the concept of ultimate, divinely instituted rest. English translations often render it as 'Sabbath rest' or simply 'rest,' but these may underemphasize the specific allusion to the practice of Sabbath-keeping. The term does not appear in the Septuagint or other known Koine writings, suggesting it may be a neologism or theological coinage within the New Testament. The concept draws from both Jewish (Israelite/Judean) Sabbath tradition and broader Hellenistic abstract noun formation.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from a derivative of σάββατον; a "sabbatism", i.e. (figuratively) the repose of Christianity (as a type of heaven):--rest.
Root Family
σαββατισμός (sabbatismos) — Sabbath, observance, rest
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4520-01 |
σαββατισμὸς | sabbatismos | N NOM M SG |
Sabbath rest | Sabbath observance | Sabbath observance | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4520-01 |
Hebrews 4:9 | σαββατισμὸς | sabbatismos | N NOM M SG |
Sabbath rest | Sabbath observance | Sabbath observance |