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סָבִיב

𐤎𐤁𐤉𐤁

çâbîyb

H5439 noun

SILEX Entry

Root סוב to turn, encircle, go around

Definition

As an adverb, סָבִיב denotes the sense of 'around,' 'on every side,' or 'in a surrounding manner.' As a substantive or spatial preposition, it refers to 'surroundings,' 'environs,' or 'perimeter.' The word can also function substantivally to describe the area encircling an object, location, or group. In military, ritual, or architectural contexts, it can refer to the circumference or boundary area, the people or objects encircling (such as 'those around'—companions, neighboring peoples), or the outer edges of a defined space. Its use may indicate either literal spatial surroundings or, in some passages, a figurative encirclement or threat.

Semantic Range

around, surrounding, on every side, in the environs, compass, circuit, perimeter, neighborhood, vicinity, (those) surrounding, on all sides

Root / Etymology

From the root סבב meaning 'to turn, go around, encircle.' סָבִיב is a substantive or adverb derived from this root. The related feminine form is סְבִיבָה. The root denotes the action of turning or encircling, while the formation סָבִיב functions primarily to indicate proximity or position relative to a center point.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, סָבִיב is sometimes used adverbially ('all around,' 'on every side') to describe spatial relationships, as in describing objects surrounding the altar (Exodus), the nations surrounding Israelite territory (Judges, Psalms), or enemies besieging a city. In military texts, it refers to the encircling of a city by enemies or formations. In cultic contexts, it describes ritual arrangements or the disposition of offerings around an altar. Figuratively, it can also suggest being surrounded by adversaries or circumstances. Where older translations may render the term 'round about,' this can obscure the specific notion of encirclement or proximity; sometimes, English translations make interpretative decisions that oversimplify its spatial flexibility. The shift from concrete to more abstract senses (such as being surrounded by trouble) is evident in poetic texts. The feminine form (סְבִיבָה) appears less frequently, holding much the same meaning.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or (feminine) סְבִיבָה; from סָבַב; (as noun) a circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly (as adverb, with or without preposition) around; (place, round) about, circuit, compass, on every side.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

סבב (s-b-b) — turning, encircling, going around

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4036 מָגוֹר מִסָּבִיב from around
H4141 מוּסָב encircling structure of
H4142 מוּסַבָּה turned-around ones of
H4524 מֵסַב at his encircling couch
H5252 נְסִבָּה turning circumstance

Word Forms

27 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5439-05 סָבִֽיב saviv HNcbsa around surrounding area 207
H5439-03 מִ/סָּבִ֔יב misaviv HR/Ncbsa on every side from around 41
H5439-10 סְבִיבֹ֥ת sevivot HNcbpc around surrounding areas of 20
H5439-14 סְבִיבֹתָֽי/ו sevivotayv HNcbpc/Sp3ms around him his surroundings 10
H5439-15 סְבִיבֹתֶ֖י/הָ sevivoteyha HNcbpc/Sp3fs around it her surroundings 8
H5439-18 סְבִיבֹ֣תֵי/כֶ֔ם sevivoteykhem HNcbpc/Sp2mp are around you your surroundings 7
H5439-07 סְבִיבָ֔י/ו sevivayv HNcbpc/Sp3ms around him his surroundings 6
H5439-16 סְבִיבֹ֣תֵי/הֶ֔ם sevivoteyhem HNcbpc/Sp3mp around them their surroundings 5
H5439-19 סְבִ֣יבֹתֵ֔י/נוּ sevivoteynu HNcbpc/Sp1cp around us our surroundings 4
H5439-13 סְבִיבוֹתָ֑יִ/ךְ sevivotayikhe HNcbpc/Sp2fs around you your surroundings 3

Occurrences in Scripture

337 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5439-05 Genesis 23:17 סָבִֽיב saviv HNcbsa around surrounding area
H5439-16 Genesis 35:5 סְבִיבֹ֣תֵי/הֶ֔ם sevivoteyhem HNcbpc/Sp3mp around them their surroundings
H5439-15 Genesis 41:48 סְבִיבֹתֶ֖י/הָ sevivoteyha HNcbpc/Sp3fs around it her surroundings
H5439-10 Exodus 7:24 סְבִיבֹ֥ת sevivot HNcbpc round about surrounding areas of
H5439-05 Exodus 16:13 סָבִ֖יב saviv HNcbsa all around surrounding area
H5439-05 Exodus 19:12 סָבִ֣יב saviv HNcbsa all around surrounding area
H5439-05 Exodus 25:11 סָבִֽיב saviv HNcbsa all around surrounding area
H5439-05 Exodus 25:24 סָבִֽיב saviv HNcbsa around surrounding area
H5439-05 Exodus 25:25 סָבִ֑יב saviv HNcbsa around surrounding area
H5439-05 Exodus 25:25 סָבִֽיב saviv-2 HNcbsa around surrounding area
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