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סִבְרַיִם

𐤎𐤁𐤓𐤉𐤌

Siverayim

H5453 noun

SILEX Entry

Root uncertain uncertain, possible meanings include 'to think', 'to hope', based on similar root but no direct evidence for the toponym

Definition

Toponym referring to a location marking part of the northern border in the territorial description of the land (Ezekiel 47:16). The term appears only once and designates a specific geographic site, Sibraim, situated between Hamath and Damascus. The word exhibits the dual form, likely suggesting a feature with two parts, such as two hills, peaks, or settlements in proximity, but this function is inferred from the morphology rather than explicit description.

Semantic Range

proper noun; toponym for a specific northern border location; possibly 'the two Sibraim' or 'double Sibraim', but actual descriptive meaning is lost; in Ezekiel, marker of idealized territorial borders

Root / Etymology

Root/Semantic derivation uncertain. The form is visibly a dual (indicated by the im ending), possibly built from a root similar to סְבַר (savar, to hope, suppose, think), but there is no conclusive evidence linking the toponym to this verbal root. It more likely preserves a local place-name whose meaning is lost, or is a Northwest Semitic gloss unrelated to attested Hebrew verbal roots.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Sibraim appears only in Ezekiel 47:16 in the context of the prophet's idealized description of Israelite borders following the exile. The form contains the dual suffix, which has led to conjecture about a feature comprising two parts (such as "double hill" or "twin settlements"), but the text supplies no further details. Attempts to relate the name etymologically to the Hebrew root סבר or to suggest a meaning such as 'double hope' are speculative and not linguistically grounded. The location is not firmly identified archaeologically, but its placement between Hamath and Damascus situates it in northern Syria/the Levant. Later translations and traditions often transcribe the name (e.g., Sibraim) without interpretive gloss, reflecting the unknown origin and meaning. Modern interpretations restrict themselves to the contextual function of the name as a border point in Ezekiel's vision.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

dual from a root corresponding to סְבַר; double hope; Sibrajim, a place in Syria; Sibraim.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

uncertain (uncertain) — uncertain; possibly think, hope (unproven)

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1085 בִּלְדַּד Bildad
H1095 בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר Belteshatsar
H1114 בִּלְשָׁן Bilshan
H1150 בִּנְעָא Bin'a
H116 אֱדַיִן and then

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5453-01 סִבְרַ֔יִם siverayim HNp Sibraim Dual Sibraim 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5453-01 Ezekiel 47:16 סִבְרַ֔יִם siverayim HNp Sibraim Dual Sibraim
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