שָׁבַח
𐤔𐤁𐤇
shâbach
H7623 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To praise or extol, especially to speak well of or acclaim aloud. The term often carries the nuance of vocal, public praise, especially directed toward a person or deity. In certain contexts, it can also mean to celebrate, to glorify in words, or to express approval or admiration in an audible or public manner.
Semantic Range
to praise, to extol, to commend, to acclaim, to glorify, to express approval vocally, to pacify with words (rare), to boast (positively), to celebrate
Root / Etymology
From the root שׁ־ב־ח (שָׁבַח), core meaning 'to praise, extol, commend.' This verbal root is primarily attested in later biblical books such as Psalms, Chronicles, and Daniel, suggesting it was a post-monarchic development or borrowing. Its fundamental sense is tied to vocal or public acclamation rather than mere internal appreciation.
Historical & Contextual Notes
שָׁבַח appears mainly in late biblical literature (e.g., Psalms, some texts in Chronicles, Daniel), where it refers to vocal, sometimes communal, expressions of praise, often directed toward the deity. Unlike הַלֵּל (hallel), which is the standard term for 'praise' in older biblical texts, שָׁבַח is infrequent or absent in earlier Israelite writings and appears to have developed or gained popularity in the Second Temple period. Some scholars suggest possible Aramaic or Akkadian influence, as similar roots (e.g., Akkadian šubāḫu) have related meanings. In later Judaism and medieval Hebrew, its usage expands, often narrowing to liturgical or poetic praise, but in the Hebrew Bible its focus remains on ceremonial or public glorification. English translations often render both הַלֵּל and שָׁבַח as 'praise,' but שָׁבַח can carry the nuance of acclaim or boasting in a positive sense (to commend) as distinct from mere congratulations or blessing. The root can also imply the calming or pacifying of someone through words, but this nuance is rare and usually context-dependent. There is no implied sense of musical praise (as with זמר, zamar), nor is there the connotation of thanksgiving (as with ידה, yadah).
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; properly, to address in aloud tone, i.e. (specifically) loud; figuratively, to pacify (as if by words); commend, glory, keep in, praise, still, triumph.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שבח (sh-b-ḥ) — praise, extol, commend
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H7624 | שְׁבַח | the one who praises |
Word Forms
10 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7623-01 |
לְ֝/הִשְׁתַּבֵּ֗חַ | lehishetabecha | HR/Vtc |
to glory | to praise oneself | 2 | |
H7623-07 |
וְ/שִׁבַּ֤חְתִּֽי | veshibacheti | HC/Vpp1cs |
and I extolled | 1 | ||
H7623-10 |
יְשַׁבְּחֽוּ/נְךָ | yeshabechunekha | HVpi3mp/Sp2ms |
shall praise You | they will extol you | 1 | |
H7623-08 |
יְשַׁבַּ֣ח | yeshabach | HVpi3ms |
shall praise | he will extol aloud | 1 | |
H7623-06 |
וְ/שַׁבֵּ֧חַ | veshabecha | HC/Vpa |
to emphatically extol | 1 | ||
H7623-05 |
תְשַׁבְּחֵֽ/ם | teshabechem | HVpi2ms/Sp3mp |
humble them | you will extol them | 1 | |
H7623-09 |
יְשַׁבְּחֶֽ/נָּה | yeshabechenah | HVpi3ms/Sp3fs |
holds it back | he will extol her | 1 | |
H7623-03 |
שַׁבְּחִ֣י | shabechi | HVpv2fs |
Praise | Extol aloud! | 1 | |
H7623-02 |
מַשְׁבִּ֤יחַ | mashebicha | HVhrmsa |
causing-to-praise | one causing praise | 1 | |
H7623-04 |
שַׁ֝בְּח֗וּ/הוּ | shabechuhu | HVpv2mp/Sp3ms |
Laud Him | Extol him! | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
11 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7623-10 |
Psalms 63:4 | יְשַׁבְּחֽוּ/נְךָ | yeshabechunekha | HVpi3mp/Sp2ms |
shall praise You | they will extol you | |
H7623-02 |
Psalms 65:8 | מַשְׁבִּ֤יחַ | mashebicha | HVhrmsa |
causing-to-praise | one causing praise | |
H7623-05 |
Psalms 89:10 | תְשַׁבְּחֵֽ/ם | teshabechem | HVpi2ms/Sp3mp |
humble them | you will extol them | |
H7623-01 |
Psalms 106:47 | לְ֝/הִשְׁתַּבֵּ֗חַ | lehishetabecha | HR/Vtc |
to glory | to praise oneself | |
H7623-04 |
Psalms 117:1 | שַׁ֝בְּח֗וּ/הוּ | shabechuhu | HVpv2mp/Sp3ms |
Laud Him | Extol him! | |
H7623-08 |
Psalms 145:4 | יְשַׁבַּ֣ח | yeshabach | HVpi3ms |
shall praise | he will extol aloud | |
H7623-03 |
Psalms 147:12 | שַׁבְּחִ֣י | shabechi | HVpv2fs |
Praise | Extol aloud! | |
H7623-09 |
Proverbs 29:11 | יְשַׁבְּחֶֽ/נָּה | yeshabechenah | HVpi3ms/Sp3fs |
holds it back | he will extol her | |
H7623-06 |
Ecclesiastes 4:2 | וְ/שַׁבֵּ֧חַ | veshabecha | HC/Vpa |
to emphatically extol | ||
H7623-07 |
Ecclesiastes 8:15 | וְ/שִׁבַּ֤חְתִּֽי | veshibacheti | HC/Vpp1cs |
and I extolled |