שְׂבִיב
𐤔𐤁𐤉𐤁
sᵉbîyb
H7631 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A flame or tongue of fire, especially as seen splitting or flickering; refers to the luminous part of fire, often characterized by separate, distinct 'tongues' or flickers seen in a blaze. In Aramaic biblical contexts, it specifically denotes a visible manifestation of fire, such as a fiery tongue or lick of flame.
Semantic Range
branching flame, flicker of fire, tongue of flame, flare
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root שָׁבִיב (shabiv), meaning 'flame', itself probably related to the notion of splitting or branching (suggesting the flickering or division of flames), though ultimate etymology is uncertain.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term שְׂבִיב appears only in the Aramaic section of the Hebrew Bible (Daniel 3:22) and always in the context of fire, describing the visible, active, and sometimes dangerous or lethal aspect of flames. It is closely parallel to the Hebrew שָׁבִיב. In post-biblical and later rabbinic Hebrew, related forms continue to mean 'tongue of flame' or 'flare.' English translations often render the word simply as 'flame,' but the original term emphasizes the flickering, branching, or 'tongued' nature of fire, which is difficult to capture fully in translation. The term does not carry any specific ritual or metaphorical nuances in the biblical texts where it occurs, but is concrete and descriptive. The word does not pertain to a mythical fire but to actual flames seen and experienced, e.g., in the fiery furnace narrative. In this context, 'flame' captures the idea, but modern readers should note the vivid, visually descriptive quality of the original.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) corresponding to שָׁבִיב; {flame (as split into tongues)}; flame.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שׁבב (sh-b-b) — to split, to branch, to flame
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7631-02 |
שְׁבִיבִ֣ין | shevivin | ANcmpa |
fiery flames | branching flames | fiery flames | 1 |
H7631-01 |
שְׁבִיבָ֖/א | sheviva | ANcmsd/Td |
flame-the | the branching flame | the flame | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7631-01 |
Daniel 3:22 | שְׁבִיבָ֖/א | sheviva | ANcmsd/Td |
flame-the | the branching flame | the flame |
H7631-02 |
Daniel 7:9 | שְׁבִיבִ֣ין | shevivin | ANcmpa |
fiery flames | branching flames | fiery flames |