שִׁבְעָנָה
𐤔𐤁𐤏𐤍𐤄
shibʻânâh
H7658 adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
A feminine numerical form designating the quantity 'seven,' used in specific enumerative, ritual, or legal contexts where the grammatical feminine is required. This form occurs when the number seven is applied to feminine nouns or in agreement with feminine gender, reflecting standard rules of Hebrew numerical concord. Like other cardinal numbers, it denotes a quantity (seven) and not an intrinsic qualitative meaning.
Semantic Range
the number seven (in feminine grammatical form), seven (feminine subject), sevenfold (when modifying a feminine noun); rarely used as an intensifying or legal enumerator in feminine contexts
Root / Etymology
From the root שׁ-ב-ע (שבע), which conveys the notion of 'seven' or being 'full/complete' (as seven often represents completion in biblical Hebrew). שִׁבְעָנָה (shibʻânâh) is an extended feminine form of שֶׁבַע (sheva‘, 'seven'), with the '-נה' ending marking the feminine plural or emphasizing feminine agreement, though here it functions as a prolonged singular feminine.
Historical & Contextual Notes
שִׁבְעָנָה is a less common feminine form for the number seven, typically appearing in legal, ritual, or narrative contexts requiring a feminine agreement. It occurs syntactically where a feminine noun follows and the number must agree in gender, as with נשׁים ('women') or other feminine plurals. It reflects nuances of Hebrew grammatical structure rather than carrying an independent semantic sense beyond 'seven.' Its rare usage—instead of the more standard שֶׁבַע (sheva‘, the usual feminine for 'seven')—may reflect stylistic or archaic features preserved from earlier stages of Hebrew or for poetic/liturgical effect. English translations simply render it as 'seven,' which is accurate but obscures the grammatical specificity of the form.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
prolonged for the masculine of שֶׁבַע; seven; seven.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שבע (sh-b-ʿ) — seven, fullness, completion, oath-taking
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1339 | בַּת־שֶׁבַע | seven |
| H3090 | יְהוֹשַׁבְעַת | YHWH-has-sworn |
| H7620 | שָׁבוּעַ | in your seven-cycles |
| H7621 | שְׁבוּעָה | by oath-of |
| H7637 | שְׁבִיעִי | in the seventh |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7658-01 |
שִׁבְעָ֥נָה | shiveanah | HAcmsa |
seven | seven | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7658-01 |
Job 42:13 | שִׁבְעָ֥נָה | shiveanah | HAcmsa |
seven | seven |