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שָׂבַר

𐤔𐤁𐤓

sâbar

H7663 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To look intently or attentively, especially in hopeful or expectant anticipation; to wait for with expectancy or hope. This verb conveys the sense of attentive watching, generally accompanied by a state of expectancy or hope for a particular outcome, often focusing on what has not yet occured but is keenly anticipated.

Semantic Range

to look attentively, to scrutinize, to view carefully, to inspect, to watch with hope, to wait expectantly, to hope for

Root / Etymology

The word שָׂבַר derives from the Hebrew root שׂבר, whose fundamental meaning is 'to look' or 'to observe attentively.' The verb's derived sense, particularly in the Aramaic and later Hebrew, further develops into 'to hope' or 'to expect,' originating from the idea of watchful waiting. In Biblical Hebrew, the semantic range is relatively narrow and contextual, but expands significantly in later phases of the language.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, שָׂבַר appears only twice (Nehemiah 2:13, 15), both times using the pual form, with the sense of 'to inspect closely' or 'to scrutinize.' These contexts involve Nehemiah's close examination of the ruined walls of Jerusalem. The expectation-related sense of 'to hope' or 'to wait expectantly' is more pronounced in Aramaic (e.g., Daniel 2:9, wisdom literature) and much later post-biblical and rabbinic Hebrew. In the Second Temple and Rabbinic periods, the verb frequently denotes an attitude of patient expectancy, often with hope. Modern Hebrew standardizes this hopeful aspect ('to hope for'). The verbal root is sometimes confused with שָׁבַר (to break), but these are distinct roots. English translations vary widely; some render the form as 'to view' or 'to inspect,' which fits the immediate context, but may obscure the verb's dynamic semantic field in Hebrew and Aramaic across time.

Translation Consistency

primary "watch" 4 occurrences

שָׂבַר primarily conveys attentive, expectant looking — an active, focused kind of looking often with hope or waiting. "Watch" naturally captures both the visual attention and the sense of expectant waiting better than more affective verbs like "hope" or more neutral verbs like "look." It is natural English and fits typical biblical usages.

Alternatives (4 occurrences):
"wait expectantly" (1x) "hoped" (1x) "expectant watcher" (1x) "inspecting" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

erroneously שָׁבַר; (Nehemiah 2:13,15), a primitive root; to scrutinize; by implication (of watching) to expect (with hope and patience); hope, tarry, view, wait.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

שׂבר (sâbar) — to look attentively, to inspect, to anticipate hopefully, to expect

Root שׂבר to look attentively, to inspect, to anticipate hopefully, to expect
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H7664 שֵׂבֶר from my hopeful anticipation

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H7663-03 שֹׂבֵ֜ר sover HVqrmsa inspecting expectant watcher expectant watcher 2
H7663-05 יְשַׂבְּר֥וּ yesaberu HVpi3mp hope they will watch expectantly they will watch expectantly 2
H7663-01 שִׂבַּ֣רְתִּי sibareti HVpp1cs I have hoped I have watched expectantly I have watched expectantly 1
H7663-02 שִׂבְּר֜וּ siberu HVpp3cp had-hoped they eagerly expected they had hoped 1
H7663-04 תְּשַׂבֵּ֗רְנָה tesaberenah HVpi2fp wait you will watch expectantly you will wait expectantly 1
H7663-06 יְשַׂבֵּר֑וּ/ן yesaberun HVpi3mp/Sn wait they watch expectantly they watch expectantly 1

Occurrences in Scripture

8 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H7663-05 Isaiah 38:18 יְשַׂבְּר֥וּ yesaberu HVpi3mp hope they will watch expectantly they will watch expectantly
H7663-06 Psalms 104:27 יְשַׂבֵּר֑וּ/ן yesaberun HVpi3mp/Sn wait they watch expectantly they watch expectantly
H7663-01 Psalms 119:166 שִׂבַּ֣רְתִּי sibareti HVpp1cs I have hoped I have watched expectantly I have watched expectantly
H7663-05 Psalms 145:15 יְשַׂבֵּ֑רוּ yesaberu HVpi3mp look expectantly they will watch expectantly they will watch expectantly
H7663-04 Ruth 1:13 תְּשַׂבֵּ֗רְנָה tesaberenah HVpi2fp wait you will watch expectantly you will wait expectantly
H7663-02 Esther 9:1 שִׂבְּר֜וּ siberu HVpp3cp had-hoped they eagerly expected they had hoped
H7663-03 Nehemiah 2:13 שֹׂבֵ֜ר sover HVqrmsa inspecting expectant watcher expectant watcher
H7663-03 Nehemiah 2:15 שֹׂבֵ֖ר sover HVqrmsa inspecting expectant watcher inspecting
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