שֵׂיב
𐤔𐤉𐤁
sêyb
H7869 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
"White hair; the state of being gray-headed or aged, specifically referencing the visible sign of advanced age (white or gray hair) rather than the abstract concept of old age per se. In some passages, the term metonymically stands for the honor or dignity associated with advanced age or venerability, but it retains a literal association with gray or white hair."
Semantic Range
gray hair, white hair, old age (by metonymy), the aged (as characterized by grayness), venerableness (by extension)
Root / Etymology
From the root שׂיב (š-y-b), meaning 'to become gray or white (of hair)'. שֵׂיב derives as a nominal form referencing the condition or appearance described by the verb, i.e., grayness or whiteness of hair as a marker of advanced age.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, שֵׂיב almost always refers to the visible condition of white hair as an external marker of age, often symbolizing wisdom, honor, or the culmination of a full life (cf. Proverbs 16:31, 'a crown of glory'). While modern translations may render it as 'old age,' the term inherently makes reference to an observable, physical trait rather than the entirety of aging or elderhood. Other Hebrew terms (e.g., זִקְנָה ziqnah) more generally denote old age or elderliness, whereas שֵׂיב emphasizes the specific feature of gray or white hair. This term does not inherently connote specific social status, but contextually, respect and dignity may be implied where age and white hair are honored. In later Jewish and Christian translations, the term was sometimes understood or rendered more abstractly as 'age' or 'elderliness,' losing its original focus on the physical attribute. Its use in poetry and wisdom literature highlights the cultural valuation of aging as accompanied by dignity.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from שִׂיב; old age; age.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שיב (š-y-b) — to become gray, to turn white (of hair)
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7869-01 |
מִ/שֵּׂיבֽ/וֹ | miseyvo | HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms |
because of his age | from his gray hair | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7869-01 |
1 Kings 14:4 | מִ/שֵּׂיבֽ/וֹ | miseyvo | HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms |
because of his age | from his gray hair |