What does סָבַב (savav) mean in the Bible?
סָבַב (savav): Movement around a center point, from literal encirclement to figurative transformation or redirect of circumstances.
Hebrew · H5437
סָבַב
To revolve , surround , or border ; used in various applications, literally and figuratively
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through the Connect page. Screenshots are helpful.
סָבַב H5437
Pronunciation savav
What does סָבַב (savav) mean in the Bible?
סָבַב (savav): Movement around a center point, from literal encirclement to figurative transformation or redirect of circumstances.
Full entry for סָבַב (H5437) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H5437?
The BSB source-word alignment has 161 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include . . . (7), turned (7), surrounded (5), surround me (4), Turn (4).
Where does סָבַב (savav) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 2:11. Its strongest book concentrations include Psalms (22), 1 Samuel (14), 2 Chronicles (13), Joshua (13).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It . . . 7× Exodus 39:6, 1 Kings 7:15, 1 Kings 7:23, 1 Kings 7:24
turned 7× Joshua 16:6, Judges 18:23, 1 Samuel 15:27, 1 Samuel 22:18
surrounded 5× Genesis 19:4, Judges 19:22, 2 Samuel 18:15, 2 Kings 8:21
surround me 4× Job 16:13, Psalms 22:12, Psalms 22:16, Psalms 49:5
Turn 4× 1 Samuel 22:17, 1 Samuel 22:18, Song Of Solomon 2:17, Ezekiel 1:9
away 3× 1 Kings 21:4, 2 Chronicles 29:6, Song Of Solomon 6:5
March around 3× Joshua 6:3, Joshua 6:4, Psalms 48:12
turning 3× Ezekiel 1:12, Ezekiel 10:11
and he changed 2× 2 Kings 23:34, 2 Chronicles 36:4
and prowling around 2× Psalms 59:6, Psalms 59:14
around 2× Exodus 13:18, 2 Chronicles 13:13
entangled me 2× 2 Samuel 22:6, Psalms 18:5
Fall in 2× 2 Kings 9:18, 2 Kings 9:19
I will turn 2× Jeremiah 21:4, Ezekiel 7:22
may be transferred 2× Numbers 36:7, Numbers 36:9
on their rounds 2× Song Of Solomon 3:3, Song Of Solomon 5:7
over 2× 1 Chronicles 10:14, 1 Chronicles 12:23
surrounded it 2× 2 Kings 3:25, Ecclesiastes 9:14
turned around 2× 1 Kings 8:14, 2 Chronicles 6:3
winds through 2× Genesis 2:11, Genesis 2:13
[and] round 1× Ecclesiastes 1:6
am responsible 1× 1 Samuel 22:22
and after they had traveled a roundabout 1× 2 Kings 3:9
and bypassed 1× Judges 11:18
and changed 1× 2 Kings 24:17
and curved 1× Joshua 15:3
and go about 1× Song Of Solomon 3:2
and has turned 1× 1 Samuel 15:12
and he brought it around 1× 2 Chronicles 33:14
And he came around 1× Ezekiel 42:19
And he turned away 1× Genesis 42:24
and led me around 1× Ezekiel 47:2
and march around 1× Joshua 6:7
and marched around 1× Joshua 6:15
and surround them 1× 2 Chronicles 14:7
and surrounded 1× Judges 20:5
and then turn 1× Jeremiah 31:39
and turned 1× Ezra 6:22
are all around them 1× Hosea 7:2
aside 1× 2 Samuel 18:30
began 1× Ecclesiastes 2:20
bring about 1× 2 Samuel 14:20
but circle 1× 2 Samuel 5:23
but circle around 1× 1 Chronicles 14:14
carried around 1× Joshua 6:11
circled around 1× Joshua 19:14
closed around me 1× Jonah 2:5
cross 1× Numbers 34:4
curled 1× Joshua 15:10
directed 1× Ecclesiastes 7:25
eluded 1× 1 Samuel 18:11
gather around You 1× Psalms 7:7
gathered around 1× Genesis 37:7
had surrounded 1× 2 Kings 6:15
has turned 1× 1 Kings 2:15
have turned 1× 1 Kings 18:37
he dragged 1× 2 Samuel 20:12
He may return 1× 2 Samuel 14:24
he removed 1× 2 Kings 16:18
He surrounded him 1× Deuteronomy 32:10
in circumference 1× Jeremiah 52:21
in order to bypass 1× Numbers 21:4
is not rolled 1× Isaiah 28:27
it has swung open 1× Ezekiel 26:2
Move aside 1× 2 Samuel 18:30
must be moved 1× 1 Samuel 5:8
on a circuit 1× 1 Samuel 7:16
on all sides 1× 1 Kings 5:3
on every side 1× Psalms 118:11
once again 1× Psalms 71:21
pivoting 1× Ezekiel 1:17
returned 1× 2 Samuel 14:24
returned home 1× 1 Chronicles 16:43
round 1× Ecclesiastes 1:6
sit down [to eat] 1× 1 Samuel 16:11
So they carried away 1× 1 Samuel 5:8
So they turned 1× 2 Chronicles 18:31
So they went throughout 1× 2 Chronicles 23:2
stroll through 1× Isaiah 23:16
surround him 1× Job 40:22
surround us 1× Psalms 17:11
surrounded me 1× Psalms 118:10
surrounds him 1× Psalms 32:10
surrounds Me 1× Hosea 11:12
swinging 1× Ezekiel 41:24
swirled about me 1× Jonah 2:3
that I may go about 1× Psalms 26:6
that you turned 1× Psalms 114:5
Then he turned 1× 1 Samuel 17:30
Then Hezekiah turned 1× 2 Kings 20:2
Then let us bring back 1× 1 Chronicles 13:3
Then mount 1× Exodus 28:11
then turns 1× Ecclesiastes 1:6
These [stones] were mounted 1× Exodus 39:13
they circled 1× Joshua 6:15
they encircle 1× Psalms 55:10
they engulf me 1× Psalms 88:17
they had moved 1× 1 Samuel 5:9
They have brought 1× 1 Samuel 5:10
they marched around 1× Joshua 6:14
They surround me 1× Psalms 109:3
they surrounded [that place] 1× Judges 16:2
They surrounded me 1× Psalms 118:11
They swarmed around me 1× Psalms 118:12
They went 1× 2 Chronicles 17:9
they will surround 1× Joshua 7:9
to bring 1× 2 Samuel 3:12
turn away 1× 2 Chronicles 35:22
turns 1× Proverbs 26:14
veer away 1× Ezekiel 10:16
walk 1× Ecclesiastes 12:5
we wandered around 1× Deuteronomy 2:1
were changed 1× Numbers 32:38
will be turned 1× Zechariah 14:10
will be turned over 1× Jeremiah 6:12
will come around 1× Habakkuk 2:16
will shelter 1× Jeremiah 31:22
will turn 1× Numbers 34:5
You have been wandering around 1× Deuteronomy 2:3
You surround me 1× Psalms 32:7
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 2:11 הַסֹּבֵ֗ב to winds through Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Genesis 2:13 הַסּוֹבֵ֔ב to winds through Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Genesis 19:4 נָסַ֣בּוּ to surrounded Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural Genesis 37:7 תְסֻבֶּ֙ינָה֙ to gathered around Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine plural Genesis 42:24 וַיִּסֹּ֥ב to And he turned away Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Exodus 13:18 וַיַּסֵּ֨ב to around Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Exodus 28:11 מֻסַבֹּ֛ת to Then mount Verb - Hofal - Participle - feminine plural construct Exodus 39:6 מֻֽסַבֹּ֖ת to . . . Verb - Hofal - Participle - feminine plural Exodus 39:13 מֽוּסַבֹּ֛ת to These [stones] were mounted Verb - Hofal - Participle - feminine plural Numbers 21:4 לִסְבֹ֖ב to in order to bypass Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Genesis 2:11
Aligned rows 161
Books represented 25
Genesis 5 Exodus 4 Numbers 6 Deuteronomy 3 Joshua 13 Judges 5 1 Samuel 14 2 Samuel 10 1 Kings 8 2 Kings 10 1 Chronicles 5 2 Chronicles 13 Ezra 1 Job 2 Psalms 22 Proverbs 1 Ecclesiastes 7 Song Of Solomon 5 Isaiah 3 Jeremiah 6 Ezekiel 12 Hosea 2 Jonah 2 Habakkuk 1 Zechariah 1
Source forms
וַיַּסֵּ֥ב 5x way·yas·sêḇ 1 Kings 21:4, 2 Kings 20:2, 2 Kings 23:34, 2 Kings 24:17
וַיִּסֹּ֥ב 4x way·yis·sōḇ Genesis 42:24, 1 Samuel 15:27, 1 Samuel 18:11, 1 Chronicles 16:43
וַיָּסֹ֙בּוּ֙ 4x way·yā·sōb·bū 2 Samuel 18:15, 2 Chronicles 17:9, 2 Chronicles 23:2, Jeremiah 41:14
יִסַּ֖בּוּ 4x yis·sab·bū Ezekiel 1:12, Ezekiel 1:17, Ezekiel 10:11
סְבָב֑וּנִי 4x sə·ḇā·ḇū·nî Psalms 18:5, Psalms 109:3, Psalms 118:10, Psalms 118:11
וַיַּסֵּ֤ב 3x way·yas·sêḇ Joshua 6:11, 1 Kings 8:14, 2 Chronicles 6:3
הָסֵב֙ 2x hā·sêḇ 2 Samuel 5:23, 1 Chronicles 14:14
וַיִּסֹּ֤ב 2x way·yis·sōḇ 1 Samuel 17:30, 2 Samuel 14:24
Parsing patterns
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular 12x Exodus 13:18, Joshua 6:11, 2 Samuel 20:12, 1 Kings 8:14
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural 11x Joshua 6:14, Joshua 6:15, Judges 16:2, Judges 20:5
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural | first person common singular 11x 2 Samuel 22:6, Psalms 18:5, Psalms 22:12, Psalms 22:16
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular 10x Genesis 42:24, Judges 11:18, 1 Samuel 15:12, 1 Samuel 15:27
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular 8x Numbers 34:4, Numbers 34:5, Joshua 15:3, Joshua 15:10
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular 7x 1 Samuel 5:8, 2 Samuel 14:24, 1 Kings 7:15, 1 Kings 7:23
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural 6x Ezekiel 1:9, Ezekiel 1:12, Ezekiel 1:17, Ezekiel 10:11
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular 5x 1 Samuel 22:18, 2 Samuel 18:30, 2 Kings 9:18, 2 Kings 9:19
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Movement around a center point, from literal encirclement to figurative transformation or redirect of circumstances.
Strong's H5437
Lexical occurrences 158 verses Word forms 6 forms 57 references Verse guides 0 guides
Study link Hosea 7:1-7 Source Gloss
to revolve , surround , or border ; used in various applications, literally and figuratively
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups 6 Aligned forms 57
Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 34×
Imperfect 1Kgs 7:15 · 1Kgs 7:23 · 1Sam 5:8 · 2Chr 4:2 · 2Sam 14:24 · Ps 114:3 · Zech 14:10 · Hab 2:16 · Num 36:7 · Num 36:9 · Prov 26:14 · 1Sam 16:11 · Gen 37:7 · Job 16:13 · Josh 6:4 · Ps 114:5 16×
Sequential imperfect 1Sam 22:18 · 2Kgs 9:18 · 2Kgs 9:19 · 2Sam 18:30 · Song 2:17 · 1Sam 22:17 · Ps 48:13 · Isa 23:16 8×
Participle active 1Kgs 7:24 · 2Chr 4:3 · 2Kgs 6:15 · Eccl 1:6 5×
Perfect 1Sam 22:22 · Eccl 7:25 · Ezek 42:19 · Josh 6:15 4×
Infinitive construct Deut 2:3 1×
Niphal passive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action 9×
Imperfect Ezek 1:9 · Ezek 1:12 · Ezek 1:17 · Ezek 10:11 · Ezek 10:16 6×
Perfect Gen 19:4 · Judg 19:22 · Ezek 26:2 3×
Hiphil causative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action 10×
Perfect 2Chr 13:13 · 2Chr 35:22 · 2Kgs 16:18 · 1Sam 5:9 · 1Sam 5:10 · 1Kgs 18:37 6×
Sequential imperfect 1Chr 14:14 · 2Sam 5:23 · Song 6:5 3×
Participle active Jer 21:4 1×
Piel intensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action 1×
Infinitive construct 2Sam 14:20 1×
Hophal causative passive — the subject is caused to perform the action 2×
Imperfect Isa 28:27 1×
Participle passive Num 32:38 1×
Poel 1×
Imperfect Jer 31:22 1×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
to surround
It surrounds him; it encompasses; it wraps around; implies a 360-degree sphere of protection
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 158 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
סָבַב is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Why This Word Matters
Imagery of sin encircling before God’s face. Hosea 7:1-7
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain