What does שְׁבוּעָה (šĕbûʿāh) mean in the Bible?
שְׁבוּעָה (šĕbûʿāh): Oath as a binding verbal act that invokes divine witness to enforce covenant commitment or legal obligation
Hebrew · H7621
שְׁבוּעָה
Properly, something sworn , i.e. an oath
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שְׁבוּעָהH7621
Pronunciationšĕbûʿāh
What does שְׁבוּעָה (šĕbûʿāh) mean in the Bible?
שְׁבוּעָה (šĕbûʿāh): Oath as a binding verbal act that invokes divine witness to enforce covenant commitment or legal obligation
Full entry for שְׁבוּעָה (H7621) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H7621?
The BSB source-word alignment has 30 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include the oath (7), an oath (3), and the oath He swore (2), oath (2), your oath (2).
Where does שְׁבוּעָה (šĕbûʿāh) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 24:8. Its strongest book concentrations include Numbers (5), Joshua (3), Ecclesiastes (2), Genesis (2).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itthe oath7×Genesis 26:3, Deuteronomy 7:8, Joshua 9:20, 1 Samuel 14:26
an oath3×Exodus 22:11, Leviticus 5:4, Numbers 30:2
and the oath He swore2×1 Chronicles 16:16, Psalms 105:9
oath2×Joshua 2:17, Judges 21:5
your oath2×1 Kings 2:43, Ecclesiastes 8:2
. . .1×Habakkuk 3:9
allegiance1×Ezekiel 21:23
and the curse1×Daniel 9:11
as a curse1×Isaiah 65:15
by oath1×Nehemiah 6:18
curse1×Numbers 5:21
from the oath1×Joshua 2:20
oath of mine1×Genesis 24:8
sworn1×Numbers 30:13
themselves with a sworn1×Nehemiah 10:29
to swear1×Zechariah 8:17
to take a vow1×Ecclesiastes 9:2
under the oath1×Numbers 5:21
with an oath1×Numbers 30:10
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 24:8מִשְּׁבֻעָתִ֖יtooath of minePreposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singularGenesis 26:3הַשְּׁבֻעָ֔הtothe oathArticle | Noun - feminine singularExodus 22:11שְׁבֻעַ֣תtoan oathNoun - feminine singular constructLeviticus 5:4בִּשְׁבֻעָ֖הtoan oathPreposition-b | Noun - feminine singularNumbers 5:21בִּשְׁבֻעַ֣תtounder the oathPreposition-b | Noun - feminine singular constructNumbers 5:21וְלִשְׁבֻעָ֖הtocurseConjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singularNumbers 30:2שְׁבֻעָה֙toan oathNoun - feminine singularNumbers 30:10בִּשְׁבֻעָֽה׃towith an oathPreposition-b | Noun - feminine singularNumbers 30:13שְׁבֻעַ֥תtoswornNoun - feminine singular constructDeuteronomy 7:8הַשְּׁבֻעָה֙tothe oathArticle | Noun - feminine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 24:8
Aligned rows30
Books represented21
Genesis2Exodus1Leviticus1Numbers5Deuteronomy1Joshua3Judges11 Samuel12 Samuel11 Kings11 Chronicles12 Chronicles1Nehemiah2Psalms1Ecclesiastes2Isaiah1Jeremiah1Ezekiel1Daniel1Habakkuk1Zechariah1
Source forms
שְׁבֻעַ֣ת2xšə·ḇu·‘aṯExodus 22:11, 1 Kings 2:43
בִּשְׁבֻעָ֖ה1xbiš·ḇu·‘āhLeviticus 5:4
בִּשְׁבֻעָֽה׃1xbiš·ḇu·‘āhNumbers 30:10
בִּשְׁבֻעַ֣ת1xbiš·ḇu·‘aṯNumbers 5:21
הַשְּׁבוּעָ֖ה1xhaš·šə·ḇū·‘āhJoshua 9:20
הַשְּׁבוּעָ֨ה1xhaš·šə·ḇū·‘āhJudges 21:5
הַשְּׁבוּעָ֗ה1xhaš·šə·ḇū·‘āh2 Chronicles 15:15
הַשְּׁבוּעָ֜ה1xhaš·šə·ḇū·‘āhJeremiah 11:5
Parsing patterns
Article | Noun - feminine singular7xGenesis 26:3, Deuteronomy 7:8, Joshua 9:20, Judges 21:5
Noun - feminine singular construct5xExodus 22:11, Numbers 30:13, 2 Samuel 21:7, 1 Kings 2:43
Noun - feminine singular3xNumbers 30:2, Nehemiah 6:18, Ecclesiastes 9:2
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular2x1 Chronicles 16:16, Psalms 105:9
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular2xLeviticus 5:4, Numbers 30:10
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person feminine singular2xJoshua 2:17, Joshua 2:20
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct1xZechariah 8:17
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine singular1xDaniel 9:11
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Oath as a binding verbal act that invokes divine witness to enforce covenant commitment or legal obligation
Source Gloss
properly, something sworn , i.e. an oath
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Oath as a binding verbal act that invokes divine witness to enforce covenant commitment or legal obligation
properly, something sworn, i.e. an oath BDB: oath Usage: curse, oath, × sworn.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Word Origins
שְׁבוּעָה is built from this root:
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.