Hebrew · H7650, G3660 · unreviewed

Shaba

To seven oneself, i.e. swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times) · to swear

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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant

שָׁבַע H7650 to seven oneself, i.e. swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times)
Pronunciation šābaʿ
Swearing binds oneself through ritual sevenfold repetition, encoding covenantal obligation into speech act.
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ὀμνύω G3660 to swear
Pronunciation omnýō
Solemn affirmation by oath; often involves swearing by or upon something considered sacred or authoritative.
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What does shaba (shaba) mean in the Bible?

שָׁבַע · ὀμνύω is a Hebrew word meaning "to swear, take an oath".

Full entry for shaba (H7650, G3660) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

to swear, take an oath
Grammatical Forms

How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.

Niphal passive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action 106×
Perfect 2Sam 3:9 · Amos 4:2 · Amos 6:8 · Amos 8:7 · Deut 1:8 · Deut 2:14 · Deut 4:31 · Deut 6:10 · Deut 6:18 · Deut 6:23 · Deut 7:8 · Deut 7:12 · Deut 7:13 · Deut 8:1 · Deut 8:18 · Deut 9:5 92×
Imperfect Deut 6:13 · Deut 10:20 · Isa 45:23 · Lev 5:4 · Isa 65:16 · Lev 5:24 · Gen 21:24 · Jer 5:2 · Lev 19:12
Sequential imperfect Josh 2:12 · Judg 15:12
Jussive 1Kgs 1:51 · Hos 4:15
Infinitive absolute Num 30:3
Hiphil causative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action
Perfect Song 2:7 · Song 3:5 · Song 5:8 · Song 8:4 · 1Sam 14:28 · Exod 13:19
Infinitive absolute 1Sam 14:28 · Exod 13:19
Imperfect Josh 23:7
Hebrew Verb Forms

How this verb appears across 115 occurrences in the Hebrew OT (OSHB Leningrad Codex).

Aspect / Form
Perfect 98 Imperfect 12 Infinitive absolute 3 Imperative 2
Stem
Niphal 106 Hiphil 9
Mood
Indicative 98 Indicative/jussive 9 Jussive 2 Imperative 2 Indicative/cohortative 1
OT Occurrences
Gen 21:24 Niphal · Imperfect · Indicative/cohortative Gen 21:31 Niphal · Perfect · Indicative Gen 22:16 Niphal · Perfect · Indicative Gen 24:7 Niphal · Perfect · Indicative Gen 26:3 Niphal · Perfect · Indicative Gen 50:24 Niphal · Perfect · Indicative Exod 13:5 Niphal · Perfect · Indicative Exod 13:11 Niphal · Perfect · Indicative Exod 13:19 Hiphil · Infinitive absolute Exod 13:19 Hiphil · Perfect · Indicative Exod 32:13 Niphal · Perfect · Indicative Exod 33:1 Niphal · Perfect · Indicative Lev 5:4 Niphal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Lev 5:24 Niphal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Lev 19:12 Niphal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Num 11:12 Niphal · Perfect · Indicative Num 14:16 Niphal · Perfect · Indicative Num 14:23 Niphal · Perfect · Indicative Num 30:3 Niphal · Infinitive absolute Num 32:11 Niphal · Perfect · Indicative Deut 1:8 Niphal · Perfect · Indicative Deut 1:35 Niphal · Perfect · Indicative Deut 2:14 Niphal · Perfect · Indicative Deut 4:31 Niphal · Perfect · Indicative Deut 6:10 Niphal · Perfect · Indicative Deut 6:13 Niphal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Deut 6:18 Niphal · Perfect · Indicative Deut 6:23 Niphal · Perfect · Indicative Deut 7:8 Niphal · Perfect · Indicative Deut 7:12 Niphal · Perfect · Indicative Deut 7:13 Niphal · Perfect · Indicative Deut 8:1 Niphal · Perfect · Indicative Deut 8:18 Niphal · Perfect · Indicative Deut 9:5 Niphal · Perfect · Indicative Deut 10:11 Niphal · Perfect · Indicative Deut 10:20 Niphal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Deut 11:9 Niphal · Perfect · Indicative Deut 11:21 Niphal · Perfect · Indicative Deut 13:18 Niphal · Perfect · Indicative Deut 19:8 Niphal · Perfect · Indicative +75 more occurrences

Aspect in Hebrew reflects grammatical form, not tense. "Perfect" (Perfective) typically denotes completed action; "Imperfect" (Imperfective) denotes incomplete or ongoing action. Stem modifies the action type (Qal=simple, Niphal=passive, Piel=intensive, etc.).

Morphology: OSHB WLC (Open Scriptures, CC BY 4.0) · STEPBible TEHMC (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0)

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources