What does שֵׂיבָה (sevah) mean in the Bible?
שֵׂיבָה (sevah): Gray hair as visible marker of honor and wisdom; old age carries inherent dignity in covenant community
Hebrew · H7872
שֵׂיבָה
Old age
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שֵׂיבָהH7872
Pronunciationsevah
What does שֵׂיבָה (sevah) mean in the Bible?
שֵׂיבָה (sevah): Gray hair as visible marker of honor and wisdom; old age carries inherent dignity in covenant community
Full entry for שֵׂיבָה (H7872) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H7872?
The BSB source-word alignment has 19 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include old age (3), {you will bring} my gray hair (1), and gray (1), and gray hair (1), at a ripe old age (1).
Where does שֵׂיבָה (sevah) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 15:15. Its strongest book concentrations include Genesis (5), 1 Kings (2), Proverbs (2), Psalms (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 Itold age3×Genesis 25:8, Judges 8:32, 1 Chronicles 29:28
{you will bring} my gray hair1×Genesis 42:38
and gray1×Psalms 71:18
and gray hair1×Proverbs 20:29
at a ripe old age1×Genesis 15:15
Gray hair1×Proverbs 16:31
had white hair1×Job 41:32
In old age1×Psalms 92:14
in your old age1×Ruth 4:15
let his gray head1×1 Kings 2:6
of the elderly1×Leviticus 19:32
the gray-haired1×Deuteronomy 32:25
to bring his gray head1×1 Kings 2:9
will have brought the gray hair1×Genesis 44:31
with gray1×Hosea 7:9
you turn gray1×Isaiah 46:4
you will bring my gray hair1×Genesis 44:29
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 15:15בְּשֵׂיבָ֥הtoat a ripe old agePreposition-b | Noun - feminine singularGenesis 25:8בְּשֵׂיבָ֥הtoold agePreposition-b | Noun - feminine singularGenesis 42:38שֵׂיבָתִ֛יto{you will bring} my gray hairNoun - feminine singular construct | first person common singularGenesis 44:29שֵׂיבָתִ֛יtoyou will bring my gray hairNoun - feminine singular construct | first person common singularGenesis 44:31שֵׂיבַ֨תtowill have brought the gray hairNoun - feminine singular constructLeviticus 19:32שֵׂיבָה֙toof the elderlyNoun - feminine singularDeuteronomy 32:25שֵׂיבָֽה׃tothe gray-hairedNoun - feminine singularJudges 8:32בְּשֵׂיבָ֣הtoold agePreposition-b | Noun - feminine singularRuth 4:15שֵׂיבָתֵ֑ךְtoin your old ageNoun - feminine singular construct | second person feminine singular1 Kings 2:6שֵׂיבָת֛וֹtolet his gray headNoun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 15:15
Aligned rows19
Books represented12
Genesis5Leviticus1Deuteronomy1Judges1Ruth11 Kings21 Chronicles1Job1Psalms2Proverbs2Isaiah1Hosea1
Source forms
בְּשֵׂיבָ֥ה2xbə·śê·ḇāhGenesis 15:15, Genesis 25:8
בְּשֵׂיבָ֣ה2xbə·śê·ḇāhJudges 8:32, 1 Chronicles 29:28
שֵׂיבָה֙2xśê·ḇāhLeviticus 19:32, Hosea 7:9
שֵׂיבָֽה׃2xśê·ḇāhDeuteronomy 32:25, Proverbs 20:29
שֵׂיבָת֛וֹ2xśê·ḇā·ṯōw1 Kings 2:6, 1 Kings 2:9
שֵׂיבָתִ֛י2xśê·ḇā·ṯîGenesis 42:38, Genesis 44:29
בְּשֵׂיבָ֑ה1xbə·śê·ḇāhPsalms 92:14
וְשֵׂיבָה֮1xwə·śê·ḇāhPsalms 71:18
Parsing patterns
Noun - feminine singular6xLeviticus 19:32, Deuteronomy 32:25, Proverbs 16:31, Proverbs 20:29
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular5xGenesis 15:15, Genesis 25:8, Judges 8:32, 1 Chronicles 29:28
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular2xGenesis 42:38, Genesis 44:29
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular2x1 Kings 2:6, 1 Kings 2:9
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular1xPsalms 71:18
Noun - feminine singular construct1xGenesis 44:31
Noun - feminine singular construct | second person feminine singular1xRuth 4:15
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular1xJob 41:32
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Gray hair as visible marker of honor and wisdom; old age carries inherent dignity in covenant community
Source Gloss
old age
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Gray hair as visible marker of honor and wisdom; old age carries inherent dignity in covenant community
old age BDB: hoary head Usage: (be) gray (grey hoar,-y) hairs (head,-ed), old age.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
gray hair
Showing 1 selected witness from 19 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
שֵׂיבָה is built from this root:
שֵׂיבH7869
Why This Word Matters
Symbol of unnoticed decline.Hosea 7:8-16
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.