Sabtah סַבְתָּה

Male Early Patriarch H5454 2 books

Son of Cush, grandson of Ham

Who is Sabtah in the Bible?

Sabtah was a son of Cush and a grandson of Ham, listed in the Table of Nations in Genesis 10:7 and 1 Chronicles 1:9. He appears among the descendants of Noah recorded in the genealogical records that detail the dispersal of people groups after the Flood. While the exact location and identity of Sabtah's descendants remain uncertain, some scholars have speculated that he may be associated with the ancient city of Shabwah in present-day Yemen or with the kingdom of Sabata in the southern Arabian Peninsula, though these connections are not definitively established. The mention of Sabtah in the Table of Nations underscores the biblical emphasis on the diversity of human populations that emerged from Noah's three sons and their expansion across the ancient world.

Biography

Sabtah (or Sabta) is mentioned in Gen.10.7 and 1Ch.1.9 as one of the sons of Cush, who was a son of Ham. He is listed among the descendants of Noah's sons in the Table of Nations, which records the dispersal of people groups after the Flood (Gen.10.1-32). The exact identity and location of the People from Sabtah are uncertain, but some scholars suggest a connection with the ancient city of Shabwah in present-day Yemen, which was an important center of trade in the region. Others propose a link with the ancient kingdom of Sabata, located in the southern Arabian Peninsula. However, these associations remain speculative due to the limited information provided in the biblical text. The inclusion of Sabtah in the Table of Nations highlights the diversity of peoples and nations that emerged from the descendants of Noah and their spread across the earth after the Flood.

Family

In Scripture

2 biblical books ; 1 with study content
Genesis 1 verse
  • Genesis 10:7

    "The sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca. And the sons of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan."

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1 Chronicles 1 verse
  • 1 Chronicles 1:9

    "The sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabta, Raamah, and Sabteca. The sons of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan."

Names & Aliases

Form Language Script
Named Hebrew סַבְתָּה
(same form as previous) Hebrew סַבְתָּה