סְבָאִים (se.va.i)
se.va.i
Sabeans
N:N--PGQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--PG
Word Overview
The noun seva’im refers to the Sabeans, a people identified in Scripture as descendants of Sheba, a Cushite son of Raamah and brother of Dedan (Genesis 10:7). This same group appears in Job 1:15, where they are called Sabaeans and raid Job’s livestock. The term is derived from the name Sheba, linking them to a specific lineage within the broader Cushite family.
While primarily an ethnic designation, the word carries a secondary meaning as "drunkards" in Isaiah 28:1, 7, and 22. This usage likely plays on the phonetic similarity between Seba (the people) and seva (wine or intoxication), creating a pun that highlights their spiritual state. In these prophetic passages, the Sabeans are not just foreign raiders but symbols of those led astray by excess.
The word occurs only once in its ethnic sense (Job 1:15) and three times in its metaphorical sense (Isaiah 28:1, 7, 22). This dual usage shows how biblical writers could repurpose a proper name to convey deeper theological critique. The Sabeans become a literary device for describing those who have lost their way through indulgence.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Sabeans appear in Isaiah 45:14 as a people of stature who eventually acknowledge the God of Israel. This brief mention reminds us that recognition of truth is not limited to one nation or lineage. History shows that even distant nations can come to see that God is truly present among His people.
For your faith, this suggests that no one is too far from God’s reach. Whether you feel close or distant, the invitation to know Him remains open. It is a comforting thought that God’s presence is real and accessible to all who seek it with sincerity.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ [the] Sabeans1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וּ/סְבָאִים֮1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 45:14
Yahweh says: “The labor of Egypt, and the merchandise of Ethiopia, and the Sabeans, men of stature, will come over to you, and they will be yours. They will go after you. They shall come over in chains. They will bow down to you. They will make supplication to you: ‘Surely God is in you; and there is no one else. There is no other god.
This verse highlights the Sabeans as a foreign nation that ultimately recognizes Yahweh, showing God's reach extends beyond Israel.