סָבִיב (sa.viv)
sa.viv
around
H:AQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 188 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:A
Word Overview
The Hebrew word sâbîyb primarily means "around" or "on every side." It functions as an adverb, a preposition, and occasionally as a noun describing a circle or neighborhood. Its core sense is spatial enclosure, indicating that something surrounds a central point from all directions.
Scripture uses it to describe physical boundaries, such as the camp of Israel surrounded by the tabernacle (Numbers 1:53) or the walls built around Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 33:14). It also appears in poetic imagery, like the heavens encircling the earth (Isaiah 40:22), emphasizing God’s comprehensive presence.
The term derives from the root sâbab, meaning "to turn" or "to go around." This connection highlights movement and continuity. Translators often render it as "round about," capturing its sense of complete coverage without leaving any side exposed.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word sâbîyb paints a picture of complete enclosure. It describes how things are surrounded on every side, leaving no gap or weak point. In the Old Testament, this term often marks boundaries set by God for protection or holiness. When the Israelites camped around the tabernacle, they were physically enclosed by God’s presence. This spatial reality reminded them that they were never alone or exposed to danger without a divine covering.
For your faith life, this imagery offers comfort. Just as the camp was surrounded, you are held within God’s comprehensive care. The word implies that His attention is not partial but total. He sees what is in front of you and behind you alike. This understanding shifts our focus from feeling vulnerable to resting in a secure position.
Scripture uses this concept to show that God’s reach extends everywhere. Whether describing the heavens above or the earth below, the sense is one of full coverage. You can trust that no area of your life falls outside His view or care. This constant presence provides a stable foundation for daily living and spiritual growth.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 188 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- all around98×
- from/ round about21×
- around19×
- round about7×
- around/ it7×
- and/ around4×
- [were] all around4×
- around/ him3×
- [were] around/ them3×
- [were] around3×
- [is] from/ round about3×
- [are] around/ you3×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- סָבִֽיב\׃38×
- סָבִ֑יב19×
- סָבִ֖יב14×
- סָבִ֔יב11×
- סָבִיב֙9×
- סָבִ֗יב9×
- סָבִ֣יב6×
- מִ/סָּבִ֔יב6×
- מִ/סָּבִ֑יב6×
- מִ/סָּבִֽיב\׃5×
- סְבִיבֹ֥ת4×
- מִ/סָּבִ֖יב4×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 35:5
They traveled, and a terror of God was on the cities that were around them, and they didn’t pursue the sons of Jacob.
This verse shows the word describing cities around the travelers, highlighting how God’s protection creates a boundary that deters enemies from pursuing them.
-
Exodus 16:13
In the evening, quail came up and covered the camp; and in the morning the dew lay around the camp.
Here the term describes dew lying around the camp, illustrating how God’s provision covers the entire community uniformly and generously.
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Exodus 25:11
You shall overlay it with pure gold. You shall overlay it inside and outside, and you shall make a gold molding around it.
The instruction to overlay the ark inside and outside with a molding around it signifies that God’s holiness must encompass every aspect of His presence.
-
Exodus 29:16
You shall kill the ram, and you shall take its blood, and sprinkle it around on the altar.
Sprinkling blood around the altar demonstrates that atonement is applied comprehensively, marking the entire space as sacred and cleansed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word sâbîyb mean?
How is sâbîyb different from other words for surrounding?
Where does this word appear most often?
Every Occurrence (188 verses across 25 books)
Genesis 3 verses
So the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field, the cave which was in it, and all…
Genesis 35:5They traveled, and a terror of God was on the cities that were around them, and they didn’t pursue the sons of Jacob.
Genesis 41:48He gathered up all the food of the seven years which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities. He…