סִבְלָה (se.va.lah)
se.va.lah
burden
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 6 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun sibliah refers to a heavy load or the state of bearing it, often in the context of forced labor. In the Hebrew Bible, this word describes the physical and administrative weight placed upon people, particularly during times of subjugation. It is not merely a metaphor for trouble but points to the concrete reality of compulsory service and the exhausting toil required by rulers.
This term appears six times in Scripture, with a significant concentration in the book of Exodus where it characterizes the harsh conditions of slavery in Egypt. The sources highlight its connection to "forced labor" and "compulsory service," distinguishing it from voluntary work. It captures the oppressive nature of state-imposed duties that drain human energy and dignity.
The word underscores the theological theme of liberation, as the Exodus narrative centers on God’s deliverance from this specific type of burden. By naming the weight of oppression, the text validates the suffering of the enslaved and frames their release as a restoration of freedom from unjust authority.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word sibliah describes a heavy load, specifically one imposed by force rather than chosen freely. In the book of Exodus, it captures the exhausting toil of slavery in Egypt, where people were stripped of their dignity and driven to breaking point by taskmasters. This is not just physical tiredness; it is the weight of oppression designed to crush the human spirit.
God sees this burden clearly. He does not ignore the suffering of those weighed down by unjust systems or personal trials. Instead, He promises to bring His people out from under these burdens. His deliverance is an act of liberation, restoring freedom and dignity to those who have been held captive by forces beyond their control.
When you feel overwhelmed by pressures that seem impossible to bear, remember that God notices the weight you carry. He is not distant from your struggle. His promise to bring you out offers hope that no burden is too heavy for His strength to lift and no oppression too deep for His justice to address.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 6 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [the] forced labor of2×
- with/ forced labor/ their1×
- to/ forced labor/ your1×
- on/ forced labor/ their1×
- from/ forced labor/ their1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בְּ/סִבְלֹתָ֑/ם2×
- סִבְלֹ֣ת1×
- סִבְל֥וֹת1×
- מִ/סִּבְלֹתָֽ/ם\׃1×
- לְ/סִבְלֹתֵי/כֶֽם\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 6:6
Therefore tell the children of Israel, ‘I am Yahweh, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm, and with great judgments.
This verse explicitly links God's action of redemption with the removal of the Egyptians' burdens, defining deliverance as freedom from forced labor.
-
Exodus 1:11
Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens. They built storage cities for Pharaoh: Pithom and Raamses.
It establishes the origin of the burden as a deliberate strategy by Pharaoh to afflict the Israelites through taskmasters and storage cities.
-
Exodus 2:11
In those days, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his brothers and saw their burdens. He saw an Egyptian striking a Hebrew, one of his brothers.
Moses witnessing these burdens marks the moment he becomes aware of his people's suffering, setting the stage for his future role as a deliverer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word sibliah mean?
How is sibliah different from other words for trouble?
Why is this word significant in Exodus?
Every Occurrence (6 verses across 1 books)
Exodus 6 verses
Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens. They built storage cities for Pharaoh:…
Exodus 2:11In those days, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his brothers and saw their burdens. He saw an Egyptian striking…
Exodus 5:4The king of Egypt said to them, “Why do you, Moses and Aaron, take the people from their work? Get back to your…
Exodus 5:5Pharaoh said, “Behold, the people of the land are now many, and you make them rest from their burdens.”
Exodus 6:6Therefore tell the children of Israel, ‘I am Yahweh, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians,…
Exodus 6:7I will take you to myself for a people. I will be your God; and you shall know that I am Yahweh your God, who brings…