סְבַר (se.var)
se.var
to intend
A:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:V
Word Overview
The Aramaic verb sevar means to form an intention or to think something through. It appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Daniel 7:25, where it describes the ambitions of a hostile ruler. The word captures the mental act of planning or devising a course of action before it is carried out.
This term is closely related to the Hebrew verb sabar, which means to wait for or expect. While sabar implies a patient waiting, sevar shifts the focus to the active mind that formulates a plan. In Daniel, the ruler uses this word to describe his intent to change laws and times, showing a calculated resolve rather than a sudden impulse.
Translators often render sevar as "think" or "intend," highlighting the deliberate nature of the ruler's schemes. The usage in Daniel underscores how political power relies on strategic planning. This single occurrence provides a clear window into the Aramaic vocabulary of the Persian period, distinguishing between passive waiting and active intent.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word sevar describes the deliberate act of forming an intention or planning a course of action. It appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, within the Aramaic section of Daniel 7:25. Here, it characterises the calculated resolve of a hostile ruler who seeks to change laws and times. This usage highlights how political power often relies on strategic, premeditated schemes rather than sudden impulses.
For your faith, this word offers a quiet reminder that human plans are temporary. While rulers may devise complex strategies to oppose divine order, their intentions remain limited by God's sovereignty. You can find comfort in knowing that no matter how carefully evil is plotted, it cannot outlast the established times of God.
When you face uncertainty or opposition, remember that your strength does not lie in your own ability to control outcomes through sheer will. Instead, trust in the One who sets the times and seasons. Your peace comes from resting in His unchanging word, rather than striving to manage every detail of a chaotic world.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- so/ he may think1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/יִסְבַּ֗ר1×
Key Verses
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Daniel 7:25
He will speak words against the Most High, and will wear out the saints of the Most High. He will plan to change the times and the law; and they will be given into his hand until a time and times and half a time.
This verse uses the term to describe the ruler's specific intent to alter religious laws and societal times, showing his calculated resolve.