שָׁבִיס (sha.vis)
sha.vis
headband
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun shavis refers to a front band, specifically one worn by women across the forehead. It appears only once in the Old Testament, in Isaiah 3:18, where it is listed among the elaborate ornaments of Jerusalem’s daughters.
This item was part of a broader collection of headpieces and jewelry that signified status and beauty in ancient Israelite society. The prophet uses this specific accessory to illustrate the vanity and pride that contributed to the nation's downfall, showing how even small details of dress carried significant social weight.
Because the word is so rare, its exact material or construction remains unclear, but it clearly functioned as a decorative element rather than a practical one. Its singular occurrence highlights how personal adornment could become a symbol of spiritual arrogance when disconnected from humility and justice.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word shavis appears only once in Scripture, describing a delicate headband worn by women in ancient Israel. In Isaiah 3:18, it is listed alongside other ornaments that the prophet says God would remove. This single mention reminds us that external beauty and status symbols are temporary. What we wear or display often reflects our heart’s focus.
When adornment becomes a source of pride or identity apart from God, it can distract from deeper spiritual realities. The removal of these items in Isaiah points to a time when superficial distinctions would no longer matter. Instead, true worth is found in humility and reliance on the Lord. This passage invites us to examine what we value most and to seek beauty that endures beyond this life.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ the/ amulets1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/הַ/שְּׁבִיסִ֖ים1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 3:18
In that day the Lord will take away the beauty of their anklets, the headbands, the crescent necklaces,
This verse uniquely uses shavis to illustrate how God will strip away the elaborate headpieces that symbolized vanity and social status.