שְׂבָם (se.vam)
se.vam
Sebam
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 6 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The noun sebam refers to a specific town located in Moab, east of the Jordan River. The name itself translates to "fragrance," a detail that stands out among the many place names recorded in the Hebrew Bible. This location appears in six verses, primarily within the books of Numbers, Joshua, and Isaiah.
Geographically, sebam lay near Heshbon in a pastoral district. It was one of the towns allotted to the tribes of Reuben and Gad after their conquest of the region. The sources highlight its identity as a distinct settlement rather than a generic term, anchoring its meaning firmly in this historical and territorial context.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Sebam, meaning fragrance, appears in biblical lists as a specific town in Moab. Its name suggests beauty and pleasantness, yet its history involves both settlement and sorrow. In Numbers, it is listed among the cities given to Reuben and Gad, showing God’s provision for His people in their inheritance. This detail reminds us that God cares about the details of our lives and our places.
Later, Isaiah and Jeremiah use Sebam as a symbol of lost beauty. The prophets describe how the vineyards there were destroyed, turning fragrance into grief. This contrast shows that earthly blessings can be fragile. Yet, even in judgment, God’s word remains true and faithful to His promises.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 6 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Sibmah4×
- and/ Sibmah1×
- and/ Sebam1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שִׂבְמָ֔ה2×
- שִׂבְמָ֗ה1×
- שִׂבְמָ֑ה1×
- וּ/שְׂבָ֥ם1×
- וְ/שִׂבְמָ֔ה1×
Key Verses
-
Numbers 32:3
“Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo, and Beon,
This verse lists Sebam among the cities allotted to Reuben and Gad, highlighting its role in Israel's territorial inheritance.
-
Isaiah 16:8
For the fields of Heshbon languish with the vine of Sibmah. The lords of the nations have broken down its choice branches, which reached even to Jazer, which wandered into the wilderness. Its shoots were spread abroad. They passed over the sea.
Here, Sebam is described as having vines that reached even to Jazer, illustrating its former agricultural wealth before destruction.
-
Jeremiah 48:32
With more than the weeping of Jazer I will weep for you, vine of Sibmah. Your branches passed over the sea. They reached even to the sea of Jazer. The destroyer has fallen on your summer fruits and on your vintage.
Jeremiah uses the vine of Sebam as a metaphor for Judah’s coming sorrow, comparing it to the weeping of Jazer.