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שֶׁ֫בַע (she.va)

she.va

seven

H7651 · Hebrew · Old Testament · 318 verses

H:N

Quick Reference

Language
Biblical Hebrew
Testament
Old Testament
Occurrences
318 verses
Root
—
Part of speech
H:N

Word Overview

The Hebrew word shebaʿ functions primarily as the cardinal number seven, appearing in over three hundred verses across the Old Testament. While it denotes a specific quantity, its usage extends to compound numbers like seventeen or seven hundred, and it serves as the basis for ordinal expressions such as "the seventh year" in passages like 2 Kings 12:1.

Beyond simple counting, the term carries significant symbolic weight. Lexical sources note that seven is viewed as a sacred number representing completeness or fullness. This meaning underpins its implication for a week of days and its use to describe periods of time, such as the seven days mentioned in Genesis 8:10 during the flood narrative.

The word also appears in idiomatic expressions indicating intensity or repetition, such as "sevenfold" in Genesis 4:24. Its root connection to an oath (shebaʿ) suggests that the number became culturally associated with binding agreements and divine promises, reinforcing its role as a marker of certainty and wholeness in biblical literature.

Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).

What This Word Means for Your Faith

The number seven appears throughout Scripture not merely as a count, but as a sign of God’s complete and perfect work. When you read about seven days of creation or seven years of service, you are encountering a pattern that points to wholeness. This sacred rhythm reminds us that God’s plans unfold with precision and care, reaching their intended end without flaw.

In your own life, this concept offers comfort. It suggests that seasons of waiting or labor are not random or endless. Just as Jacob served seven years for Rachel and found them short because of his love, your faithful efforts are seen and valued by God. The number signals that a period is moving toward completion and rest.

When you feel overwhelmed by the length of a trial, remember that God marks time with purpose. His completeness includes both the hard work and the eventual peace. You can trust that He brings things to their fullness in His perfect timing, offering stability when life feels uncertain.

How it's translated

How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 318 verses where it appears, by frequency.

  • seven233×
  • and/ seven62×
  • [the] seven9×
  • [were] seven8×
  • seven-7×
  • for/ [the] seven5×
  • sevenfold4×
  • and/ in/ seven3×
  • [was] seven3×
  • [are] seven3×
  • seven [times]2×
  • on/ [the] seven-2×

Forms in the text

The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.

  • שִׁבְעַ֥ת43×
  • שִׁבְעַ֣ת38×
  • שֶׁ֣בַע34×
  • שֶׁ֥בַע21×
  • שְׁבַ֥ע15×
  • שֶׁ֖בַע10×
  • שִׁבְעָ֥ה10×
  • וּ/שְׁבַ֥ע9×
  • שֶׁ֤בַע8×
  • שִׁבְעָ֖ה8×
  • שִׁבְעָ֣ה7×
  • שִׁבְעַ֤ת7×

Key Verses

  • Genesis 7:4
    In seven days, I will cause it to rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights. I will destroy every living thing that I have made from the surface of the ground.”

    This verse establishes seven as the specific duration God sets before judgment, showing the number marks a divinely appointed period of waiting and preparation.

  • Genesis 29:20
    Jacob served seven years for Rachel. They seemed to him but a few days, for the love he had for her.

    Here the word describes Jacob’s service, illustrating how love can make long periods feel brief while still fulfilling a complete covenant requirement.

  • Genesis 21:30
    He said, “You shall take these seven ewe lambs from my hand, that it may be a witness to me, that I have dug this well.”

    Abraham uses seven ewe lambs as a witness to secure a well, demonstrating how the number signifies a binding agreement and legal certainty between people.

  • Genesis 8:10
    He waited yet another seven days; and again he sent the dove out of the ship.

    Noah waits another seven days before sending the dove again, showing that patience within God’s timeline is an active part of trusting His promises.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the number seven symbolize in the Bible?

In biblical literature, seven primarily represents completeness, fullness, or perfection. It is not just a quantity but a theological marker indicating that God’s work is finished or that a covenant is secure. This symbolism appears in creation, laws, and prophetic visions.

Is the number seven used literally or only symbolically?

It is used both ways. Sometimes it simply counts objects like sheep or days, as seen in Genesis 21:28. However, even in literal counts, the choice of seven often carries weight, pointing to divine order or a completed cycle rather than arbitrary counting.

Why does Jacob serve seven years for Rachel?

Jacob agrees to serve Laban for seven years to marry Rachel. This period represents a full and complete payment for the bride price. The text notes that these years felt short to him because of his deep love, highlighting how devotion affects our experience of time.

How is seven connected to oaths in the Old Testament?

The Hebrew root for seven (sheba) is also the root for oath. In Genesis 21, Abraham sets apart seven ewe lambs as a witness to his claim on a well. This act turns the number into a legal guarantee, showing that seven signifies a sworn and unbreakable agreement.

Every Occurrence (318 verses across 25 books)

Genesis 52 verses
Genesis 4:24

If Cain will be avenged seven times, truly Lamech seventy-seven times.”

Genesis 5:7

Seth lived after he became the father of Enosh eight hundred seven years, and became the father of other sons and…

Genesis 5:25

Methuselah lived one hundred eighty-seven years, then became the father of Lamech.

Genesis 5:26

Methuselah lived after he became the father of Lamech seven hundred eighty-two years, and became the father of other…

Genesis 5:31

All the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy-seven years, then he died.

Genesis 7:2

You shall take seven pairs of every clean animal with you, the male and his female. Of the animals that are not clean,…

Genesis 7:3

Also of the birds of the sky, seven and seven, male and female, to keep seed alive on the surface of all the earth.

Genesis 7:4

In seven days, I will cause it to rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights. I will destroy every living thing…

Genesis 7:10

After the seven days, the floodwaters came on the earth.

Genesis 7:11

In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the…

Genesis 8:4

The ship rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on Ararat’s mountains.

Genesis 8:10

He waited yet another seven days; and again he sent the dove out of the ship.

Genesis 8:12

He waited yet another seven days, and sent out the dove; and she didn’t return to him any more.

Genesis 8:14

In the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, the earth was dry.

Genesis 11:21

Reu lived two hundred seven years after he became the father of Serug, and became the father of more sons and daughters.

Genesis 21:28

Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.

Genesis 21:29

Abimelech said to Abraham, “What do these seven ewe lambs, which you have set by themselves, mean?”

Genesis 21:30

He said, “You shall take these seven ewe lambs from my hand, that it may be a witness to me, that I have dug this well.”

Genesis 23:1

Sarah lived one hundred twenty-seven years. This was the length of Sarah’s life.

Genesis 25:17

These are the years of the life of Ishmael: one hundred thirty-seven years. He gave up his spirit and died, and was…

Genesis 29:18

Jacob loved Rachel. He said, “I will serve you seven years for Rachel, your younger daughter.”

Genesis 29:20

Jacob served seven years for Rachel. They seemed to him but a few days, for the love he had for her.

Genesis 29:27

Fulfill the week of this one, and we will give you the other also for the service which you will serve with me for…

Genesis 29:30

He went in also to Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him seven more years.

Genesis 31:23

He took his relatives with him, and pursued him seven days’ journey. He overtook him in the mountain of Gilead.

Genesis 33:3

He himself passed over in front of them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.

Genesis 37:2

This is the history of the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his…

Genesis 41:2

Behold, seven cattle came up out of the river. They were sleek and fat, and they fed in the marsh grass.

Genesis 41:3

Behold, seven other cattle came up after them out of the river, ugly and thin, and stood by the other cattle on the…

Genesis 41:4

The ugly and thin cattle ate up the seven sleek and fat cattle. So Pharaoh awoke.

Genesis 41:5

He slept and dreamed a second time; and behold, seven heads of grain came up on one stalk, healthy and good.

Genesis 41:6

Behold, seven heads of grain, thin and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them.

Genesis 41:7

The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven healthy and full ears. Pharaoh awoke, and behold, it was a dream.

Genesis 41:18

and behold, seven fat and sleek cattle came up out of the river. They fed in the marsh grass;

Genesis 41:19

and behold, seven other cattle came up after them, poor and very ugly and thin, such as I never saw in all the land of…

Genesis 41:20

The thin and ugly cattle ate up the first seven fat cattle;

Genesis 41:22

I saw in my dream, and behold, seven heads of grain came up on one stalk, full and good;

Genesis 41:23

and behold, seven heads of grain, withered, thin, and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them.

Genesis 41:24

The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven good heads of grain. I told it to the magicians, but there was no one…

Genesis 41:26

The seven good cattle are seven years; and the seven good heads of grain are seven years. The dream is one.

Genesis 41:27

The seven thin and ugly cattle that came up after them are seven years, and also the seven empty heads of grain blasted…

Genesis 41:29

Behold, seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt are coming.

Genesis 41:30

Seven years of famine will arise after them, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt. The famine will…

Genesis 41:34

Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint overseers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt’s…

Genesis 41:36

The food will be to supply the land against the seven years of famine, which will be in the land of Egypt; so that the…

Genesis 41:47

In the seven plenteous years the earth produced abundantly.

Genesis 41:48

He 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…

Genesis 41:53

The seven years of plenty, that were in the land of Egypt, came to an end.

Genesis 41:54

The seven years of famine began to come, just as Joseph had said. There was famine in all lands, but in all the land of…

Genesis 46:25

These are the sons of Bilhah, whom Laban gave to Rachel, his daughter, and these she bore to Jacob: all the souls were…

Genesis 47:28

Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years. So the days of Jacob, the years of his life, were one hundred…

Genesis 50:10

They came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, and there they lamented with a very great and…

Exodus 18 verses
Leviticus 42 verses
Numbers 40 verses
Deuteronomy 11 verses
Joshua 9 verses
Judges 14 verses
Ruth 1 verse
I Samuel 7 verses
II Samuel 8 verses
I Kings 14 verses
II Kings 15 verses
I Chronicles 18 verses
II Chronicles 14 verses
Ezra 12 verses
Nehemiah 9 verses
Esther 8 verses
Job 5 verses
Psalms 1 verse
Proverbs 5 verses
Ecclesiastes 1 verse
Isaiah 3 verses
Jeremiah 7 verses
Daniel 1 verse
Zechariah 3 verses