שׇׂבְעָה (sov.ah)
sov.ah
satiety
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun shiv‘ah describes the state of being completely satisfied or having had one’s fill. It refers to the physical and emotional fullness that comes after eating enough, capturing the simple relief of satiety rather than excess.
This word appears only four times in the Hebrew Bible, with significant use in Isaiah and Haggai. In Isaiah 55:2, it contrasts with the futility of working for food that does not satisfy, highlighting a deeper spiritual hunger. The term grounds abstract concepts of blessing in tangible bodily experience.
Its rarity makes each occurrence stand out. Translators render it as "satiety" or "one's fill," preserving the concrete sense of physical completion. It serves as a baseline metaphor for understanding how ancient readers viewed basic needs and their fulfillment.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When life feels like an endless cycle of striving without result, the concept of satiety offers a gentle reminder that true satisfaction comes from alignment with God’s provision. In Haggai 1:6, the people experienced a frustrating emptiness—eating but not being filled, earning only to lose it all. This physical sensation of lacking reflects a deeper spiritual reality: when we chase our own ways, even abundance feels hollow.
Isaiah 55:2 invites us to stop spending energy on what cannot satisfy and instead listen for the source of genuine richness. The promise is not that every desire will be met instantly, but that those who seek God’s guidance will find their souls delighting in what is truly good. This word grounds our hope in the tangible experience of being fully satisfied by His presence.
Even in Isaiah 23:18, we see a vision where material gain is redirected toward holy purposes, ensuring that resources serve those who dwell before God. Satiety, then, is not just about having enough to survive, but about living in a way that honors the One who provides. It is an invitation to trust that God’s timing and methods bring lasting fullness.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- to/ satiety3×
- satiety1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שָׂבְעָ֔ה1×
- לְ/שָׂבְעָה֙1×
- לְ/שָׂבְעָ֖ה1×
- לְ/שָׂבְעָ֑ה1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 55:2
Why do you spend money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which doesn’t satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in richness.
This verse contrasts futile labor with the soul's delight in God's goodness, using satiety to highlight spiritual hunger.
-
Haggai 1:6
You have sown much, and bring in little. You eat, but you don’t have enough. You drink, but you aren’t filled with drink. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and he who earns wages earns wages to put them into a bag with holes in it.’
The people’s physical emptiness despite hard work illustrates how self-centered living leads to unsatisfied desires.
-
Isaiah 23:18
Her merchandise and her wages will be holiness to Yahweh. It will not be treasured nor laid up; for her merchandise will be for those who dwell before Yahweh, to eat sufficiently, and for durable clothing.
Here, merchandise is dedicated to Yahweh so that those who serve Him may eat sufficiently, linking provision to worship.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does shiv‘ah (H7654) mean in the Bible?
Why is this word significant in Isaiah 55:2?
How does Haggai 1:6 illustrate the concept of satiety?
Is there a difference between shiv‘ah and other words for 'fullness'?
Every Occurrence (4 verses across 2 books)
Isaiah 3 verses
Her merchandise and her wages will be holiness to Yahweh. It will not be treasured nor laid up; for her merchandise…
Isaiah 55:2Why do you spend money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which doesn’t satisfy? Listen diligently to…
Isaiah 56:11Yes, the dogs are greedy. They can never have enough. They are shepherds who can’t understand. They have all turned to…