שָׁבַר (sha.var)
sha.var
to break
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 106 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb shabar means to break something into pieces, whether that is a physical object like pottery or a ship, or an abstract concept like strength or spirit. It appears frequently in the Old Testament, with significant usage in Jeremiah and Psalms. The word captures the finality of destruction, describing how God might shatter idols or how enemies might crush Israel.
Its meaning extends beyond simple fracture to include crushing, quenching, and even bringing something to birth. For instance, it describes God breaking the thirst of wild animals in Psalm 104:11 or shattering the bow of war from the land in Hosea 2:18. The sources also note its use for breaking down boundaries, as when God sets limits for the sea in Job 38:10.
A notable nuance is its application to the human heart and mind. In Psalm 69:21 and Psalm 147:3, shabar describes a state of being broken or crushed in spirit, reflecting deep sorrow or humility. This figurative use highlights the word’s power to describe not just physical ruin but also emotional and spiritual vulnerability before God.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word shābar describes a forceful breaking that leaves no easy repair. It applies to earthen vessels, stubborn pride, and even the deepest parts of the human heart. When Scripture speaks of God breaking the bars of your yoke, it signals a liberation from oppression that is both sudden and complete. This action removes the weight that keeps you bound, allowing you to walk upright in freedom.
Yet this same root also appears in moments of profound vulnerability. The Bible does not shy away from the reality that grief can shatter us. In these times, the promise is not that we remain unbroken, but that God meets us in our shattered state. He brings healing to what has been crushed, turning destruction into a place where His strength becomes visible.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 106 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- I will break7×
- they broke4×
- he will be broken4×
- you shattered3×
- they will be broken3×
- it will be broken3×
- it is broken3×
- and/ it was broken3×
- and/ I will break3×
- you will break2×
- to/ break2×
- it has been broken2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שִׁבְּר֣וּ3×
- שָׁבַ֣רְתִּי2×
- נִשְׁבְּרָ֖ה2×
- יִ֝שָּׁבֵ֗ר2×
- וַ/יְשַׁבֵּ֥ר2×
- וְ/שָֽׁבַרְתִּי֙2×
- וְ/שִׁבַּר֙2×
- וְ/נִשְׁבָּ֔רוּ2×
- אֶשְׁבֹּ֞ר2×
- תִּשָּׁבַֽרְנָה\׃1×
- תִּשָּׁבַ֔רְנָה1×
- תִּשָּׁבַ֑רְנָה1×
Key Verses
-
Leviticus 26:13
I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that you should not be their slaves. I have broken the bars of your yoke, and made you walk upright.
This verse highlights the word's positive use, showing God breaking the bars of the yoke to grant freedom rather than imposing bondage.
-
Exodus 32:19
As soon as he came near to the camp, he saw the calf and the dancing. Then Moses’ anger grew hot, and he threw the tablets out of his hands, and broke them beneath the mountain.
Moses breaks the tablets, illustrating how covenantal integrity can be shattered by rebellion, a moment of irreversible rupture.
-
Judges 7:20
The three companies blew the trumpets, broke the pitchers, and held the torches in their left hands and the trumpets in their right hands with which to blow; and they shouted, “The sword of Yahweh and of Gideon!”
The breaking of pitchers reveals how God uses unexpected, fragile means to shatter the appearance of military power.
-
Exodus 12:46
It must be eaten in one house. You shall not carry any of the meat outside of the house. Do not break any of its bones.
The command not to break any bones of the Passover lamb establishes a protective boundary that preserves the sacrificial integrity.