שָׁבַת (sha.vat)
sha.vat
to cease; to keep
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 49 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb shavat primarily means to cease, desist, or come to an end. In its most common usage, it describes a stopping of activity, particularly labor. This sense is foundational to the concept of the Sabbath, where the word appears frequently in Leviticus and Exodus to command rest from work. It marks a deliberate pause, a breaking of continuous effort that allows for renewal.
Beyond simple rest, shavat carries significant weight in prophetic literature, especially in Isaiah. Here, it often takes on a more severe tone in the Hiphil stem, meaning to cause something to cease or even to destroy. This dual nature shows how the same root can describe both the peace of stopping work and the finality of ending conflict or oppression. The word bridges the gap between human rest and divine intervention.
Its theological importance lies in this connection between cessation and holiness. By commanding Israel to shavat on the seventh day, Scripture links physical rest with spiritual trust. The act of ceasing labor becomes a testimony that God sustains creation, not human effort alone. This pattern establishes rhythm in biblical life, where stopping is as sacred as doing.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word shavat points to a deliberate pause in activity, marking a sacred rhythm in biblical life. It describes not merely stopping work but entering a state of rest that acknowledges God’s sovereignty. When Israel was commanded to shavat on the seventh day, it was an act of trust that God would provide even when human effort ceased. This pattern invites us to find peace in knowing that our worth is not tied to constant productivity.
Beyond personal rest, shavat carries a profound theological weight in prophetic literature. It can signify the end of conflict or oppression, reflecting God’s power to bring finality to suffering. Whether describing the peaceful cessation of labor or the decisive end of injustice, this word reminds us that God is the ultimate source of stability and renewal.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 49 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- it has ceased4×
- you will rest3×
- and/ I will put an end to3×
- they will cease2×
- it will cease2×
- he rested2×
- he has ceased2×
- and/ it will cease2×
- and/ he removed2×
- and/ I will cause to cease2×
- I have made to cease2×
- you will remove1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תִּשְׁבֹּ֑ת3×
- שָׁבַת֙3×
- שָׁבַ֖ת3×
- הִשְׁבַּֽתִּי\׃2×
- תַּשְׁבִּ֥יתוּ1×
- תִּשְׁבֹּֽת\׃1×
- תִּשְׁבַּ֣ת1×
- תִּשְׁבְּת֖וּ1×
- תַשְׁבִּ֗ית1×
- תִשְׁבַּ֤ת1×
- שָׁבָ֔תוּ1×
- שָׁבָ֔תָה1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 2:3
God blessed the seventh day, and made it holy, because he rested in it from all his work of creation which he had done.
This verse establishes the Sabbath as holy because God rested from His creative work, setting a precedent for human rest.
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Exodus 23:12
“Six days you shall do your work, and on the seventh day you shall rest, that your ox and your donkey may have rest, and the son of your servant, and the alien may be refreshed.
Here the command to rest extends to servants and animals, emphasizing communal care and shared relief from labor.
-
Leviticus 26:34
Then the land will enjoy its Sabbaths as long as it lies desolate and you are in your enemies’ land. Even then the land will rest and enjoy its Sabbaths.
The land itself is described as keeping Sabbaths during desolation, showing that rest is a divine requirement even for the earth.
-
Joshua 5:12
The manna ceased on the next day, after they had eaten of the produce of the land. The children of Israel didn’t have manna any more, but they ate of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.
The manna ceasing marks a transition from miraculous provision to settled life in the promised land, highlighting a change in how God sustains His people.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does shavat mean in the context of the Sabbath?
How is shavat different from simple tiredness or sleep?
Does shavat appear in prophetic books?
Every Occurrence (49 verses across 18 books)
Genesis 3 verses
On the seventh day God finished his work which he had done; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he…
Genesis 2:3God blessed the seventh day, and made it holy, because he rested in it from all his work of creation which he had done.
Genesis 8:22While the earth remains, seed time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night will not…