Lexical Summary
saba or sabea: To be satisfied, to be full, to have in excess
Original Word:שָׂבַע
Part of Speech:Verb
Transliteration:saba`
Pronunciation:sah-VAH / sah-BAY-ah
Phonetic Spelling:(saw-bah')
KJV: have enough, fill (full, self, with), be (to the) full (of), have plenty of, be satiate, satisfy (with), suffice, be weary of
NASB:satisfied, satisfy, filled, full, had enough, have enough, have plenty
Word Origin:[a primitive root]
1. to sate, i.e. fill to satisfaction (literally or figuratively)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
have enough, fill full, self, with, be to the full of, have plenty of, be satiated
Or sabeay {saw-bay'-ah}; a primitive root; to sate, i.e. Fill to satisfaction (literally or figuratively) -- have enough, fill (full, self, with), be (to the) full (of), have plenty of, be satiate, satisfy (with), suffice, be weary of.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origina prim. root
Definitionto be sated, satisfied or surfeited
NASB Translationbecame satisfied (1), become weary (1), being satisfied (1), continually (1), drink their fill (1), enough (1), fed them to the full (1), filled (9), full (2), get enough (1), glutted (1), had enough (2), have his fill (1), have in plenty (1), have it in excess (1), have abundance (1), have enough (2), have plenty (2), plenty (1), ripe* (1), satiated (2), satisfied (49), satisfies (2), satisfy (10), saturates (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
[,]
96 (Late Hebrew (derived species) = Biblical Hebrew; so Assyrianšebû, Arabic
, Aramaic ,
, Palmyrene ; the Ethiopic verb of same, meaning is
:); —
79Perfect3masculine singular1 Chronicles 23:1, consecutiveDeuteronomy 31:20; 3pluralIsaiah 9:19, consecutiveDeuteronomy 14:29;Deuteronomy 26:12, etc.;Imperfect3masculine singularProverbs 12:11 +, 3 masculine pluralPsalm 104:28, etc.;ImperativeProverbs 20:13;Infinitive absoluteJoel 2:26; 2Chronicles 31:10; constructExodus 16:8;Lamentations 5:6,Haggai 1:6; —
be sated (with food), especially human subject:
,Hosea 4:10;Isaiah 9:19;Deuteronomy 8:10;Exodus 16:8 (P), + II t., compareIsaiah 44:16 ("" ); exposing men to arroganceDeuteronomy 6:11;Deuteronomy 8:12;Deuteronomy 31:20, compareHosea 13:6 (twice in verse) (Israel under figure of cattle),Jeremiah 50:19 (id.; with location; ""graze); = have (or get) enough to eatPsalm 37:19;Psalm 59:16, enough to drinkAmos 4:8, figurative of swordJeremiah 46:10, of wineHabakkuk 2:5.
Jeremiah 44:17;Lamentations 5:16;Exodus 16:12 (P), + 6 t., compareEzekiel 39:29 (of beasts, in figure), of earth, sated with water (rain)Proverbs 30:16, so of trees (accusative om)Psalm 104:16, figurative of requitalProverbs 18:20 b.
with of foodJob 19:22 (figurative); figurative of earth having its fill (of rain)Psalm 104:13, and (figurative of requital)Proverbs 18:20a; good senseProverbs 12:14 (strike out , so Toy), bad senseProverbs 1:31;Proverbs 14:14; with of sourceIsaiah 66:11 (figurative).
more Generally,be sated, have desire satisfied:
absoluteEzekiel 16:28,29 (i.e. with harlotry),Jeremiah 50:10 (with plunder),Isaiah 53:11 (with given result); of eyesProverbs 27:20, ofSh®°ôl and AbaddonProverbs 27:20, compareProverbs 30:15; = have abundanceProverbs 30:9 (exposure to arrogance).
with accusative,be satisfied with, have one's fill of:Jeremiah 31:14, comparePsalm 17:15;Psalm 63:6;Proverbs 5:10;Ecclesiastes 5:9, compare (eye subject)Ecclesiastes 4:8 Acc. of sonsPsalm 17:14 (si versa l., but text dubious, see Ol Du, compare Bae We), days of life, i.e. reach the full limit (+ )1 Chronicles 23:1; 2Chronicles 24:15.
with of goodnessPsalm 65:5, with id.Ecclesiastes 6:3.
with infinitive,Ecclesiastes 1:8 ("" )
have in excess, be surfeited with:
(accusative)Proverbs 25:16.
figurative =be weary of, with accusative of offeringsIsaiah 1:11 (subject ), tossingsJob 7:4, povertyProverbs 28:19, shameHabakkuk 2:16, contemptPsalm 123:3;Psalm 123:4 with accusative of personProverbs 28:17.
id., with of troublesPsalm 88:4, of reproachLamentations 3:30.
ParticiplesatedJob 31:31.
satisfy,Imperfect3masculine pluralEzekiel 7:19they shall notsatisfy their appitite (; "" );Imperative masculine singular suffix, subject ,Psalm 90:14 (2 accusative). Now (after and Manuscripts) readsHabakkuk 3:9, for , compare GASm; Gr Marti (adjective feminine construct) thy bow issated with shafts. We thinks hopeless.
Perfect3masculine singularPsalm 107:9, consecutiveIsaiah 58:11; 2feminine singularEzekiel 27:33, etc.;Imperfect3masculine singular suffixJob 9:18 2masculine singularIsaiah 58:10, 1singularJeremiah 5:7, suffixPsalm 81:17 van d. H., Baer Gi, etc.;Infinitive constructJob 38:27;ParticiplePsalm 103:5;Psalm 145:16; —
satisfy (especially with material blessings), subject , with acc. personJeremiah 5:7 (exposing men to arrogance),Isaiah 58:11 (accusative; of refreshment in drought, location, figurative of help and blessing),Psalm 107:9 (accusative ; "" ), comparePsalm 103:5 ( instrumental, on accusative see ); with accusative of groundJob 38:27 (i.e. with rain); human subject, with accusativeIsaiah 58:10
, subject,Psalm 81:17 ("" ),Psalm 105:40;Psalm 132:15;Psalm 147:14; with accusative of person +Psalm 91:16.
subject, accusative of thing + person,Psalm 145:16.
subject, c accusative of beast + (of Pharaoh, in prophetic figurative)Ezekiel 32:4.
enrich subject Tyre, with accusative of a peopleEzekiel 27:33 ("" ).
sate, glut (with the undesired), subject , with accusative of person + of thingLamentations 3:15, accusative of person +Job 9:18.
Topical Lexicon
Essential ConceptThe verb שָׂבַע conveys the idea of being filled, satiated, or satisfied, whether with food, abundance, years, or even with sorrow or sin. About ninety-nine times the word appears across the Old Testament, painting a unified picture of God as the ultimate source of fullness and of human responsibility either to enjoy that fullness in grateful obedience or to forfeit it through unbelief.
Physical Satiation and Daily Bread
From the earliest use—Israel’s complaint in the wilderness—שָׂבַע marks the contrast between Egyptian bondage and divine provision. “You have brought us into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger” (Exodus 16:3), yet on the very evening the LORD answered, “In the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God” (Exodus 16:12). The daily manna cycle forged the pattern: satisfaction is granted, not grasped.
The Torah links obedience to agricultural fullness: “You will eat your bread to the full and dwell securely in your land” (Leviticus 26:5; cf.Deuteronomy 11:15). Conversely, covenant curses threaten the removal of the verb’s blessing: “You will sow your seed in vain, for your enemies will eat it” (Leviticus 26:16). The same lesson echoes in the Prophets (Isaiah 9:20;Micah 6:14) and culminates in Joel’s restoration promise: “You will eat plenty and be satisfied, and you will praise the name of the LORD your God” (Joel 2:26).
Abundance in National History
The Joseph narrative uses the root repeatedly for the seven years of “great abundance” in Egypt (Genesis 41:29-31, 47, 53). The surplus became Israel’s physical salvation during famine, foreshadowing later deliverances when God again “filled” His people (Nehemiah 9:25).
In the monarchy period the same theme appears in Solomon’s reign—“Judah and Israel lived in safety… eating and drinking and rejoicing” (1 Kings 4:20)—and in temple provisions (2 Chronicles 31:10). Each high point anticipates the ideal kingdom in which “the needy will be satisfied with food” (Psalm 132:15).
Fullness of Years
The verb often describes the completion of a long, fruitful life: Abraham (Genesis 25:8), Isaac (Genesis 35:29), David (1 Chronicles 29:28), Jehoiada (2 Chronicles 24:15), and Job (Job 42:17) all died “full of days.” Here שָׂבַע is not primarily about quantity but divine completeness—life brought to term under covenant blessing.
Moral and Spiritual Satisfaction
Wisdom literature employs שָׂבַע to expose misplaced appetites. “He who loves money is never satisfied with money” (Ecclesiastes 5:10); “The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways” (Proverbs 14:14). By contrast the righteous discover lasting contentment: “I will be satisfied in Your presence with vision of You” (Psalm 17:15); “Satisfy us in the morning with Your loving devotion” (Psalm 90:14).
Priestly and Festal Overtones
The Levitical tithe ensured the Levite, stranger, fatherless, and widow could “eat within your gates and be satisfied” (Deuteronomy 14:29; 26:12). The festivals of Unleavened Bread, Weeks, and Booths turned the nation’s tables into testimonies of grace. In prophetic vision the future Jerusalem reflects that same priestly plenty: “My priests I will fully satisfy with abundance, and My people will be filled with My goodness” (Jeremiah 31:14).
Judgment for Sinful Satiety
Negative occurrences warn of hearts “filled” with idolatry (Ezekiel 16:28), violence (Ezekiel 23:33), or pride (Habakkuk 2:16). Hosea sums up the tragedy: “When they had pasture, they became satisfied; they were satisfied, and their hearts became proud; therefore they forgot Me” (Hosea 13:6).
Eschatological Fulfillment
The prophetic horizon promises a day when physical and spiritual hunger end simultaneously. “They will neither hunger nor thirst” (Isaiah 49:10) resonates with earlier assurances: “You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing” (Psalm 145:16). Jeremiah’s new-covenant oracle pictures perpetual supply, while Joel folds satisfaction into the outpouring of the Spirit—the prerequisite for New Testament fulfillment in Christ, “the bread of life” (John 6:35).
Distribution Overview
Pentateuch: 34 uses
Historical Books: 15 uses
Poetry & Wisdom: 27 uses
Major Prophets: 11 uses
Minor Prophets: 12 uses
These groupings underline the theme’s continuity from Exodus manna to prophetic hope.
Ministry Implications
1. Dependence: God alone grants true fullness; human striving without Him yields emptiness.
2. Gratitude: Material sufficiency should lead to worship, not pride.
3. Contentment: The gospel calls believers to satisfaction in God’s presence, anticipating eternal fullness.
4. Compassion: Since divine blessing aims at communal satiety, ministry that feeds the hungry mirrors God’s own heart.
Key Verses for Teaching and Meditation
Exodus 16:12
Deuteronomy 8:10
Psalm 17:15
Psalm 90:14
Psalm 132:15
Proverbs 14:14
Ecclesiastes 5:10
Jeremiah 31:14
Joel 2:26
Forms and Transliterations
אֶשְׂבְּעָ֥ה אֶשְׂבַּ֨ע ׀ אַשְׂבִּ֥יעַֽ אַשְׂבִּיעֵ֑הוּ אַשְׂבִּיעֶֽךָ׃ אשביע אשביעהו אשביעך׃ אשבע אשבעה הִ֭שְׂבִּיעַ הִשְׂבִּיעַ֥נִי הִשְׂבַּ֖עַתְּ הַמַּשְׂבִּ֣יַע המשביע השביע השביעני השבעת וְהִשְׂבִּ֤יעַ וְהִשְׂבַּעְתִּ֥י וְיִשְׂבָּ֑ע וְיִשְׂבָּ֗עוּ וְשָׂ֣בְעָ֔ה וְשָׂב֔וֹעַ וְשָׂב֤וֹעַ וְשָׂבֵ֑עוּ וְשָׂבֵֽעוּ׃ וְשָׂבַ֖ע וְשָׂבַ֖עְתִּי וְשָׂבַ֣ע וְשָׂבָ֑עְתָּ וְשָׂבָֽעְתָּ׃ וַֽיִּשְׂבְּעוּ֙ וַיִּשְׂבְּע֣וּ וַיִּשְׂבַּ֥ע וַיִּשְׂבָּ֔עוּ וַנִּֽשְׂבַּֽע־ וַתִּשְׂבַּ֖ע וּֽשְׂבַֽע־ וּמַשְׂבִּ֖יעַ וּשְׂבַעְתֶּ֔ם וּשְׂבַעְתֶּ֖ם וּשְׂבַעְתֶּ֤ם והשביע והשבעתי וישבע וישבעו ומשביע ונשבע־ ושבוע ושבע ושבע־ ושבעה ושבעו ושבעו׃ ושבעת ושבעת׃ ושבעתי ושבעתם ותשבע יְשַׂבֵּ֔עוּ יִ֝שְׂבְּע֗וּ יִ֝שְׂבָּעֲךָ֗ יִ֭שְׂבְּעוּ יִ֭שְׂבַּע יִֽשְׂבַּֽע־ יִשְׂבְּע֣וּ יִשְׂבְּע֥וּ יִשְׂבְּע֥וּן יִשְׂבְּעוּ־ יִשְׂבַּ֣ע יִשְׂבַּ֥ע יִשְׂבַּע־ יִשְׂבָּ֑עוּ יִשְׂבָּ֔ע יִשְׂבָּ֔עוּ יִשְׂבָּ֖עוּ יִשְׂבָּֽע׃ יִשְׂבָּֽעוּ׃ יַ֝שְׂבִּעַ֗נִי יַשְׂבִּיעֵֽךְ׃ יַשְׂבִּיעֵֽם׃ ישביעך׃ ישביעם׃ ישבע ישבע־ ישבע׃ ישבעו ישבעו־ ישבעו׃ ישבעון ישבעך ישבעני לְהַשְׂבִּ֣יעַ לִשְׂבֹּ֔עַ לִשְׂבֹּ֥עַֽ להשביע לשבע נִ֭שְׂבְּעָה נִשְׂבָּֽע׃ נשבע׃ נשבעה שְֽׂבַֽע־ שְׂבַ֥ע שַׂבְּעֵ֣נוּ שָֽׂבְעָ֣ה שָֽׂבְעָה־ שָׂ֣בְעָה שָׂבְע֖וּ שָׂבְעָ֔ה שָׂבְעָתֵ֑ךְ שָׂבֵ֑עוּ שָׂבַ֛עְתִּי שָׂבַ֤עְתָּ שָׂבַ֥עְנוּ שָׂבָֽעַתְּ׃ שבע שבע־ שבעה שבעה־ שבעו שבענו שבעת שבעת׃ שבעתי שבעתך תִּ֝שְׂבָּעֶ֗נּוּ תִּשְׂבְּעוּ־ תִּשְׂבַּ֣ע תִּשְׂבַּ֥ע תִשְׂבַּ֑עְנָה תִשְׂבַּ֣ע תִשְׂבַּ֥ע תִשְׂבַּֽעְנָה׃ תִשְׂבָּ֔ע תִשְׂבָּֽעוּ׃ תַּשְׂבִּ֑יעַ תשביע תשבע תשבעו־ תשבעו׃ תשבענה תשבענה׃ תשבענו ’aś·bî·‘ê·hū ’aś·bî·‘e·ḵā ’aś·bî·a‘ ’aśbî‘êhū ’aśbî‘eḵā ’aśbîa‘ ’eś·ba‘ ’eś·bə·‘āh ’eśba‘ ’eśbə‘āh asBia asbiEcha asbiEhu esBa esbeAh ham·maś·bi·ya‘ hammasBiya hammaśbiya‘ hiś·ba·‘at hiś·bî·‘a·nî hiś·bî·a‘ hiśba‘at hisBaat hiśbî‘anî Hisbia hiśbîa‘ hisbiAni lə·haś·bî·a‘ lehasBia ləhaśbîa‘ liś·bō·a‘ lisBoa liśbōa‘ niś·bā‘ niś·bə·‘āh nisBa niśbā‘ niśbə‘āh Nisbeah śā·ḇa‘·nū śā·ḇa‘·tā śā·ḇa‘·tî śā·ḇā·‘at śā·ḇə·‘ā·ṯêḵ śā·ḇə·‘āh śā·ḇə·‘āh- śā·ḇê·‘ū śā·ḇə·‘ū śab·bə·‘ê·nū śāḇā‘at śāḇa‘nū śāḇa‘tā śāḇa‘tî śabbə‘ênū sabbeEnu śāḇə‘āh śāḇə‘āh- śāḇə‘āṯêḵ śāḇê‘ū śāḇə‘ū saVaat saVanu saVata saVati saveAh saveaTech saVeu śə·ḇa‘ śə·ḇa‘- śəḇa‘ śəḇa‘- seVa taś·bî·a‘ tasBia taśbîa‘ tiś·ba‘ ṯiś·ba‘ ṯiś·bā‘ ṯiś·ba‘·nāh tiś·bā·‘en·nū ṯiś·bā·‘ū tiś·bə·‘ū- tisBa tiśba‘ ṯiśba‘ ṯiśbā‘ tiśbā‘ennū ṯiśba‘nāh ṯiśbā‘ū tisbaEnnu tisBanah tisBau tiśbə‘ū- tisbeu ū·maś·bî·a‘ ū·śə·ḇa‘- ū·śə·ḇa‘·tem umasBia ūmaśbîa‘ ūśəḇa‘- ūśəḇa‘tem useva usevaTem vaiyisBa vaiyisBau vaiyisbeU vannisba vattisBa vehisbaTi vehisBia vesaVa vesaVaeta vesaVati veSaveAh vesaVeu vesaVoa veyisBa veyisBau wan·niś·ba‘- wanniśba‘- wat·tiś·ba‘ wattiśba‘ way·yiś·ba‘ way·yiś·bā·‘ū way·yiś·bə·‘ū wayyiśba‘ wayyiśbā‘ū wayyiśbə‘ū wə·hiś·ba‘·tî wə·hiś·bî·a‘ wə·śā·ḇa‘ wə·śā·ḇa‘·tî wə·śā·ḇā·‘ə·tā wə·śā·ḇə·‘āh wə·śā·ḇê·‘ū wə·śā·ḇō·w·a‘ wə·yiś·bā‘ wə·yiś·bā·‘ū wəhiśba‘tî wəhiśbîa‘ wəśāḇa‘ wəśāḇā‘ətā wəśāḇa‘tî wəśāḇə‘āh wəśāḇê‘ū wəśāḇōwa‘ wəyiśbā‘ wəyiśbā‘ū yaś·bi·‘a·nî yaś·bî·‘êḵ yaś·bî·‘êm yaśbi‘anî yaśbî‘êḵ yaśbî‘êm yasbiAni yasbiEch yasbiEm yə·śab·bê·‘ū yəśabbê‘ū yesabBeu yiś·ba‘ yiś·bā‘ yiś·ba‘- yiś·bā·‘ă·ḵā yiś·bā·‘ū yiś·bə·‘ū yiś·bə·‘ū- yiś·bə·‘ūn yisba yiśba‘ yiśbā‘ yiśba‘- yiśbā‘ăḵā yiśbā‘ū yisbaacha yisBau yiśbə‘ū yiśbə‘ū- yiśbə‘ūn yisbeu yisbeUn
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