Lexical Summary
shabar: broken, break, shattered
Original Word:שָׁבַר
Part of Speech:Verb
Transliteration:shabar
Pronunciation:shah-VAHR
Phonetic Spelling:(shaw-bar')
KJV: break (down, off, in pieces, up), broken((-hearted)), bring to the birth, crush, destroy, hurt, quench, X quite, tear, view (by mistake for H7663)
NASB:broken, break, shattered, broke, broke in pieces, breaks, smash
Word Origin:[a primitive root]
1. to burst (literally or figuratively)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
break down, off, in pieces, up, brokenhearted, bring to the birth, crush, destroy,
A primitive root; to burst (literally or figuratively) -- break (down, off, in pieces, up), broken((-hearted)), bring to the birth, crush, destroy, hurt, quench, X quite, tear, view (by mistake forsabar).
see HEBREWsabar
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origina prim. root
Definitionto break, break in pieces
NASB Translationabolish (1), break (25), break down (1), breaking in pieces (1), breaks (5), breaks in pieces (1), bring to the point (1), broke (9), broke in pieces (6), broke the in pieces (1), broke down (1), broken (55), broken down (1), broken off (1), brokenhearted* (3), collapse (1), crush (2), crushed (2), demolished (1), destroy (2), fractured (1), hurt (2), injured (1), pieces (1), placed (1), point of birth (1), quench (1), shatter (2), shattered (13), smash (3), smashed (2), tore down (1), torn (2).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
148 (Late Hebrew
id.; Sabean ,
break, destroy DHM
Hof. Mus., no. 1, l. 26 Mordtm
Hi 74; Arabic
restrain, destroy; Aramaic ,
; Assyrian
šabâru,
break, break in pieces; Ethiopic
break); —
53Perfect3masculine singular1 Kings 13:28;Isaiah 14:5, etc.;Imperfect3masculine singularJeremiah 19:11, -Isaiah 42:3; 3feminine singularProverbs 25:15, etc.;Imperative masculine singularPsalm 10:15, suffixJeremiah 17:18;Infinitive constructGenesis 19:9 2t.,Jeremiah 28:12;Participle activeEzekiel 4:16 2t.;passiveLeviticus 22:22, plural constructPsalm 147:3; —break, literally, object earthen vesselJudges 7:20;Leviticus 11:33 (P),Jeremiah 19:11 (in simile, compareJeremiah 19:11;Jeremiah 48:33;Isaiah 30:14, flaskJeremiah 19:10, gate-barAmos 1:5 (in metaphor), bowHosea 1:5;Jeremiah 49:35, and swordHosea 2:20 (), bone of lambExodus 12:46;Numbers 9:12 (P), and (in metaphor)Proverbs 25:15, compare i.e. fractured of limbLeviticus 22:22 (H), yokeJeremiah 28:10,12,13, and, in metaphor, of deliverance ( subject)Jeremiah 28:2;Jeremiah 28:4;Jeremiah 28:11;Jeremiah 38:8 (with ), +4 t., of rebellionJeremiah 2:20;Jeremiah 5:5, so staffIsaiah 14:5 5t., reedIsaiah 42:3, arm of PharaohEzekiel 30:21,22,24 comparePsalm 10:15; trees (subject thunder)Psalm 29:5;break in, down, doorGenesis 19:9 (J);rend violently (of lion), man1 Kings 13:26, ass1 Kings 13:28;wreck Tyre (as ship)Ezekiel 27:26; figurativebreak prideLeviticus 26:19 (H);crush (figurative)Isaiah 14:25 (compareJeremiah 48:28 above),Lamentations 1:15;Daniel 11:26;Jeremiah 17:18;break, rupture, heart (figurative)Psalm 69:21+Ezekiel 6:9 (see
near the end),Psalm 147:3;Job 38:10broke for it my boundary, of sea, reference to abrupt ending of mainland; =quench thirst (frangere sitim)Psalm 104:11.
57Perfect3masculine singularExodus 22:9 +, etc.;Imperfect3masculine singularLeviticus 6:21 +, 3 feminine singularEcclesiastes 12:6, 2masculine singularEzekiel 29:7, -Ezekiel 32:28, etc.;Infinitive constructJonah 1:4ParticiplePsalm 51:19, feminine singularPsalm 51:19,Ezekiel 27:34 +, etc.; —be broken, of neck1 Samuel 4:18, bonesPsalm 34:21, gate-barsJeremiah 51:30, rod (in figurative)Isaiah 14:21;Jeremiah 48:17, idolsEzekiel 6:4,6, hornDaniel 8:8, compareDaniel 8:22, armJob 31:22 (), and (in metaphor)Jeremiah 48:25;Job 38:15;Psalm 37:17, compareEzekiel 30:22, boughEzekiel 31:12;Isaiah 27:11, compare (figurative) of wickedness, like a treeJob 24:20, other thingsPsalm 37:15;Jeremiah 50:23;Ezekiel 29:7;Psalm 124:7; cisternsJeremiah 2:13 (id.), potteryLeviticus 6:21;Leviticus 15:12 (P),Ecclesiastes 12:6 (in figurative); =be maimed, crippled (have limb broken), of animalExodus 22:9;Exodus 22:13 (E), and (figurative)Ezekiel 34:4,16;Zechariah 11:16, so (figurative of men stumbling)Isaiah 8:15;Isaiah 28:13;be wrecked, of ships1 Kings 22:49 (read Qr ), "" 2 Chronicles 20:37;Jonah 1:4, metaphor of TyreEzekiel 27:34; figurative becrushed, destroyed (person, warriors, kingdoms, etc.),Jeremiah 14:17;Jeremiah 22:20;Jeremiah 48:4;Jeremiah 51:8 10t.; figurativebe broken, of heartJeremiah 23:9;Isaiah 61:1;Psalm 34:19;Psalm 51:19, comparePsalm 34:19. —Exodus 6:9 read probably (We Sm Berthol Toy Krae); Co .
36Perfect3masculine singularIsaiah 21:9 +,Exodus 9:25, etc.;Imperfect3masculine singularPsalm 46:10 +, 2 masculine pluralExodus 34:13, etc.;Infinitive absoluteExodus 23:24;Participle1 Kings 19:11; —shatter, break, tabletsExodus 32:19 (E),Exodus 34:1 (J),Deuteronomy 9:17;Deuteronomy 10:2;Exodus 23:24 (E; + Infinitive absolute),Exodus 34:13 (J) + 7 t.; images2 Kings 11:18 3t.; bronze sea, etc.,2 Kings 25:13 =Jeremiah 52:17; hornsDaniel 8:7; jawsJob 29:17 (in figurative); of hailshattering treeExodus 9:25 (J), compare1 Kings 19:11; elsewhere subject ,shattering gate-bars, etc., weaponsIsaiah 45:2;Isaiah 38:13;Lamentations 2:9;Lamentations 3:4;Psalm 46:10;Psalm 76:4;Psalm 107:16, treesPsalm 29:5;Psalm 105:33, heads ofPsalm 74:13;wrecking shipPsalm 48:8.
cause to break out, i.e.bring to the birth,Imperfect1singularIsaiah 66:9 ( subject; compare below).
be broken, shattered (in heart),Perfect1singularJeremiah 8:21.
Leviticus 22:22 see √
[] ( Syriac; Biblical Hebrew ); —
Participle pass feminine singularDaniel 2:42broken in pieces (kingdom).
see
Topical Lexicon
Foundational Sense and Scope of Usageשָׁבַר appears about 148 times and depicts the fracturing of something formerly whole—objects, bodies, nations, covenants, or hearts. The verb moves easily from the concrete (smashing pottery) to the abstract (shattering pride), creating a rich vocabulary of judgment, repentance, and deliverance.
Physical Destruction in Historical Narrative
•Exodus 32:19 records Moses hurling the stone tablets and “shattering them at the base of the mountain,” dramatizing Israel’s breach of covenant.
•Judges 7:20 shows Gideon’s three hundred men who “broke the jars” to launch their surprise attack, a symbolic and tactical act that preceded Midian’s collapse.
•2 Kings 18:4 notes that Hezekiah “broke into pieces the bronze serpent,” demonstrating reform by literal destruction of an idol.
Such passages anchor שָׁבַר within Israel’s history as decisive action against sin, idolatry, and enemy oppression.
Divine Sovereignty: The LORD Who Shatters Power
Prophets consistently employ שָׁבַר to declare God’s authority over the nations.
•Isaiah 14:5: “The LORD has broken the staff of the wicked, the scepter of the rulers.”
•Jeremiah 50:2 prophesies that Babylon’s idols will be “shattered.”
•Ezekiel 30:21-22 pictures Egypt’s arm “broken” so it can no longer wield the sword.
Here the verb underscores the certainty of divine judgment; political might is no match for the God who breaks.
Human Brokenness That Leads to Repentance
Scripture balances judgment with mercy by portraying internal brokenness as acceptable worship.
•Psalm 51:17: “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.”
•Isaiah 57:15 promises revival to the “contrite and humble.”
The same verb that destroys external rebellion also describes the inward humility God honors. Shattered pride becomes the soil for renewal.
Covenant Breach and Restoration
Shattering often marks covenant violation. Moses’ broken tablets dramatize Israel’s immediate apostasy. Conversely, prophetic hope envisions a day when what has been broken will be healed (Jeremiah 33:6).Zechariah 11:10 presents the breaking of a shepherd’s staff as symbolic termination of a covenant, reminding hearers that covenant relationship is not immune to judgment.
Prophetic and Poetic Imagery
Psalms, Proverbs, and Lamentations develop the metaphorical range:
•Psalm 124:7 celebrates escape: “The snare is broken, and we have escaped.”
•Proverbs 6:15 warns of sudden calamity: the wicked will be “shattered beyond recovery.”
•Lamentations 4:4 laments infants whose tongues “stick to the roof” for lack of bread, a city’s sustenance broken.
Such texts move readers from visible ruin to moral and spiritual reflection.
Messianic Trajectory and Fulfillment
While שָׁבַר itself is not applied directly to Messiah in the Old Testament, its theology prepares the way. The Suffering Servant is “crushed for our iniquities” (Isaiah 53:5), and at the Lord’s Supper Jesus identifies broken bread with His body (Matthew 26:26). The pattern is clear: God brings redemptive wholeness through what is broken, culminating at the cross where judgment and mercy intersect.
Pastoral and Ministry Implications
1. Preaching: Shabar texts call believers to confront idolatry decisively (as Hezekiah did) and to trust God to break oppressive powers.
2. Counseling:Psalm 51 affirms that genuine repentance involves heart-level brokenness, which God receives, not rejects.
3. Worship: Liturgical readings can pair the terror of divine shattering with assurances of restoration, maintaining the tension of holiness and grace.
4. Social ethics: Prophetic uses urge the Church to stand against systems of oppression, confident that the LORD ultimately shatters unjust scepters.
Summary
שָׁבַר weaves a double theme: God shatters prideful resistance, yet He cherishes the brokenhearted. Historical acts of smashing tablets, idols, and enemy arms become vivid sermons on covenant faithfulness. Prophetic oracles warn and comfort, Psalms invite contrition, and the gospel reveals that in Christ the broken are made whole.
Forms and Transliterations
אֲשַׁבֵּ֔ר אֶשְׁבֹּ֔ר אֶשְׁבֹּ֞ר אֶשְׁבֹּ֤ר אֶשְׁבֹּ֥ר אֶשְׁבּ֣וֹר אַשְׁבִּ֛יר אשבור אשביר אשבר בְּשִׁבְרִ֣י בְּשִׁבְרִי֙ בְּשִׁבְרִי־ בר בשברי בשברי־ הַנִּשְׁבָּ֑רֶת הָשְׁבָּ֑רְתִּי הנשברת השברתי וְהַ֨נִּשְׁבֶּ֔רֶת וְהַנִּשְׁבֶּ֖רֶת וְיִשָּׁבֵ֑רוּ וְלַנִּשְׁבֶּ֙רֶת֙ וְלַנִּשְׁבֶּ֣רֶת וְנִשְׁבְּר֖וּ וְנִשְׁבְּר֤וּ וְנִשְׁבַּ֣ר וְנִשְׁבָּ֔רוּ וְשִׁבַּ֖ר וְשִׁבַּ֗ר וְשִׁבַּר֙ וְשִׁבַּרְתֶּם֙ וְשַׁבֵּ֥ר וְשָֽׁבַרְתִּי֙ וְשָׁבַ֥רְתִּי וְשָׁבַרְתִּ֖י וְשָׁבַרְתִּ֥י וְשָׁבַרְתִּי֙ וְשָׁבַרְתָּ֖ וְתִשָּׁ֤בֶר וַ֝יְשַׁבֵּ֗ר וַֽיִּשְׁבְּרֵ֙הוּ֙ וַֽיִּשְׁבְּרֵֽהוּ׃ וַיְשַׁבְּר֣וּ וַיְשַׁבֵּ֥ר וַיְשַׁבֵּר֙ וַיִּשְׁבְּר֣וּ וַיִּשָּׁבְר֣וּ וַיִּשָּׁבֵ֔ר וַתִּשָּׁבֵ֑ר וַתִּשָּׁבֵ֖ר וַתִּשָּׁבֵ֤ר וַתִּשָּׁבַ֤רְנָה וָֽ֭אֲשַׁבְּרָה וָאֲשַׁבְּרֵ֖ם וָאֶשְׁבֹּ֣ר וָאֶשְׁבֹּר֙ וּ֠שְׁבָרָהּ וּמְשַׁבֵּ֤ר ואשבר ואשברה ואשברם והנשברת וישבר וישברהו וישברהו׃ וישברו ולנשברת ומשבר ונשבר ונשברו ושבר ושברה ושברת ושברתי ושברתם ותשבר ותשברנה יְ֭שַׁבֵּר יְשַׁבֵּ֖ר יִ֝שָּׁבֵ֗ר יִשְׁבְּר֖וּ יִשְׁבְּר֖וּהוּ יִשְׁבְּרוּ־ יִשְׁבֹּר֙ יִשְׁבּ֔וֹר יִשָּׁבֵ֑ר יִשָּׁבֵ֔ר יִשָּׁבֵֽר׃ ישבור ישבר ישבר׃ ישברו ישברו־ ישברוהו לְהִשָּׁבֵֽר׃ לְנִשְׁבְּרֵי־ לִשְׁב֣וּרֵי לִשְׁבֹּ֣ר לִשְׁבֹּ֤ר לִשְׁבֹּ֥ר להשבר׃ לנשברי־ לשבורי לשבר נִשְׁבְּר֖וּ נִשְׁבְּר֥וּ נִשְׁבְּרָ֖ה נִשְׁבְּרָ֛ה נִשְׁבְּרָה֙ נִשְׁבֶּ֥רֶת נִשְׁבַּ֖ר נִשְׁבַּ֜רְתִּי נִשְׁבַּ֥ר נִשְׁבַּ֧ר נִשְׁבַּר֙ נִשְׁבָּ֑רָה נִשְׁבָּ֗ר נִשְׁבָּ֥ר נִשְׁבָּ֫רָ֥ה נִשְׁבָּֽרָה׃ נִשְׁבָּרִ֔ים נִשְׁבְּר֥וּ נשבר נשברה נשברה׃ נשברו נשברים נשברת נשברתי שְׁ֭בֹר שְׁב֞וֹר שְׁבָרֵ֖ךְ שִׁ֭בַּר שִׁבְּר֣וּ שִׁבֵּ֑רוּ שִׁבֵּֽר׃ שִׁבַּ֑רְתָּ שִׁבַּ֖ר שִׁבַּ֖רְתָּ שִׁבַּ֣ר שִׁבַּ֥ר שִׁבַּֽרְתָּ׃ שֶׁ֨בֶר שָֽׁבְרָ֥ה שָׁ֣בְרוּ שָׁב֜וּר שָׁבְרֵֽם׃ שָׁבַ֖ר שָׁבַ֞רְתִּי שָׁבַ֣רְתִּי שָׁבַ֥ר שָׁבָ֑רְתִּי שָׁבָ֑רְתָּ שָׁבָֽר׃ שֹׁבֵ֖ר שֹׁבֵ֣ר שֹׁבֵ֤ר שבור שבר שבר׃ שברה שברו שברך שברם׃ שברת שברת׃ שברתי תְּ֝שַׁבֵּ֗ר תְּשַׁבֵּ֑רוּ תְּשַׁבֵּ֖ר תְּשַׁבֵּר֑וּן תִּשְׁבָּר־ תִּשָּׁבֵ֔ר תִּשָּׁבֵ֣ר תִּשָּׁבֵֽר׃ תִּשָּׁבַ֑רְנָה תִּשָּׁבַ֔רְנָה תִּשָּׁבַ֥ר תִּשָּׁבַֽרְנָה׃ תִשְׁבְּרוּ־ תִשְׁבֹּֽרוּ׃ תִשָּׁבֵֽר׃ תשבר תשבר־ תשבר׃ תשברו תשברו־ תשברו׃ תשברון תשברנה תשברנה׃ ’ă·šab·bêr ’aš·bîr ’ăšabbêr ’ašbîr ’eš·bō·wr ’eš·bōr ’ešbōr ’ešbōwr ashabBer ashBir bar bə·šiḇ·rî bə·šiḇ·rî- beshivRi bəšiḇrî bəšiḇrî- ḇōr eshBor hā·šə·bā·rə·tî han·niš·bā·reṯ hannišbāreṯ hannishBaret hāšəbārətî hasheBareti lə·hiš·šā·ḇêr lə·niš·bə·rê- lehishshaVer ləhiššāḇêr lənišbərê- lenishberei liš·bōr liš·ḇū·rê lišbōr lišḇūrê lishBor lishVurei niš·bā·rāh niš·bā·rîm niš·bar niš·bār niš·bar·tî niš·bə·rāh niš·be·reṯ niš·bə·rū nišbar nišbār nišbārāh nišbārîm nišbartî nišbərāh nišbereṯ nišbərū nishBar nishBarah nishbaRim nishBarti nishbeRah nishBeret nishbeRu šā·ḇā·rə·tā šā·ḇā·rə·tî šā·ḇar šā·ḇār šā·ḇar·tî šā·ḇə·rāh šā·ḇə·rêm šā·ḇə·rū šā·ḇūr šāḇar šāḇār šāḇārətā šāḇārətî šāḇartî šāḇərāh šāḇərêm šāḇərū šāḇūr šə·ḇā·rêḵ še·ḇer šə·ḇō·wr šəḇārêḵ šeḇer šəḇōwr shaVar shaVareta shaVareti shaVarti shaveRah shaveRem Shaveru shaVur shevaRech Shever sheVor shibBar shibBarta shibBer shibbeRu shoVer šib·bar šib·bar·tā šib·bê·rū šib·bə·rū šib·bêr šibbar šibbartā šibbêr šibbêrū šibbərū šō·ḇêr šōḇêr tə·šab·bê·rū tə·šab·bê·rūn tə·šab·bêr təšabbêr təšabbêrū təšabbêrūn teshabBer teshabBeru teshabbeRun tiš·bār- ṯiš·bə·rū- ṯiš·bō·rū tiš·šā·ḇar tiš·šā·ḇar·nāh tiš·šā·ḇêr ṯiš·šā·ḇêr tišbār- ṯišbərū- ṯišbōrū tishberu tishbor tishBoru tishshaVar tishshaVarnah tishshaVer tiššāḇar tiššāḇarnāh tiššāḇêr ṯiššāḇêr ū·mə·šab·bêr ū·šə·ḇā·rāh ūməšabbêr umeshabBer ūšəḇārāh Ushevarah Vaashabberah vaashabbeRem vaeshBor vaiyishbeRehu vaiyishbeRu vaiyishshaVer vaiyishshaveRu vattishshaVarnah vattishshaVer vayshabBer vayshabbeRu veHannishBeret velannishBeret venishBar venishBaru venishbeRu veshabBer veshavarTa veshavarTi veshibBar veshibbarTem vetishShaver veyishshaVeru vor wā’ăšabbərāh wā’ăšabbərêm wā’ešbōr wā·’ă·šab·bə·rāh wā·’ă·šab·bə·rêm wā·’eš·bōr wat·tiš·šā·ḇar·nāh wat·tiš·šā·ḇêr wattiššāḇarnāh wattiššāḇêr way·šab·bə·rū way·šab·bêr way·yiš·bə·rê·hū way·yiš·bə·rū way·yiš·šā·ḇə·rū way·yiš·šā·ḇêr wayšabbêr wayšabbərū wayyišbərêhū wayyišbərū wayyiššāḇêr wayyiššāḇərū wə·han·niš·be·reṯ wə·lan·niš·be·reṯ wə·niš·bā·rū wə·niš·bar wə·niš·bə·rū wə·šā·ḇar·tā wə·šā·ḇar·tî wə·šab·bêr wə·šib·bar wə·šib·bar·tem wə·ṯiš·šā·ḇer wə·yiš·šā·ḇê·rū wəhannišbereṯ wəlannišbereṯ wənišbar wənišbārū wənišbərū wəšāḇartā wəšāḇartî wəšabbêr wəšibbar wəšibbartem wəṯiššāḇer wəyiššāḇêrū yə·šab·bêr yəšabbêr Yeshabber yiš·bə·rū yiš·bə·rū- yiš·bə·rū·hū yiš·bō·wr yiš·bōr yiš·šā·ḇêr yišbərū yišbərū- yišbərūhū yišbōr yišbōwr yishberu yishbeRuhu yishBor yishshaVer yiššāḇêr
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