Lexical Summary
shabar: buy, sell, buy grain
Original Word:שָׁבַר
Part of Speech:Verb
Transliteration:shabar
Pronunciation:shaw-bar'
Phonetic Spelling:(shaw-bar')
KJV: buy, sell
NASB:buy, sell, buy grain, sold, bought, sells
Word Origin:[denominative fromH7668 (שֶׁבֶר - grain)]
1. to deal in grain
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
buy, sell
Denominative fromsheber; to deal in grain -- buy, sell.
see HEBREWsheber
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origindenominative verb from
sheberDefinitionto buy grain
NASB Translationbought (1), buy (12), buy grain (2), sell (3), sells (1), sold (2).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
[] ; —
Imperfect2masculine pluralDeuteronomy 2:6, 1pluralGenesis 43:4;Imperative masculine pluralGenesis 42:2 +;Infinitive constructGenesis 42:3 +,Genesis 42:7 +;Participle masculine pluralGenesis 47:14; —buy grain for foodGenesis 41:57 (Genesis 41:56 see ),Genesis 42:2 ( in va),Genesis 42:5; with accusativeGenesis 42:7;Genesis 42:10;Genesis 43:2,4,20;Genesis 40:22;Genesis 44:25;Deuteronomy 2:6 ( person); with accusativeGenesis 42:3,Genesis 47:14; figurativeIsaiah 55:1, with accusativeIsaiah 55:1.
Imperfect1pluralAmos 8:6, etc.;ParticipleGenesis 42:6;Proverbs 11:26; —sell grain (properly cause to buy grain), with personGenesis 42:6 +Genesis 42:56 (read for Ol Di Gunk), with accusativeAmos 8:5, vAmos 8:6, compareProverbs 11:26; with suffix person + accusative + pret.Deuteronomy 2:28.
Topical Lexicon
Concept of Grain Procurement in Ancient IsraelThe verb expressed by Strong’s Hebrew 7666 centers on the purposeful act of purchasing grain—an economic transaction vital for survival in agrarian culture. In Scripture it is never a casual purchase; it is always driven by real need, whether a regional famine, everyday sustenance for travelers, or the just operation of a marketplace. The term therefore embodies stewardship, foresight, and dependence upon God’s ongoing provision through ordinary means.
Occurrences in Genesis: Joseph’s Administration and Providential Provision
Fourteen of the twenty-one uses cluster in the Joseph narrative (Genesis 41–47). Egypt’s storehouses, filled during seven years of plenty, became a life-line when “Joseph opened all the storehouses, sold grain to the Egyptians, and the famine became severe in the land of Egypt” (Genesis 41:56). Here שָׁבַר highlights God’s providence working through wise governance. The brothers’ repeated journeys to “buy grain” (Genesis 42:2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 10; 43:2, 4, 20, 22; 44:25) advance the reconciliation of Jacob’s family and preserve the covenant line.Genesis 47:14 notes how the ongoing sales consolidated resources under Pharaoh, foreshadowing Israel’s eventual bondage yet also underscoring divine sovereignty over nations and economies.
Legal and Ethical Dimensions in the Torah
Moses instructs Israel to conduct fair trade even when passing through lands not yet theirs: “You are to pay them in silver for the food you eat and the water you drink” (Deuteronomy 2:6, 28). Buying grain, therefore, is linked with honoring property rights and testifying to God before outsiders. Commerce, when practiced righteously, becomes an act of witness that the God of Israel is just.
Wisdom Literature: Blessing in Fair Commerce
Proverbs observes, “People will curse the hoarder of grain, but blessing will crown the one who sells it” (Proverbs 11:26). Shabar in this setting commends open-handed trade over selfish stockpiling. Economic activity is never separated from moral accountability; generosity in the marketplace invites divine favor.
Prophetic Appeals and Eschatological Hope
Isaiah employs the verb in his universal invitation: “Come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost!” (Isaiah 55:1). The commercial metaphor is turned on its head; what once required silver is now freely offered, prefiguring the gospel’s gratuity. Conversely Amos condemns merchants who “buy the poor for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, selling even the sweepings of the wheat” (Amos 8:5-6). The verb thus frames both gracious promise and severe warning, reminding Israel that economic sin cannot be hidden from the Lord.
Spiritual Typology and Ministry Application
Joseph’s grain points forward to Christ, the true Bread of Life, whose body was “broken” yet whose sustenance is purchased without price by faith. Pastors and ministry leaders find in שָׁבַר a mandate to anticipate physical and spiritual famine, store up sound doctrine, and distribute it faithfully. Congregations are urged to participate in practical mercy—food banks, fair trade, relief funds—reflecting God’s heart for the hungry.
Theological Themes: Providence, Responsibility, and Generosity
1. Divine foresight provides before need arises.
2. Human stewardship must align with divine standards of justice.
3. Generous distribution mirrors God’s character and brings blessing.
4. Economic oppression invites prophetic judgment.
5. In Christ, the marketplace image culminates in a free gospel for all nations.
Practical Exhortations for the Church Today
• Prepare wisely for foreseeable shortages while trusting God’s ultimate supply.
• Conduct all business dealings with transparency and fairness.
• Reject hoarding; instead, make resources available to those in need.
• Advocate for the poor when systems exploit them.
• Proclaim the gospel as the Bread offered “without money and without cost,” fulfilling the highest meaning of שָׁבַר.
Forms and Transliterations
הַמַּשְׁבִּ֖יר המשביר וְנִשְׁבְּרָ֥ה וְנַשְׁבִּ֣ירָה וְשִׁבְרוּ־ וַיִּשְׁבֹּ֣ר וישבר ונשבירה ונשברה ושברו־ לִשְׁבָּר־ לִשְׁבֹּ֖ר לִשְׁבֹּ֥ר לשבר לשבר־ מַשְׁבִּֽיר׃ משביר׃ נַשְׁבִּֽיר׃ נשביר׃ שִׁבְר֗וּ שִׁבְרוּ֙ שִׁבְרוּ־ שֹׁבְרִ֑ים שברו שברו־ שברים תִּשְׁבְּר֧וּ תַּשְׁבִּרֵ֙נִי֙ תשברו תשברני ham·maš·bîr hammašbîr hammashBir liš·bār- liš·bōr lišbār- lišbōr lishBor maš·bîr mašbîr mashBir naš·bîr našbîr nashBir shivru shoeRim šiḇ·rū šiḇ·rū- šiḇrū šiḇrū- šō·ḇə·rîm šōḇərîm taš·bi·rê·nî tašbirênî tashbiReni tiš·bə·rū tišbərū tishbeRu vaiyishBor venashBirah venishbeRah veshivru way·yiš·bōr wayyišbōr wə·naš·bî·rāh wə·niš·bə·rāh wə·šiḇ·rū- wənašbîrāh wənišbərāh wəšiḇrū-
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