סִבְרַיִם
Sibrajim, a place in Syria
Definition
Sibrayim is a proper noun referring to a specific location mentioned in the Old Testament. It is identified as a place in Syria, situated on the northern border of the Promised Land as described in Ezekiel's vision of the restored land (Ezekiel 47:16). In this prophetic context, Sibrayim serves as a geographical marker, one of the points between Hamath and Hazar-hatticon that delineates the ideal northern boundary for Israel. The name itself, meaning 'double hope,' may carry symbolic significance in this vision of restoration, though its primary function in the text is topographical.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the entire Old Testament, in Ezekiel 47:16. Its usage is strictly geographical, serving as a boundary point in the detailed description of the land's borders in Ezekiel's prophetic vision. There are no patterns of usage across different books or contexts, as it is a unique hapax legomenon (a word occurring only once) within the biblical corpus.
Etymology
The name Sibrayim (סִבְרַיִם) is derived from a root corresponding to the Aramaic/Hebrew word for 'hope' (סְבַר, H5452). It is formed in the dual grammatical construction (indicated by the '-ayim' ending), which typically denotes a pair or a double of something. Therefore, the etymology translates directly to 'double hope' or 'two hopes.' This suggests the place name may have originally conveyed a positive or aspirational meaning, though its specific historical or geographical reason for this name is not provided in the biblical text.
Semantic Range
While Sibrayim itself is a minor geographical marker, its inclusion in Ezekiel 47:16 is theologically significant within the larger context of Ezekiel's restoration prophecies (Ezekiel 40-48). This detailed vision outlines God's future, ideal order for His people and their land. Understanding that even this obscure border town is precisely accounted for in God's blueprint emphasizes the completeness, specificity, and faithfulness of God's promises and His sovereign plan to restore and renew His covenant people according to His perfect design.
As a place name in Syria, Sibrayim would have been understood by the original audience as a real, though likely minor, location in the Levant. Its mention alongside known places like Hamath anchors Ezekiel's grand vision in tangible geography familiar to the exiles. The dual form of the name ('double hope') might reflect a local geographical feature (e.g., two hills, two settlements) or a cultural aspiration, but the exact reason for the name is lost to history. For modern readers, it is primarily a coordinate in a prophetic map.
Hamath (Ḥămāṯ, H2574) — Another northern border town mentioned in the same context (Ezekiel 47:16). Hazar-enon (Ḥăṣar-‘ênôn, H2703) — A different, though similarly obscure, border location mentioned in Ezekiel's vision (Ezekiel 47:17).
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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