שֵׂבֶר
expectation
Definition
The Hebrew noun שֵׂבֶר (sêber) primarily means 'expectation' or 'hope,' specifically a confident, patient waiting for a positive outcome. It denotes a state of looking forward to something with assurance, often grounded in a promise or a reliable source. In Psalm 119:116, the psalmist pleads, 'Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live, and let me not be put to shame in my hope (שֵׂבֶר),' linking this hope directly to God's word. In Psalm 146:5, it describes the blessed state of one whose 'help and hope (שֵׂבֶר)' is in the Lord, emphasizing that true expectation is placed in God alone.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only twice in the Old Testament, both in the Psalms. Its usage is exclusively in poetic and devotional contexts, describing the believer's posture of trust. In both occurrences (Psalm 119:116 and Psalm 146:5), שֵׂבֶר is the object of hope—it is what one has, not merely an emotional feeling. It is consistently associated with reliance on God's character and promises, never on human or earthly things.
Etymology
שֵׂבֶר is a noun derived from the root verb שָׂבַר (sābar, H7663), which means 'to hope, wait for, expect.' This root conveys the idea of patient watching and waiting, often with tension. The noun form, שֵׂבֶר, thus encapsulates the substance or object of that waiting—the expectation itself.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it captures the biblical concept of hope as a confident expectation based on God's faithfulness. Unlike vague optimism, שֵׂבֶר implies a sure foundation. It enriches the reading of the Psalms by showing that hope is an active, patient trust placed in the Lord and His promises, which is central to the life of faith. It connects directly to doctrines of God's trustworthiness and the believer's perseverance.
In ancient Israelite culture, hope was not a passive wish but an active, enduring stance often born out of hardship and waiting for God's intervention. The rarity of this specific term (used only twice) suggests it was a specialized, potent word for a hope anchored in the divine, contrasting with more common terms for general desire or waiting.
תִּקְוָה (tiqvâ, H8615) — a more common general term for 'hope' or 'expectation,' often with a sense of something longed for. יְחֵל (yāḥal, H3176) — the verb 'to wait, hope,' emphasizing the process of waiting patiently. בָּטַח (bāṭaḥ, H982) — 'to trust, be confident,' focusing on security rather than forward expectation.
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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