שְׂבִיב
Definition
The Hebrew noun שְׂבִיב (sᵉbîyb) refers to a 'flame' or 'blaze,' specifically a distinct, leaping tongue of fire. It appears only in the Aramaic portions of Daniel, describing intense, destructive fire. In Daniel 3:22, it denotes the flames of the superheated furnace into which Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are thrown, emphasizing its lethal heat. In Daniel 7:9, it describes the fiery stream issuing from the throne of the Ancient of Days, portraying a divine, purifying fire associated with judgment.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively in the Aramaic sections of the book of Daniel. In both occurrences, it describes a powerful, visible flame. In Daniel 3:22, it is used in a narrative context for a physical, man-made fire of execution. In Daniel 7:9, it is used in a prophetic vision for a supernatural, flowing fire emanating from God's throne as part of a scene of cosmic judgment. The usage thus spans both historical and apocalyptic contexts.
Etymology
שְׂבִיב (sᵉbîyb) is an Aramaic word used in the Hebrew Bible. It corresponds directly to the Hebrew root שָׁבַב (shābab), implying a flame that darts or flashes. Its Hebrew cognate is שָׁבִיב (shābîyb, H7632), which also means 'flame' and appears in poetic texts like Song of Solomon 8:6. The Aramaic form carries the same core meaning of a leaping, active fire.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it connects human destruction (Daniel 3:22) with divine judgment (Daniel 7:9). In Daniel 7, the flame from the throne symbolizes God's pure, unstoppable authority to judge kingdoms and establish His eternal reign. Understanding this term enriches the contrast between the deadly fire of human persecution, which God protects His servants from, and the holy fire of God's own courtroom, which ultimately vindicates them and purges evil.
In the ancient Near East, fire was a potent symbol of both purification and destruction. The blazing furnace in Daniel 3 reflects a known method of execution in the Babylonian empire, meant to inspire terror and demonstrate royal power. The vision in Daniel 7 draws on common apocalyptic imagery where fire represents the divine presence and the inescapable process of judgment, concepts familiar to audiences of that time.
אֵשׁ (ʼēsh, H784) — The general Hebrew word for 'fire'; a broader term. לַהַב (lahab, H3851) — A 'blade' or 'flame'; often a pointed, flashing flame. שָׁבִיב (shābîyb, H7632) — The direct Hebrew cognate, meaning 'flame'; used in poetic contexts.
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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