שִׁבֹּל
a stream (as flowing); also an ear of grain (as growing out); by analogy, a branch
Definition
The Hebrew noun שִׁבֹּל (shibbôl) has two primary meanings in the Old Testament. First, it most frequently refers to an 'ear of grain,' as seen in Pharaoh's dreams where the thin and withered ears of grain (Genesis 41:5-7, 22-24) symbolize coming famine. Second, it can mean a 'stream' or 'flowing water,' used poetically in passages like Psalm 69:2, 15 to describe overwhelming floods. The word can also extend by analogy to mean a 'branch,' though this usage is less common. These distinct senses are determined entirely by their literary and agricultural contexts.
Biblical Usage
This word is used 16 times, predominantly in the narrative of Joseph interpreting Pharaoh's dreams (Genesis 41), where it appears 8 times referring explicitly to ears of grain. The 'stream' meaning appears in poetic books like the Psalms (Psalm 69:2, 15) and the Song of Solomon (Song of Solomon 7:5). A famous usage is in Judges 12:6, where the word 'Shibboleth' itself becomes a test of pronunciation and identity. The usage is split between literal agricultural descriptions and metaphorical, often threatening, imagery of water.
Etymology
The noun שִׁבֹּל derives from the root שׁבל (šbl), which conveys the idea of something that flows, hangs down, or grows forth. It is related to the noun שֹׁבֶל (H7640), meaning 'flowing stream' or 'flood.' The feminine form שִׁבֹּלֶת is also used. This shared root connects the two main meanings: both an ear of grain 'hanging down' from its stalk and a stream of water 'flowing' in its channel.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant due to its role in the story of divine revelation and judgment. In Genesis 41, the ears of grain are the medium for God's communication of future events to Pharaoh, showcasing God's sovereignty over nations and agriculture. In Judges 12, the word itself becomes an instrument of divine judgment and social division. Furthermore, its use in the Psalms (e.g., Psalm 69:2, 15) to describe overwhelming floods often symbolizes distress and chaos from which only God can deliver, enriching our understanding of biblical metaphors for trial and salvation.
In an agrarian society, the 'ear of grain' was a direct symbol of life, prosperity, and survival. A plentiful harvest meant security, while blighted ears, as in Pharaoh's dream, signaled famine and death. The 'stream' meaning reflects the vital importance of water sources in the arid Near East, where a sudden flood could be as destructive as a drought. The Shibboleth incident (Judges 12:6) highlights how dialect differences could mark tribal and regional identity in ancient Israel, with life-or-death consequences.
אָזְנֵי (ʾoznê, H241) — Specifically 'ears' of grain, used in parallel with שִׁבֹּלֶת in Genesis 41:26. סִבֹּלֶת (sibbōleṯ, H5451) — A variant or dialectical form of 'ear of grain' (compare 2 Kings 4:42). נַחַל (nachaḷ, H5158) — A more common word for 'stream,' 'valley,' or 'wadi,' often a seasonal watercourse, whereas שִׁבֹּל can imply a flowing flood.
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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