שִׂבְעָה
satiety
Definition
Sibʻâh refers to the state of being full or satisfied, specifically the condition of having one's needs or desires completely met. In its primary sense, it denotes satiety, the feeling of having eaten enough (Proverbs 3:10 uses the related verb). Its single biblical occurrence in Ezekiel 16:49 carries a negative moral connotation, describing not just physical fullness but an arrogant, self-sufficient abundance that leads to neglect of the poor. The word implies a completeness of provision that can, in a corrupted context, foster pride and social injustice.
Biblical Usage
This noun is used only once in the Old Testament, in Ezekiel 16:49. Here, it describes the 'fullness of bread' possessed by Sodom, which, combined with pride and idleness, led to their failure to aid the needy. The usage is thematic and condemnatory, linking material abundance directly to moral and social failure. It is not used for positive or neutral descriptions of satisfaction.
Etymology
Sibʻâh is the feminine noun form derived from the root שָׂבַע (śāḇaʿ, H7647), meaning 'to be satisfied, sated, or have enough.' This root is common in Semitic languages, relating to being full or plentiful. The feminine form often abstracts the state or condition, hence 'satiety' or 'fulness.'
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it illustrates the spiritual danger of prosperity. In Ezekiel 16:49, 'fulness of bread' (sibʻâh) is not condemned in itself but as the catalyst for pride and a neglect of covenant responsibility toward the vulnerable (Deuteronomy 15:7-8). It enriches the reading of passages on wealth and justice, showing that God judges not merely wealth, but the arrogant self-sufficiency and social callousness it can produce.
In the ancient Near East, consistent 'fullness of bread' symbolized ultimate security and blessing from the gods. Ezekiel subverts this cultural ideal, portraying it as the very cause of Sodom's downfall. The original audience would have understood this as a shocking critique of equating material abundance with divine favor, emphasizing instead that such abundance carries a weighty responsibility.
שָׂבָע (śāḇāʿ, H7647) — The related masculine noun or root meaning 'abundance, plenty'; often a positive state. כָּרַס (kāras, H3738) — To be or become fat, often used figuratively for prosperity that leads to rebellion (Deuteronomy 32:15).
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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