Lexical Summary Sebaim: Sebaim Original Word: סְבָאִי Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Sabean Patrial from Cba'; a Sebaite, or inhabitant of Seba -- Sabean. see HEBREW Cba' NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom Seba Definition inhab. of Seba NASB Translation Sabeans (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs סְבָאִים noun plural, of a people Seba'im, ᵐ5 οἱ Σαβαειμ, A Σεβωειμ; — אַנְשֵׁי מִדָּה ׳וּס Isaiah 45:14 (+ כּוּשׁ, "" מִצְֹרַיִם, compare Isaiah 43:3 above); this perhaps intended also by Ezekiel 23:42 Qr (see סָבָא), perhaps confounding it with שְׁבָא, compare ᵑ6. Topical Lexicon Identity and Ethnographic Profile The סְבָאִי (Sabaeans) are a Cushite people linked to Seba, grandson of Ham through Cush (Genesis 10:6-7). Ancient sources place them in the Upper Nile region—Nubia, later part of Ethiopia/Sudan—distinguishing them from the Sheba of southwest Arabia. Classical writers portray them as tall, wealthy traders controlling caravan and river routes that moved gold, ivory, ebony, incense, and exotic animals toward Egypt and the Mediterranean. Biblical Context of Isaiah 45:14 “Thus says the LORD: ‘The products of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush, and those of the Sabeans, men of stature, will come over to you and will be yours; they will walk behind you, they will come over in chains and bow down to you, saying, “Surely God is with you; and there is no other; there is no other God.”’” (Isaiah 45:14) The passage sits within Isaiah’s prophecy that the Lord would raise up Cyrus to release Judah from Babylonian captivity (Isaiah 45:1-13). Verse 14 broadens the oracle: Gentile powers—Egypt (north), Cush (south), and the far-off Sabaeans—will yield their wealth and acknowledge Israel’s God. The promise anticipates the post-exilic return but also foreshadows the eschatological gathering of nations (Isaiah 60:3-6). Historical Background and Fulfillment Patterns 1. Persian Era. After Cyrus conquered Egypt (525 BC), Persian authority extended into Cushite territories. Tribute from these regions likely passed through Judea under successive Persian kings, offering an initial literal fulfillment. Theological Significance • Divine Sovereignty. Isaiah frames the wealth and submission of powerful nations as proof that no regional deity rivals YHWH; He commands history for the sake of His covenant people. Ministry Implications 1. Mission Motivation. If Isaiah envisions Cushite traders confessing Israel’s God, contemporary believers are emboldened to engage every unreached people, confident of gospel success. Key Cross-References Genesis 10:7 – genealogical origin of Seba Psalm 72:10 – “May the kings of Sheba and Seba present gifts” Isaiah 60:6 – wealth of the nations streaming to Zion Acts 8:27-39 – Ethiopian official receives the gospel Revelation 21:24 – “The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it” Summary Though סְבָאִי appears only once, the Sabaeans symbolize far-flung peoples conquered not merely by empire but by the manifest presence of the one true God. Isaiah 45:14 thus serves both as a historical note on Persian-era tribute and a prophetic beacon pointing to the global and eternal dominion of Christ. Forms and Transliterations וּסְבָאִים֮ וסבאים ū·sə·ḇā·’îm ūsəḇā’îm usevaImLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Isaiah 45:14 HEB: וּֽסְחַר־ כּוּשׁ֮ וּסְבָאִים֮ אַנְשֵׁ֣י מִדָּה֒ NAS: of Cush And the Sabeans, men KJV: of Ethiopia and of the Sabeans, men INT: and merchandise of Cush and the Sabeans men of stature 1 Occurrence |
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