Lexical Summary sibbah: Cause, reason, turn of events, circuit Original Word: סִבָּה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance cause From cabab; a (providential) turn (of affairs) -- cause. see HEBREW cabab NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom sabab Definition a turn (of affairs) NASB Translation turn (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs סִבָּה noun feminine turn of affairs; — only absolute ׳הָֽיְתָה סִבָּה מַעִם י 1 Kings 12:15 it was a turn (an ordering) from ׳י (= נְסִבָּה q. v., in "" 2Chronicles 10:15). Topical Lexicon סִבָּה (Strong’s Hebrew 5438)Occurrence and Context The term appears a single time in Scripture, at 1 Kings 12:15, within the narrative that records the tragic division of the united monarchy after Solomon’s death. There it is rendered “turn of events” in the Berean Standard Bible: “So the king did not listen to the people, for this turn of events was from the LORD, to fulfill the word that the LORD had spoken through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam son of Nebat” (1 Kings 12:15). Divine Sovereignty in Political Upheaval סִבָּה is used to point beyond mere human causation to the hidden orchestration of God’s will. While Rehoboam’s stubbornness and the people’s discontent seem sufficient explanations for the national rupture, the text reveals a deeper cause: the Lord’s deliberate purpose. Scripture frequently affirms God’s absolute rule over history (Psalm 115:3; Daniel 4:35), yet 1 Kings 12:15 offers a rare instance in which His unseen governance is explicitly labeled as “the cause.” The word thus becomes a linguistic marker of providence, illustrating that God is never a passive observer but the ultimate director of unfolding events. Historical Setting in Israel’s Division The single occurrence stands at a pivotal moment when the ten northern tribes break away under Jeroboam. Solomon’s idolatry had already invited divine judgment (1 Kings 11:9-13). Nevertheless, the immediate trigger appears humanly mundane: Rehoboam’s unwise policy. By designating the split as סִבָּה from the Lord, the text reassures readers that covenant history has not slipped from God’s hands. He disciplines a wayward nation yet preserves David’s line in Judah, keeping intact His messianic promises (2 Samuel 7:12-16). Prophetic Word and Fulfillment Ahijah the Shilonite had foretold the division years earlier (1 Kings 11:29-39). The narrator’s mention of סִבָּה connects that oracle to its fulfillment, underscoring the reliability of prophecy. The same dynamic appears elsewhere in Scripture: God speaks, events align, and His word stands proved true (Isaiah 55:10-11; Matthew 5:17-18). Thus, סִבָּה serves as a literary hinge tying prophecy to history, encouraging confidence in every divine promise, culminating in the Gospel. Human Agency and Responsibility While divine sovereignty is highlighted, human responsibility is not diminished. Rehoboam’s folly and Jeroboam’s ambition are freely chosen. The Old Testament often juxtaposes God’s rule with accountable human actions (Genesis 50:20; Acts 2:23). The unique use of סִבָּה therefore warns leaders and nations alike: personal decisions carry weight, yet they unfold within God’s larger redemptive script. Ministry Implications 1. Pastoral reassurance: Church members facing bewildering circumstances may take comfort that even painful “turns of events” permit no randomness; God remains sovereignly purposeful (Romans 8:28). Related Theological Motifs • Providence: The unseen hand steering visible affairs (Proverbs 16:9). Suggested Homiletical Directions • “When God Is the Cause”: exploring how divine purposes stand behind baffling turns. In its lone appearance, סִבָּה illumines a watershed moment, reminding readers that beneath every historical current flows the steady river of God’s sovereign, covenant-keeping will. Forms and Transliterations סִבָּה֙ סבה sib·bāh sibBah sibbāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Kings 12:15 HEB: כִּֽי־ הָיְתָ֤ה סִבָּה֙ מֵעִ֣ם יְהוָ֔ה NAS: to the people; for it was a turn [of events] from the LORD, KJV: not unto the people; for the cause was from the LORD, INT: for it was A turn from the LORD 1 Occurrence |
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