Lexical Summary sabbal: Porter, burden-bearer Original Word: סַבָּל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance to bear, bearer of burdens From cabal; a porter -- (to bear, bearer of) burden(-s). see HEBREW cabal NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom sabal Definition burden bearer NASB Translation burden bearers (2), carry loads (2), transporters* (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs סַבָּל noun [masculine] burden-bearer, (late); — only absolute ׳ס collective Nehemiah 4:4; 2Chron 2:1; 2 Chronicles 2:17; masculine plural absolute סַבָּלִים2Chronicles 34:13; — נשֵֹׁא סַבָּל 1 Kings 5:29 is certainly wrong; ᵐ5 αἴροντες ἄρσιν, ᵑ9 qui onera portabant, hence probably נשֵֹׁא סֵ֫בֶל; > אִישׁ סַבָּל, as "" 2 Chron 2:1. Topical Lexicon Meaning and Nuance סַבָּל depicts a laborer who carries heavy loads for another. The term evokes physical strength, endurance, and willing service under authority. By extension it speaks of the human responsibility to shoulder tasks assigned by God‐ordained leadership. Occurrences and Historical Context 1 Kings 5:15 introduces seventy thousand such men conscripted by Solomon: “Solomon had seventy thousand porters and eighty thousand stonecutters in the mountains.”. Their work was critical to the first Temple, the national center of worship that unified Israel around covenantal faith. 2 Chronicles 2:2 and 2 Chronicles 2:18 restate the same workforce, stressing its management under Solomon’s chief officers. 2 Chronicles 34:13 records burden bearers mobilized by King Josiah during his reforms, linking the word with a spiritual renewal that rediscovered the Book of the Law. Nehemiah 4:10 places the noun amid post-exilic opposition: “The strength of the laborers fails, and there is so much rubble that we will never be able to rebuild the wall.”. Here, sabbalîm face discouragement yet persevere for covenant restoration. Role in Building Projects Across three eras—Solomonic construction, Josianic repair, and Nehemiah’s restoration—סַבָּל stands for the anonymous majority whose heavy lifting turned spiritual vision into visible reality. The Temple’s grandeur, Josiah’s house of God, and Jerusalem’s walls all rose on their shoulders. Spiritual Significance 1. Service: The word highlights that God’s purposes depend on humble labor as much as regal decree. Christological Foreshadowing While sabbalîm bore stones and timbers, Jesus “bore our sins in His body on the tree” (1 Peter 2:24). Their physical loads point forward to the ultimate Burden-Bearer who invites, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28). Contemporary Ministry Application Church building—whether physical structures, mission projects, or discipleship—still requires sabbalîm. Volunteers who set up chairs, teach children, or send relief supplies embody the same spirit. Recognizing them and praying for strength echoes Nehemiah’s concern and Paul’s exhortation to “be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 15:58). Summary סַבָּל denotes more than muscle; it represents covenant faithfulness expressed through manual service. From Solomon to Nehemiah, burden bearers advanced God’s redemptive plan. Their legacy calls every believer to shoulder assigned tasks, trusting the Lord who empowers and remembers even the cup of cold water offered in His name. Forms and Transliterations הַסַּבָּ֔ל הַסַּבָּלִ֗ים הסבל הסבלים סַבָּ֑ל סַבָּ֔ל סבל has·sab·bā·lîm has·sab·bāl hassabBal hassabbāl hassabbaLim hassabbālîm sab·bāl sabBal sabbālLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Kings 5:15 HEB: אֶ֖לֶף נֹשֵׂ֣א סַבָּ֑ל וּשְׁמֹנִ֥ים אֶ֖לֶף NAS: 70000transporters, and 80,000 KJV: that bare burdens, and fourscore INT: thousand bare burdens and fourscore thousand 2 Chronicles 2:2 2 Chronicles 2:18 2 Chronicles 34:13 Nehemiah 4:10 5 Occurrences |
    |