Lexical Summary shibah or sheba: seven Original Word: שִׁבְעָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance seven times (Aramaic) corresponding to sheba' -- seven (times). see HEBREW sheba' NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to sheba Definition seven NASB Translation seven (7). Brown-Driver-Briggs [שְׁבַע], only שִׁבְעָה noun feminine seven (Biblical Hebrew I. שֶׁבַע); — absolute ׳שׁ before noun masculine plural Daniel 4:13; Daniel 4:20; Daniel 4:22; Daniel 4:29; construct שֶׁבְעַת before noun masculine pluralEzra Daniel 7:14; חַד שִׁבְעָה עַלדִּֿי Daniel 3:19 seven times above what (more than), see חַד, √ אחד. Topical Lexicon Meaning and Scope of Usage The word designates the cardinal number “seven,” appearing six times in the Old Testament. Though grammatically feminine, its theological weight is identical to the more common form: completeness, covenant fullness, and decisive divine action. Every occurrence lies in post-exilic writings, linking the term with themes of restoration, judgment, and sovereign order. Textual Distribution • Ezra 7:14 Seven in Imperial Administration (Ezra 7:14) In the Persian court the number marks governmental wholeness: “You are being sent by the king and his seven counselors…” (Ezra 7:14). The king’s council mirrored Persian law that privileged a body of seven nobles (cf. Esther 1:14). Scripture thereby presents Judah’s second-temple mission as operating under a complete legal authorization, illustrating how the Lord can employ earthly institutions to advance His covenant purposes. Sevenfold Heat and Refinement (Daniel 3:19) Nebuchadnezzar commands the furnace to be “seven times hotter than usual” (Daniel 3:19). The numeral heightens intensity, stressing that God’s deliverance of the three Hebrews is from the utmost human fury. The account prefigures the refining fire motif (1 Peter 1:7) and assures believers that no trial surpasses God’s preserving power. Seven “Times” over Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4:16, 23, 25, 32) Four verses apply the number to the king’s divinely ordained humiliation: “Let seven times pass him by” (Daniel 4:16). Whether the period is seven years or seven seasonal cycles, the emphasis lies on total sufficiency of the discipline. Completion of the seven results in restored sanity and kingdom, revealing that divine chastening is purposeful, measured, and restorative. The repetition across the chapter reinforces the certainty of the decree and underscores Heaven’s rule over earthly monarchs. Symbolic and Theological Significance 1. Completeness: Seven in Genesis 2:2–3 launches a biblical pattern of consummation; the occurrences in Daniel close a disciplinary loop. Ministry Reflections • Pastoral Care: Disciplinary seasons are bounded; God appoints both their start and finish. Encourage believers facing prolonged trials that a divinely fixed “seven” governs their duration. Canonical Harmony While the Hebrew term appears only in Ezra and Daniel, its theological threads weave into Revelation’s sevens—churches, seals, trumpets, bowls—showing Scripture’s unified portrayal of divine completeness from exile to eschaton. Summary Strong’s Hebrew 7655 portrays “seven” as the marker of God’s complete authority—authorizing missions, intensifying trials, and timing correction—ever leading to His people’s preservation and His own glory. Forms and Transliterations וְשִׁבְעַ֤ת וְשִׁבְעָ֥ה ושבעה ושבעת שִׁבְעָ֔ה שִׁבְעָ֥ה שבעה shivAh šiḇ‘āh šiḇ·‘āh veshivAh veshivAt wə·šiḇ·‘āh wə·šiḇ·‘aṯ wəšiḇ‘āh wəšiḇ‘aṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezra 7:14 HEB: קֳדָ֨ם מַלְכָּ֜א וְשִׁבְעַ֤ת יָעֲטֹ֙הִי֙ שְׁלִ֔יחַ NAS: by the king and his seven counselors KJV: the king, and of his seven counsellors, INT: by the king and his seven counselors are sent Daniel 3:19 Daniel 4:16 Daniel 4:23 Daniel 4:25 Daniel 4:32 6 Occurrences |
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