Lexical Summary Shibah: Shibah Original Word: שִׁבְעָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Shebah Masculine of sheba'; seven(-th); Shebah, a well in Palestine -- Shebah. see HEBREW sheba' NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom sheba Definition a well in Beersheba NASB Translation Shibah (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs שִׁבְעָה proper name, feminine putei, Genesis 26:33 (J); Ὅρκος; (explanation of name בְּאֵר שֶׁבַע.) Topical Lexicon Biblical Setting Isaac, having moved southward during a famine, experienced repeated contention over water rights with the herdsmen of Gerar. After a covenant of peace with Abimelech, Isaac’s servants dug yet another well. “So he called it Shibah; therefore the name of the city is Beersheba to this day” (Genesis 26:33). Shibah marks the moment when strife ceased, the covenant was sealed, and God’s promise of blessing was tangibly reaffirmed. Meaning and Significance of the Name Shibah is related both to the Hebrew idea of “seven” and to “oath.” In Scripture the number seven often conveys completion, perfection, or the ratification of an agreement. By naming the well Shibah, Isaac memorialized a completed reconciliation and a sworn pact. The name also plays on Beer-sheba, “Well of the Oath” or “Well of Seven,” a site already linked to Abraham’s earlier treaty (Genesis 21:31). Isaac’s act therefore deepens a multi-generational testimony: one location, two patriarchs, repeated witness to the faithfulness of God who keeps covenant. Historical Background Beer-sheba sat on the southern edge of the settled land, marking the traditional limits of Israel (“from Dan to Beer-sheba,” Judges 20:1). Wells were life-sources in the Negev’s semi-arid climate; controlling one ensured survival for flocks and people alike. Water disputes in Genesis reflect common ancient Near Eastern tensions, yet in Isaac’s account they become occasions for demonstrating gracious forbearance, persistent industry, and divine provision. Thematic Threads 1. Covenant Faithfulness: The oath sworn between Isaac and Abimelech echoes God’s covenant oath to Abraham (Genesis 22:16-18) and anticipates later covenant renewals at Sinai (Exodus 24:8) and ultimately in Christ’s blood (Hebrews 7:22). Typological Insights Isaac’s well, secured after opposition, foreshadows the “well” of salvation opened by the greater Son of promise. As the patriarch did not quarrel but waited for the Lord to make room (Genesis 26:22), so Messiah would “not cry out or raise His voice” (Isaiah 42:2) yet obtain eternal peace through a better covenant. Shibah anticipates the completeness of redemption—nothing lacking, nothing still to be earned. Practical Ministry Application • Reconciliation: Believers are encouraged to pursue peace, trusting God to vindicate righteous conduct and establish lasting relationships. Connections in Redemptive History Genesis 21, 26 – oath and well in Beer-sheba, foundational covenant witness. Genesis 46:1 – Jacob offers sacrifices at Beer-sheba before descending to Egypt, underscoring the site’s sacred memory. 1 Kings 19:3 – Elijah journeys to Beer-sheba when fleeing Jezebel, seeking refuge at the border of the land. Amos 5:5; 8:14 – Prophets decry empty pilgrimages to Beer-sheba, warning that ritual without obedience cannot secure blessing. John 4:14 – Jesus promises water that becomes “a fount of water springing up to eternal life,” fulfilling the motif begun at patriarchal wells. Archaeological and Geographical Notes Modern Tell Beersheba reveals an Iron-Age city with an elaborate water-system, attesting to the strategic value of wells. Though Isaac’s original Shibah has not been conclusively identified, the enduring habitation of the area (“to this day”) confirms the biblical assertion of its continued significance. Summary Shibah embodies covenant completion, peaceful resolution, and divine provision. Its solitary appearance in Genesis anchors a theology of God’s unbroken faithfulness, urging every generation to trust, remember, and proclaim the Lord who turns barren places into fountains of life. Forms and Transliterations שִׁבְעָ֑ה שבעה shivAh šiḇ‘āh šiḇ·‘āhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 26:33 HEB: וַיִּקְרָ֥א אֹתָ֖הּ שִׁבְעָ֑ה עַל־ כֵּ֤ן NAS: So he called it Shibah; therefore KJV: And he called it Shebah: therefore the name INT: called Shibah and after that 1 Occurrence |
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