Lexical Summary shabats: agony Original Word: שָׁבָץ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance anguish From shabats; entanglement, i.e. (figuratively) perplexity -- anguish. see HEBREW shabats NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originperhaps from shabats Definition perhaps cramp NASB Translation agony (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs שָׁבָץ noun masculine (meaning and connection with above √ dubious); — ׳אֲחָזַנִי הַשּׁ 1 Samuel 1:9 ׳הַשּׁ hath seized me, i.e. perhaps cramp (EwG iii. 147 Th Ke, compare Dr); al. giddiness (Thes Klo HPS), as intricacy, confusion; Kit Bu Now leave undecided. Topical Lexicon Meaning and ImageryShabats conveys a sudden, paralyzing spasm of pain—translated “agony” in 2 Samuel 1:9—that seizes a person with irresistible force. The term paints a graphic picture of cramp-like convulsions that imprison the sufferer in intense distress. Biblical Occurrence Only once is the word used, when the Amalekite recounts Saul’s last request: “Stand over me and kill me, for agony has seized me, but my life still lingers” (2 Samuel 1:9). The detail underscores the gravity of the king’s condition as he lies wounded on Mount Gilboa. Historical Context Shabats appears at the decisive end of Saul’s reign, a tragic moment in Israel’s monarchy. Ancient warfare commonly left mortally wounded soldiers enduring prolonged suffering. The word situates Saul within that harsh reality, amplifying the pathos of Israel’s fallen leader and foreshadowing David’s heartfelt lament (2 Samuel 1:19-27). Theological Significance 1. Consequence of Disobedience Saul’s seizure by shabats embodies covenant curses promised for rebellion (Deuteronomy 28:65-67). The king who repeatedly rejected God’s word now experiences the physical outcome of spiritual failure. 2. Human Frailty and Divine Sovereignty Even Israel’s tallest, most formidable warrior succumbs to uncontrollable pain, proving “the LORD brings death and gives life” (1 Samuel 2:6). 3. Model for Godly Grief David grieves over a man locked in shabats, teaching believers to mourn sincerely, even for those whose downfall was self-inflicted (Romans 12:15). Links with Other Biblical Terms • tsarah—inner distress (Genesis 42:21) Shabats complements these words by depicting the acute crisis that may follow wound or sickness, completing the Old Testament vocabulary of suffering. Practical Ministry Applications • End-of-Life Care—The narrative affirms compassionate presence with the dying and cautions against hasty solutions that disregard life’s sanctity. Messianic Foreshadowing The stricken king, pierced and convulsing, anticipates the Greater King who voluntarily enters unspeakable agony (Luke 22:44) and, by His wounds, secures healing for His people (Isaiah 53:5). Summary Shabats is a rare but potent term capturing the unbearable convulsions that overtook Saul. It reveals the physical climax of a life marked by disobedience, spotlights David’s righteous compassion, and directs readers to the ultimate cure for human anguish in the Lord’s Anointed. Forms and Transliterations הַשָּׁבָ֑ץ השבץ haš·šā·ḇāṣ hashshaVatz haššāḇāṣLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 2 Samuel 1:9 HEB: כִּ֥י אֲחָזַ֖נִי הַשָּׁבָ֑ץ כִּֽי־ כָל־ NAS: me and kill me, for agony has seized KJV: I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come INT: because has seized agony because all manner 1 Occurrence |
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