Lexical Summary shabar: buy, sell, buy grain Original Word: שָׁבַר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance buy, sell Denominative from sheber; to deal in grain -- buy, sell. see HEBREW sheber NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origindenominative verb from sheber Definition to buy grain NASB Translation bought (1), buy (12), buy grain (2), sell (3), sells (1), sold (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs [שָׁבַר] verb denominative buy grain; — Qal Imperfect2masculine plural תִּשְׁבְּרוּ Deuteronomy 2:6, 1plural נִשְׁבְּרָה Genesis 43:4; Imperative masculine plural שִׁבְרוּ Genesis 42:2 +; Infinitive construct לִשְׁבֹּר Genesis 42:3 +, לִשְׁבָּרֿ Genesis 42:7 +; Participle masculine plural שֹׁבְרִים Genesis 47:14; — buy grain for food Genesis 41:57 (Genesis 41:56 see Hiph`il), Genesis 42:2 (שֶׁבֶר in va), Genesis 42:5; with accusative אֹכֶל Genesis 42:7; Genesis 42:10; Genesis 43:2,4,20; Genesis 40:22; Genesis 44:25; Deuteronomy 2:6 (מִן person); with accusative בָּר Genesis 42:3, שֶׁבֶר Genesis 47:14; figurative Isaiah 55:1, with accusative יַיִן וְחָלָב Isaiah 55:1. Hiph`il Imperfect1plural נַשְׁבִּיר Amos 8:6, etc.; Participle מַשְׁבִּיר Genesis 42:6; Proverbs 11:26; — sell grain (properly cause to buy grain), with ל person Genesis 42:6 + Genesis 42:56 (read וַיַּשְׁבֵּר for ᵑ0 וַיִּשְׁבֹּר Ol Di Gunk), with accusative שֶׁבֶר Amos 8:5, מַמַּל בָּר vAmos 8:6, compare Proverbs 11:26; with suffix person + accusative אֹכֶל + ב pret. Deuteronomy 2:28. Topical Lexicon Concept of Grain Procurement in Ancient Israel The verb expressed by Strong’s Hebrew 7666 centers on the purposeful act of purchasing grain—an economic transaction vital for survival in agrarian culture. In Scripture it is never a casual purchase; it is always driven by real need, whether a regional famine, everyday sustenance for travelers, or the just operation of a marketplace. The term therefore embodies stewardship, foresight, and dependence upon God’s ongoing provision through ordinary means. Occurrences in Genesis: Joseph’s Administration and Providential Provision Fourteen of the twenty-one uses cluster in the Joseph narrative (Genesis 41–47). Egypt’s storehouses, filled during seven years of plenty, became a life-line when “Joseph opened all the storehouses, sold grain to the Egyptians, and the famine became severe in the land of Egypt” (Genesis 41:56). Here שָׁבַר highlights God’s providence working through wise governance. The brothers’ repeated journeys to “buy grain” (Genesis 42:2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 10; 43:2, 4, 20, 22; 44:25) advance the reconciliation of Jacob’s family and preserve the covenant line. Genesis 47:14 notes how the ongoing sales consolidated resources under Pharaoh, foreshadowing Israel’s eventual bondage yet also underscoring divine sovereignty over nations and economies. Legal and Ethical Dimensions in the Torah Moses instructs Israel to conduct fair trade even when passing through lands not yet theirs: “You are to pay them in silver for the food you eat and the water you drink” (Deuteronomy 2:6, 28). Buying grain, therefore, is linked with honoring property rights and testifying to God before outsiders. Commerce, when practiced righteously, becomes an act of witness that the God of Israel is just. Wisdom Literature: Blessing in Fair Commerce Proverbs observes, “People will curse the hoarder of grain, but blessing will crown the one who sells it” (Proverbs 11:26). Shabar in this setting commends open-handed trade over selfish stockpiling. Economic activity is never separated from moral accountability; generosity in the marketplace invites divine favor. Prophetic Appeals and Eschatological Hope Isaiah employs the verb in his universal invitation: “Come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost!” (Isaiah 55:1). The commercial metaphor is turned on its head; what once required silver is now freely offered, prefiguring the gospel’s gratuity. Conversely Amos condemns merchants who “buy the poor for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, selling even the sweepings of the wheat” (Amos 8:5-6). The verb thus frames both gracious promise and severe warning, reminding Israel that economic sin cannot be hidden from the Lord. Spiritual Typology and Ministry Application Joseph’s grain points forward to Christ, the true Bread of Life, whose body was “broken” yet whose sustenance is purchased without price by faith. Pastors and ministry leaders find in שָׁבַר a mandate to anticipate physical and spiritual famine, store up sound doctrine, and distribute it faithfully. Congregations are urged to participate in practical mercy—food banks, fair trade, relief funds—reflecting God’s heart for the hungry. Theological Themes: Providence, Responsibility, and Generosity 1. Divine foresight provides before need arises. Practical Exhortations for the Church Today • Prepare wisely for foreseeable shortages while trusting God’s ultimate supply. Forms and Transliterations הַמַּשְׁבִּ֖יר המשביר וְנִשְׁבְּרָ֥ה וְנַשְׁבִּ֣ירָה וְשִׁבְרוּ־ וַיִּשְׁבֹּ֣ר וישבר ונשבירה ונשברה ושברו־ לִשְׁבָּר־ לִשְׁבֹּ֖ר לִשְׁבֹּ֥ר לשבר לשבר־ מַשְׁבִּֽיר׃ משביר׃ נַשְׁבִּֽיר׃ נשביר׃ שִׁבְר֗וּ שִׁבְרוּ֙ שִׁבְרוּ־ שֹׁבְרִ֑ים שברו שברו־ שברים תִּשְׁבְּר֧וּ תַּשְׁבִּרֵ֙נִי֙ תשברו תשברני ham·maš·bîr hammašbîr hammashBir liš·bār- liš·bōr lišbār- lišbōr lishBor maš·bîr mašbîr mashBir naš·bîr našbîr nashBir shivru shoeRim šiḇ·rū šiḇ·rū- šiḇrū šiḇrū- šō·ḇə·rîm šōḇərîm taš·bi·rê·nî tašbirênî tashbiReni tiš·bə·rū tišbərū tishbeRu vaiyishBor venashBirah venishbeRah veshivru way·yiš·bōr wayyišbōr wə·naš·bî·rāh wə·niš·bə·rāh wə·šiḇ·rū- wənašbîrāh wənišbərāh wəšiḇrū-Links Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 41:56 HEB: אֲשֶׁ֤ר בָּהֶם֙ וַיִּשְׁבֹּ֣ר לְמִצְרַ֔יִם וַיֶּחֱזַ֥ק NAS: the storehouses, and sold to the Egyptians; KJV: opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; INT: all the storehouses and sold Egyptian was severe Genesis 41:57 Genesis 42:2 Genesis 42:3 Genesis 42:5 Genesis 42:6 Genesis 42:7 Genesis 42:10 Genesis 43:2 Genesis 43:4 Genesis 43:20 Genesis 43:22 Genesis 44:25 Genesis 47:14 Deuteronomy 2:6 Deuteronomy 2:28 Proverbs 11:26 Isaiah 55:1 Isaiah 55:1 Amos 8:5 Amos 8:6 21 Occurrences |
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