English · KJV
H5433

סָבָא

çâbâʼ /saw-baw'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto quaff to satiety, i.e. become tipsy
KJV usagedrunkard, fill self, Sabean, (wine-) bibber.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of çâbâʼ — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word çâbâʼ, represented by H5433, is a primitive root meaning to quaff to satiety, or become tipsy. It is used to describe a drunkard, someone who fills themselves with drink, or a winebibber. This term appears 6 times across 6 unique verses in the Bible, consistently linked to excess and its consequences.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H5433 is consistently used in a negative context, highlighting a state of rebellion or impending doom. In the Law, a drunkard H5433 is presented alongside a glutton H2151 as a characteristic of a stubborn H5637 and rebellious H4784 son who will not obey H8085 his parents Deuteronomy 21:20. The book of Proverbs warns against associating with winebibbers H5433 and explicitly states that the drunkard H5433 will come to poverty H3423 Proverbs 23:20-21. The prophets use the term to describe those inviting others to fill H5433 themselves with strong drink H7941 Isaiah 56:12 and as a metaphor for a people vulnerable to destruction, who will be devoured while they are drunken H5433 Nahum 1:10.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide a fuller picture of the context surrounding drunkenness:

  • H2151 zâlal: This word for a glutton or riotous eater is frequently paired with H5433 to describe a lifestyle of unrestrained indulgence. It denotes being morally loose or vile and highlights that drunkenness is often accompanied by other forms of excess Proverbs 23:21.
  • H3196 yayin: This is the common Hebrew word for wine. Its association with H5433 is direct, as seen in the invitation to fetch wine H3196 Isaiah 56:12 and the warning against being among winebibbers H3196H5433 Proverbs 23:20.
  • H7941 shêkâr: Translated as strong drink, this term specifies an intensely alcoholic liquor. It is what the people in Isaiah 56:12 seek to fill H5433 themselves with, showing a deliberate pursuit of intoxication.
  • H3423 yârash: This root, meaning to come to poverty or be dispossessed, is presented as the direct outcome of being a drunkard H5433. It establishes a clear biblical principle of cause and effect, where a life of excess leads to ruin Proverbs 23:21.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H5433 is demonstrated through its consistent portrayal as a symptom of deeper spiritual problems.

  • A Sign of Rebellion: Drunkenness is not merely a personal failing but an act of defiance. In Deuteronomy 21:20, it is part of the evidence of a son who is stubborn H5637 and rebellious H4784, refusing to obey the voice H6963 of his elders H2205.
  • A Path to Poverty: Scripture directly links the state of being a drunkard H5433 to material ruin. Proverbs 23:21 warns that this lifestyle, along with gluttony H2151, will result in poverty H3423, as drowsiness H5124 will clothe H3847 a man with rags H7168.
  • Vulnerability to Judgment: In Nahum 1:10, being drunken H5433 is the state of the wicked just before they are devoured H398 like dry stubble H7179. This illustrates that indulgence and intoxication lead to a lack of vigilance and an openness to divine judgment.

Summary

In summary, H5433 is more than a term for intoxication; it is a biblical marker for a life of self-indulgence that stands in opposition to wisdom and obedience. It functions as a stark warning, linking excessive drinking to moral rebellion, societal breakdown, personal ruin, and divine judgment. The use of çâbâʼ underscores that a failure of self-control is often a sign of a heart that has turned away from God and his commands.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 5 occurrences, inflected in 4 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • סֹבֵא
  • נִסְבְּאָה
  • סְבוּאִים
  • סֹבְאֵי

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H2151 זָלַל a primitive root (compare זוּל); to shake (as in the wind), i.e. to quake; figuratively, to be loose morally, worthless H5637 סָרַר a primitive root; to turn away, i.e. (morally) be refractory; [idiom] away, backsliding, rebellious, revolter(-ing), sli H4784 מָרָה a primitive root; to be (causatively, make) bitter (or unpleasant); (figuratively) to rebel (or resist; causatively, to H8085 שָׁמַע a primitive root; to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc H3423 יָרַשׁ or יָרֵשׁ; a primitive root; to occupy (by driving out previous tenants, and possessing in their place); by implication, H7941 שֵׁכָר from שָׁכַר; an intoxicant, i.e. intensely alcoholic liquor; strong drink, [phrase] drunkard, strong wine.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 6 verses across 5 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Proverbs (2 verses); never once in the other 34.

1
Deuteronomy
2
Proverbs
1
Isaiah
1
Ezekiel
1
Nahum

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.