English · KJV
H5440

סָבַךְ

çâbak /saw-bak'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto entwine
KJV usagefold together, wrap.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of çâbak — 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 çâbak, represented by H5440, is a primitive root meaning to entwine, fold together, or wrap. It appears 2 times in 2 unique verses in the Bible. This word conveys the idea of things being tangled or intricately woven together, whether in a natural or metaphorical sense.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H5440 is used to illustrate both natural growth and divine judgment. In Job, it is used literally to describe how the roots H8328 of a plant are wrapped about a heap H1530, showing a tenacious and secure hold Job 8:17. In Nahum, the word takes on a metaphorical meaning. The enemies of the Lord are described as folden together like thorns H5518, indicating a tangled, combustible state just before they are devoured H398 like fully dry H3002 stubble H7179 Nahum 1:10.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide deeper context for the imagery of H5440:

  • H8328 sheresh (a root): This word, used in Job, signifies the foundation or source of life. When its roots are "wrapped about" something, it implies a deep and established connection Job 8:17.
  • H5518 çîyr (thorn): In Nahum's prophecy, the wicked are "folden together" like thorns, emphasizing a painful, impassable, and hazardous entanglement that is ripe for judgment Nahum 1:10.
  • H1530 gal (heap): This term describes the object around which the roots are entwined in Job 8:17. It can mean a heap of stone, highlighting the secure grip of the roots on a firm structure.
  • H7179 qash (stubble): This word is used in Nahum 1:10 to describe the final state of those who are "folden together." As dry stubble, they are easily and completely devoured, showing their ultimate vulnerability.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H5440 is seen in its dual imagery of security and judgment.

  • Tenacious Hold: In its positive sense, as seen in Job, the word illustrates a persistent and life-sustaining connection. The roots H8328 that wrap themselves around the heap H1530 depict a secure foundation and unwavering stability Job 8:17.
  • Entanglement for Judgment: In contrast, the use in Nahum portrays a negative entanglement. People who are folden together in their wickedness, like thorns H5518, become a collective object of divine wrath, destined to be devoured H398 together Nahum 1:10.
  • Inescapable Condition: Both uses convey a state of being intricately bound. Whether it represents the stability of a well-rooted plant or the shared fate of the wicked, çâbak suggests a condition from which it is not easy to be separated.

Summary

In summary, H5440 çâbak provides a powerful and concise image of things being entwined or wrapped together. Though it appears only twice, its applications are profoundly different. It can depict the life-giving tenacity of roots H8328 securing themselves to a foundation Job 8:17, or it can illustrate the perilous entanglement of the wicked who are folden together for judgment Nahum 1:10. The word demonstrates how the concept of being bound together can signify either enduring stability or collective destruction.

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 2 occurrences, inflected in 2 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.

  • יְסֻבָּכוּ
  • סְבֻכִים

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.

H8328 שֶׁרֶשׁ from שָׁרַשׁ; a root (literally or figuratively); bottom, deep, heel, root. H1530 גַּל from גָּלַל; something rolled, i.e. a heap of stone or dung (plural ruins), by analogy, a spring of water (plural waves) H5518 סִיר or (feminine) סִירָה; or סִרָה; (Jeremiah 52:18), from a primitive root meaning to boil up; a pot; also a thorn (as spri H398 אָכַל a primitive root; to eat (literally or figuratively); [idiom] at all, burn up, consume, devour(-er, up), dine, eat(-er, H3002 יָבֵשׁ from יָבֵשׁ; dry; dried (away), dry. H7179 קַשׁ from קָשַׁשׁ; straw (as dry); stubble.

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 2 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Job and Nahum (1 verse each); never once in the other 37.

1
Job
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.