English · KJV
H5445

סָבַל

çâbal /saw-bal'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto carry (literally or figuratively), or (reflexively) be burdensome; specifically, to be gravid
KJV usagebear, be a burden, carry, strong to labour.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of çâbal — 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 çâbal, represented by H5445, is a primitive root meaning to carry or be burdensome. It appears 9 times in 8 verses and is used both literally and figuratively to describe bearing a load, being strong for labor, or being weighed down. Its usage ranges from the physical toil of man and beast to the profound spiritual act of carrying sorrows and iniquities.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

Biblically, H5445 is applied in several distinct contexts. In a literal sense, it describes the act of submitting to a physical load, as when Issachar "bowed his shoulder to bear" and became a servant Genesis 49:15. It is also used to depict idols that are lifeless and must be carried by their worshippers Isaiah 46:7. The word takes on a deeply theological meaning when applied to the suffering servant, who carried our sorrows Isaiah 53:4 and will bear their iniquities Isaiah 53:11. In a contrasting divine promise, God declares He will carry His people through their entire lives Isaiah 46:4.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words clarify the context and nature of the burdens being borne:

  • H5375 nâsâʼ (to lift, bear, carry, forgive): This word is used in parallel with çâbal and expands on the idea of bearing. It is used for God's promise to bear His people Isaiah 46:4 and the servant who has borne our griefs Isaiah 53:4.
  • H5771 ʻâvôn (iniquity, sin): This term frequently defines the spiritual burden being carried. The people of Lamentations have borne the iniquities of their fathers Lamentations 5:7, and the righteous servant shall bear their iniquities Isaiah 53:11.
  • H4341 makʼôb (grief, pain, sorrow): This word describes the emotional and spiritual weight carried by the servant in Isaiah, who carried our sorrows Isaiah 53:4.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H5445 is significant, highlighting key scriptural themes.

  • Divine Sustenance: God's promise to carry Israel even to old age H2209 and hoar hairs H7872 establishes His role as a faithful, lifelong bearer of His people, culminating in His promise to deliver H4422 them Isaiah 46:4. This stands in stark contrast to idols that must themselves be carried Isaiah 46:7.
  • Vicarious Atonement: The concept is powerfully illustrated in Isaiah's prophecy, where the servant carries the sorrows H4341 and griefs H2483 of others Isaiah 53:4 and ultimately shall bear their iniquities H5771 Isaiah 53:11.
  • Bearing Consequences: The word is also used to describe the consequences of sin and human action. The people in exile declare, "we have borne their iniquities" Lamentations 5:7, showing the transfer of consequences across generations. Similarly, submitting to bear a load is linked to servitude Genesis 49:15.

Summary

In summary, H5445 conveys the fundamental concept of bearing a heavy load. This ranges from the literal, such as oxen that are strong to labour Psalms 144:14, to the deeply figurative, like a grasshopper becoming a burden in old age Ecclesiastes 12:5. Theologically, it distinguishes between the living God who carries His people Isaiah 46:4 and the impotent idols that must be carried Isaiah 46:7. Ultimately, çâbal provides the framework for understanding the substitutionary work of the servant who bears the iniquities of many Isaiah 53:11.

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 9 occurrences, inflected in 8 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.

  • אֶסְבֹּל
  • יִסְתַּבֵּל
  • מְסֻבָּלִים
  • יִסְבְּלֻ
  • יִסְבֹּל
  • סְבֹּל
  • סָבָלְנוּ
  • סְבָלָ

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.

H5375 נָשָׂא or נָסָה; (Psalm 4:6 (אֲבַד)), a primitive root; to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, ab H5771 עָוֺן or עָווֹן; (2 Kings 7:9; Psalm 51:5 (אֲבַד)), from עָוָה; perversity, i.e. (moral) evil; fault, iniquity, mischeif, puni H4341 מַכְאֹב sometimes מַכְאוֹב; also (feminine Isaiah 53:3) מַכְאֹבָה; from כָּאַב; anguish or (figuratively) affliction; grief, pai H2209 זִקְנָה feminine of זָקֵן; old age; old (age). H7872 שֵׂיבָה feminine of שֵׂיב; old age; (be) gray (grey hoar,-y) hairs (head,-ed), old age. H4422 מָלַט a primitive root; properly, to be smooth, i.e. (by implication) to escape (as if by slipperiness); causatively, to relea

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 8 verses across 5 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Isaiah (4 verses); never once in the other 34.

1
Genesis
1
Psalms
1
Ecclesiastes
4
Isaiah
1
Lamentations

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.