English · KJV
H5447

סֵבֶל

çêbel /say'-bel/ Ask about this word
Rootfrom סָבַל
Meaninga load (literally or figuratively)
KJV usageburden, charge.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of çêbel — 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 çêbel, represented by H5447, means a load (literally or figuratively); burden, charge. It is derived from the root word סָבַל (çâbal). Though its meaning is significant, it appears only 3 times in 3 unique verses, highlighting its specific application to different kinds of loads.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, H5447 encompasses both physical and administrative burdens. God speaks of removing Israel's shoulder from the burden Psalms 81:6, referring to a physical load and deliverance from toil. In a figurative sense, Solomon appoints Jeroboam over all the charge of the house of Joseph, using the term to signify a significant responsibility or a managerial load 1 Kings 11:28. Lastly, it describes the literal, heavy burdens carried by the builders of the wall in Jerusalem, who labored with one hand while holding a weapon in the other Nehemiah 4:17.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the contexts in which a burden or charge is carried:

  • H7926 shekem (shoulder): This word denotes the part of the body where burdens are carried, as seen in the phrase "I removed his shoulder from the burden" Psalms 81:6. It figuratively represents the placement of government or authority.
  • H6006 ʻâmaç (to load, lade): This verb describes the action of placing a burden upon someone or something. It is used alongside H5447 to describe the workers who laded themselves with materials while rebuilding the wall Nehemiah 4:17.
  • H6485 pâqad (to make ruler, appoint, charge): This word is used when Solomon made Jeroboam ruler over the "charge" H5447, connecting the idea of a burden to an appointment of great responsibility 1 Kings 11:28.

Theological Significance

The theological and practical significance of H5447 is seen in its distinct applications:

  • Divine Deliverance: The primary theological use is to illustrate God's power to free His people from oppressive labor. The removal of the "burden" is a direct act of divine intervention and relief Psalms 81:6.
  • Delegated Authority: The term is used to frame leadership as a form of weight or responsibility. Being given a "charge" is to be entrusted with the oversight and management of people and resources 1 Kings 11:28.
  • Labor for a Holy Purpose: The "burdens" carried by the builders in Nehemiah represent diligent work in the service of God, performed even in the face of adversity. It links physical toil directly to the fulfillment of a sacred task Nehemiah 4:17.

Summary

In summary, H5447 çêbel effectively captures the concept of a "load" in its various forms. Whether as a physical weight from which God provides deliverance, a significant administrative charge given to a leader, or the laborious task of serving God's purposes, the word conveys a sense of weight and responsibility. It shows how a single term can describe both oppressive toil and honorable duty.

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 noun across 3 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.

  • סֵּבֶל
  • סֵבֶל

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.

H7926 שְׁכֶם from שָׁכַם; the neck (between the shoulders) as the place of burdens; figuratively, the spur of ahill; back, [idiom] co H6006 עָמַס or עָמַשׂ; a primitive root; to load, i.e. impose aburden (or figuratively, infliction); be borne, (heavy) burden (self) H6485 פָּקַד a primitive root; to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, de

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 3 verses across 3 of the 39 books. Most frequent in 1 Kings, Nehemiah, and Psalms (1 verse each); never once in the other 36.

1
1 Kings
1
Nehemiah
1
Psalms

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.