or שָׁבֻעַ; also (feminine) שְׁבֻעָה; properly, passive participle of שָׁבַע as a denominative of שֶׁבַע; literally, sevened, i.e. a week (specifically, of years); seven, week.
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word שָׁבוּעַ (shâbûwaʻ, `{{H7620}}`) is a fascinating term rooted in the concept of "seven." It is derived from the verb שָׁבַע (shābaʿ, `{{H7650}}`), meaning "to swear, to take an oath," and ultimately from the cardinal number שֶׁבַע (shebaʿ, `{{H7651}}`), "seven." The base definition describes it as a passive participle, literally meaning "sevened" or "made seven." Its primary semantic range encompasses a period of seven, most commonly translated as "week." Crucially, this can refer to a week of days, but more often in prophetic contexts, it signifies a "week of years," where each "day" in the week represents a year. This dual application highlights its flexibility while maintaining its core numerical foundation.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
While less frequent than its root words, *shâbûwaʻ* appears in significant contexts.
In the Pentateuch, it primarily refers to a literal week of days, particularly in the context of the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot), which is commanded to be counted seven full weeks after the Passover:
* [[Leviticus 23:15]]: "And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete." Here, "sabbaths" (שַׁבָּת) is used to denote weeks, emphasizing the seven-day cycle.
* [[Deuteronomy 16:9]]: "Seven weeks shalt thou number unto thee: begin to number the seven weeks from such time as thou beginnest to put the sickle to the corn." This directly links the counting of *shâbûwaʻ* to the agricultural calendar and the timing of the feast.
However, the most profound and impactful occurrences of *shâbûwaʻ* are found in the book of Daniel, where it unequivocally refers to "weeks of years":
* [[Daniel 9:24]]: "Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy." This verse introduces the pivotal prophecy of "seventy weeks" (70 x 7 = 490 years), a divinely appointed period for the fulfillment of critical redemptive events concerning Israel and Jerusalem.
* [[Daniel 9:25]]: "Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times." Here, the 70 weeks are further subdivided into 7 weeks (49 years) and 62 weeks (434 years), leading up to the advent of the Messiah.
* [[Daniel 9:26]]: "And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined."
* [[Daniel 9:27]]: "And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate." The final "one week" (7 years) is described as a period of covenant confirmation and significant eschatological events.
These occurrences in Daniel demonstrate *shâbûwaʻ* as a unit of prophetic time, indicating precise, divinely ordained periods leading to the culmination of God's plan for Israel and the world.
### Related Words & Concepts
The meaning and significance of *shâbûwaʻ* are deeply intertwined with several related Hebrew terms and concepts:
* **שֶׁבַע (shebaʿ, `{{H7651}}`):** The cardinal number "seven." This is the foundational element, as *shâbûwaʻ* is inherently a period of seven. The number seven in biblical numerology often signifies completeness, perfection, divine order, and covenant.
* **שָׁבַע (shābaʿ, `{{H7650}}`):** The verb "to swear, to take an oath." The etymological connection suggests that these "weeks" are not arbitrary but are periods established by divine decree, oath, or covenant. This reinforces the certainty and immutability of the events tied to these timeframes.
* **שַׁבָּת (shabbath, `{{H7676}}`):** The Sabbath, the seventh day of rest. This highlights the sacredness and divine institution of the seven-day cycle, reflecting God's own pattern of creation and rest.
* **Sabbatical Year (שְׁמִטָּה, shĕmiṭṭâ, `{{H8059}}`) and Year of Jubilee (יוֹבֵל, yôbēl, `{{H3104}}`):** These are cycles of seven years and seven times seven years (49 years), respectively, culminating in a year of rest, release, and restoration. They provide a practical, agricultural, and social precedent for the concept of "weeks of years" and underscore the significance of sevens in God's ordering of time and society. The Jubilee year, in particular, is a "week of weeks" of years.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of *shâbûwaʻ* is profound, particularly in its prophetic usage:
* **Divine Sovereignty Over Time:** The concept of "weeks" of years underscores God's absolute sovereignty over history. He is not merely reacting to events but has a predetermined plan, unfolding according to His precise timetable. The *shâbûwaʻ* periods in Daniel demonstrate God's meticulous scheduling of redemptive history.
* **Prophetic Precision and Fulfillment:** The detailed nature of the "seventy weeks" prophecy in Daniel provides compelling evidence for the divine inspiration of Scripture and the reliability of God's word. The historical fulfillment, particularly concerning the first coming of the Messiah, attests to God's faithfulness in bringing His prophecies to pass with exactitude.
* **Completeness and Culmination:** Consistent with the symbolism of the number seven, the "weeks" often mark periods leading to a divine completion or culmination. In Daniel, the 70 weeks lead to the "finishing of transgression," "making an end of sins," and "bringing in everlasting righteousness," signifying the ultimate work of redemption.
* **Covenantal Faithfulness:** The connection to the verb "to swear" (`{{H7650}}`) implies that these periods are tied to God's covenant promises. The events within the *shâbûwaʻ* in Daniel are directly related to God's covenants with Israel, demonstrating His unwavering commitment to His chosen people and His ultimate plan for their restoration and the establishment of His kingdom.
* **Eschatological Hope:** The final "week" in Daniel points to future events, providing a framework for understanding eschatology and the ultimate triumph of God's purposes, including the return of the Messiah and the establishment of His eternal reign.
### Summary
The Hebrew term שָׁבוּעַ (shâbûwaʻ, `{{H7620}}`) is a rich and significant word meaning "a period of seven," typically a "week" of days or, more profoundly, a "week of years." Derived from the number "seven" (`{{H7651}}`) and linked to the concept of "swearing an oath" (`{{H7650}}`), it carries connotations of divine appointment and completeness. While it appears in the Pentateuch referencing literal weeks for feasts like Shavuot ([[Deuteronomy 16:9]]), its most critical usage is found in the prophetic book of Daniel. There, the "seventy weeks" ([[Daniel 9:24]]) delineate a precise, divinely ordained timeline of 490 years, detailing events from the rebuilding of Jerusalem to the coming of the Messiah and the ultimate establishment of everlasting righteousness. *Shâbûwaʻ* thus powerfully testifies to God's sovereign control over history, His meticulous planning, His unwavering faithfulness to His covenants, and the certainty of His redemptive purposes culminating in the Messiah's work and the final establishment of His kingdom.
TRV