prolonged for the masculine of שֶׁבַע; seven; seven.
Transliteration:shibʻânâh
Pronunciation:shib-aw-naw'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word `{{H7658}}` (שִׁבְעָנָה, transliterated as *shibʻânâh*) is a unique and prolonged form derived from the more common Hebrew word for "seven," `{{H7651}}` (שֶׁבַע, *shebaʻ*). While its base meaning remains "seven," the prolonged form suggests a specific emphasis or nuance, often indicating the "seventh" in a sequence or a designated period of seven. It carries the inherent numerical value of seven, which in biblical thought is profoundly symbolic of completeness, perfection, divine order, and covenant. The slight morphological variation in `{{H7658}}` might serve to underscore the particular significance of this specific "seventh" instance.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
Remarkably, `{{H7658}}` appears only once in the entire Hebrew Bible, found in [[Deuteronomy 15:18]]: "It shall not seem hard to you when you let him go free from you, for he has served you six years, and in the seventh year you shall let him go free from you."
In this singular occurrence, `{{H7658}}` explicitly refers to the "seventh year" (*bishbʻânâh shanah*). The context is the Mosaic Law concerning the release of Hebrew servants. After serving for six years, a servant was to be set free in the "seventh year." The use of this specific form, `{{H7658}}`, rather than the more common `{{H7651}}`, highlights the culmination of the six-year cycle and the arrival of the divinely ordained year of release. It is not merely *a* seventh year, but *the* seventh year, imbued with a specific legal and theological mandate for liberation. This unique usage underscores the importance and distinctiveness of this particular seventh period, marking a divinely appointed end to servitude and the beginning of freedom.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary related word is `{{H7651}}` (שֶׁבַע, *shebaʻ*), the foundational word for "seven," from which `{{H7658}}` is derived. This root is prolific in the Hebrew Bible, appearing in contexts ranging from creation (seven days) to ritual purity and covenant. Other related terms stemming from the same root include:
* `{{H7653}}` (שָׁבַע, *shavaʻ*), meaning "to swear" or "to take an oath," often linked to the concept of completeness or binding agreement, as oaths were considered complete and unbreakable.
* `{{H7655}}` (שְׁבֻעָה, *shvuʻah*), meaning "an oath" or "a week."
* `{{H7659}}` (שִׁבְעִים, *shivʻim*), meaning "seventy," a multiple of seven.
The concept of the Sabbatical Year (שְׁמִטָּה, *shmittah*), a year of release and rest for the land and for debts, is directly tied to the context of `{{H7658}}` in [[Deuteronomy 15:18]]. This broader principle of the "seventh" as a time of cessation and renewal is a pervasive theme in Mosaic Law, reflecting a divine rhythm for life and society.
### Theological Significance
The singular appearance of `{{H7658}}` within the context of the servant's release in the "seventh year" carries significant theological weight:
* **Divine Order and Completion:** The number seven universally signifies completeness and divine perfection in biblical thought. The "seventh year" of release, marked by `{{H7658}}`, emphasizes that the period of servitude has reached its divinely appointed conclusion. It reflects God's established order for time, labor, and rest within creation and human society.
* **Justice and Mercy:** The law mandating the release of servants in the seventh year showcases God's profound concern for justice and mercy towards the vulnerable. It prevents perpetual servitude and ensures that even those in bondage experience a cycle of rest and renewal, mirroring God's own character. The "seventh year" is a testament to God's equitable and compassionate governance.
* **Sabbath Principle Extended:** The principle of the Sabbath, observed weekly, is extended to a larger scale with the Sabbatical year. This demonstrates God's consistent design for rhythms of work and rest, not only for individuals but for the entire community and even the land. The "seventh year" is a time of freedom and reset, reflecting God's desire for liberation and restoration.
* **Anticipation of Redemption:** The release from servitude in the seventh year can be seen as a prophetic type, foreshadowing the ultimate redemption and liberation found in Christ. He is the one who brings true rest from the burden of sin and the bondage of spiritual slavery, fulfilling the deeper theological implications of release and freedom.
### Summary
`{{H7658}}` (שִׁבְעָנָה) is a unique and emphatic form of the Hebrew word for "seven," appearing exclusively in [[Deuteronomy 15:18]]. Its singular usage specifically designates the "seventh year" for the release of Hebrew servants, underscoring the divine mandate and significance of this particular period of culmination and liberation. Theologically, `{{H7658}}` reinforces the profound biblical symbolism of the number seven as representing divine order, completeness, and perfection. It highlights God's attributes of justice and mercy, extended through the law to ensure cycles of rest and freedom for the oppressed, thereby reflecting the broader Sabbath principle and foreshadowing ultimate redemption.
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