Word Study for H7659 (שִׁבְעָתַיִם)

shibʻâthayim /shib-aw-thah'-yim/ Ask about this word

Rootdual (adverbially) of שֶׁבַע

Meaningseven-times

KJV usageseven(-fold, times).

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of shibʻâthayim — 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 shibʻâthayim, represented by H7659, is an adverbial term meaning seven-times or seven-fold. It is the dual form of its base word, שֶׁבַע. Appearing just 7 times across 7 unique verses, its usage consistently signifies a complete, intensified, or perfect measure in a given context.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H7659 is used to convey a sense of divine completeness or intensity. It first appears to establish a standard of absolute retribution, where the LORD declares that vengeance for anyone who slays Cain will be taken sevenfold Genesis 4:15. The term also describes perfect purification, as the words of the LORD are likened to silver purified seven times Psalms 12:6. In a prophetic sense, it points to a future of divine restoration where the light of the sun will be sevenfold on the day the LORD heals His people Isaiah 30:26. It is also applied to legal restitution, where a thief, if found, must restore sevenfold Proverbs 6:31.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words are built from the same root, expanding on the concept of seven:

H7651 shebaʻ: This is the primitive cardinal number for seven, defined as "the sacred full one." It is often used to denote a complete set or cycle, such as when a just man falls seven times and rises again Proverbs 24:16 or the seven things the LORD hates Proverbs 6:16.
H7657 shibʻîym: As a multiple of shebaʻ, this word means seventy. It frequently marks significant groups or periods of time, such as the seventy elders who prophesied Numbers 11:25 or the seventy years of desolation for Jerusalem Daniel 9:2. A single verse highlights the relationship between these terms, where Lamech boasts that if Cain is avenged sevenfold H7659, he will be avenged seventy H7657 and sevenfold H7651 Genesis 4:24.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H7659 lies in its expression of divine completeness and intensity.

Divine Justice and Retribution: The term sets a precedent for full and measured consequence. God's protection of Cain involves a sevenfold vengeance Genesis 4:15, and this same measure is later invoked in a psalmist's plea for God to render back reproach sevenfold Psalms 79:12.
Absolute Purity: The concept is used to describe the perfect nature of God's word, which is presented as flawless, like silver that has been purified seven times Psalms 12:6. This signifies a standard of holiness that is complete and without defect.
Full Restoration: The word implies a restoration that is divinely amplified. A thief must provide a sevenfold restitution Proverbs 6:31, and in God's ultimate act of healing for his people, the light itself will be increased sevenfold Isaiah 30:26, pointing to a restoration that is perfect and overwhelming.

Summary

In summary, H7659 shibʻâthayim is a powerful adverb that communicates a sense of ultimate measure and divine perfection. It is consistently applied to concepts requiring an absolute standard, whether in justice, purity, or restoration. From the sevenfold vengeance protecting Cain Genesis 4:15 to the sevenfold purification of the LORD's words Psalms 12:6, the term marks an action or quality as total and divinely ordained. It illustrates a key feature of biblical language, where numbers carry significant theological weight, defining the very nature of God's perfect standards.

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 an adjective and a noun across 6 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.

שִׁבְעָתַיִם
שִׁבְעָתָיִם

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 7 verses across 5 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Genesis and Psalms (2 verses each); never once in the other 34.

Genesis

2 Samuel

Psalms

Proverbs

Isaiah

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.