Word Study for H7662 (שְׁבַק)

shᵉbaq /sheb-ak'/ Ask about this word

Root(Aramaic) corresponding to the root of שׁוֹבֵק

Meaningto quit, i.e. allow to remain

KJV usageleave, let alone.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of shᵉbaq — 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 Aramaic word shᵉbaq, represented by H7662, means to quit, allow to remain, leave, or let alone. It appears 5 times across 5 unique verses in the Bible. The term consistently conveys a deliberate decision to either permit something to continue or to preserve a part of something while the rest is removed or judged.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, H7662 appears in contexts of both divine judgment and sovereign decree. In the book of Daniel, it is central to Nebuchadnezzar's vision of the great tree; the command is to hew down the tree but to leave the stump and its roots in the earth (Daniel 4:15, Daniel 4:23). This act of leaving a remnant is explained as a promise that the kingdom would be restored Daniel 4:26. The word is also used to describe the eternal nature of God's kingdom, which shall not be left to other people Daniel 2:44. In Ezra, a royal decree commands that the work on the house of God be let alone, allowing the project to proceed without interference Ezra 6:7.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related Aramaic words provide a fuller context for the meaning of H7662:

H1414 gᵉdad (to cut down; hew down): This word is used in direct opposition to H7662 in the command to hew down the tree but leave its stump, illustrating the contrast between destruction and preservation Daniel 4:23.
H2255 chăbal (to ruin; destroy, hurt): Used to describe what will not happen to God's kingdom, it will not be destroyed, nor will it be left to others Daniel 2:44. This pairing distinguishes between utter ruin and the transfer of authority.
H321 ʼochŏrân ((an-) other): This word clarifies the destination of the action being forbidden in Daniel 2:44, where the kingdom will not be left to other people.
H5673 ʻăbîydâh (labor or business; affairs, service, work): This is the object of the command in Ezra 6:7, where the officials are told to let the work on the house of God alone.

Theological Significance

The conceptual significance of H7662 is expressed through its specific applications:

Preservation Through Judgment: The command to leave the stump of the tree shows that God's judgment does not always mean total annihilation. It can involve the preservation of a remnant with the potential for future restoration, as seen in the promise that Nebuchadnezzar's kingdom would be sure to him Daniel 4:26.
Permanence of God's Kingdom: By stating that the future kingdom will not be left to other people, the word underscores the unending and untransferable nature of God's rule. His authority is absolute and eternal Daniel 2:44.
Authoritative Permission: The decree in Ezra to let alone the rebuilding of the temple demonstrates an exercise of authority through non-interference. It is a command to permit God's will to be done without hindrance Ezra 6:7.

Summary

In summary, H7662 carries a meaning beyond simple departure. It signifies a conscious and authoritative act to allow something to remain. Whether preserving a remnant through judgment, affirming the permanence of a divine kingdom, or permitting God's work to continue, shᵉbaq consistently points to a deliberate choice that has significant theological and historical consequences.

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 5 occurrences, inflected in 3 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.

שְׁבֻקוּ
תִשְׁתְּבִק
מִשְׁבַּק

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 5 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Daniel (4 verses); never once in the other 37.

Ezra

Daniel

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.