English · KJV
H7666

שָׁבַר

shâbar /shaw-bar'/ Ask about this word
Rootdenominative from שֶׁבֶר
Meaningto deal in grain
KJV usagebuy, sell.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of shâbar — 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 שָׁבַר (shâbar), represented by H7666, is a denominative from שֶׁבֶר and means to deal in grain, encompassing both buying and selling. It appears 21 times across 20 unique verses, primarily illustrating commercial transactions essential for survival and commerce in the ancient world.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H7666 is most prominent in the story of Joseph during the great famine. As governor over Egypt, Joseph was the one who sold H7666 grain to all the people of the land Genesis 42:6. This act of selling became the means of survival for many, including his own family, as his brothers traveled from Canaan specifically to buy H7666 food Genesis 42:7. The word is also used prophetically to condemn unethical trade practices, as seen when Amos rebukes merchants eager for the sabbath to end so they can sell H7666 corn using deceitful measures Amos 8:5. In a powerful spiritual metaphor, Isaiah invites the thirsty to buy H7666 wine and milk without money and without price Isaiah 55:1.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide a fuller context for the act of buying and selling grain:

  • H7668 sheber (corn, victuals): This word, from which H7666 is derived, represents the very commodity being traded. It is the corn that Jacob heard was in Egypt, prompting him to send his sons to buy it Genesis 42:2.
  • H7069 qânâh (buy, get, possess): This term for purchasing is used in a parallel context, such as when Amos condemns those who would buy H7069 the poor for silver and sell H7666 the refuse of the wheat Amos 8:6.
  • H3701 keçeph (silver, money): As the primary medium of exchange, this word is central to the transactions involving H7666. Joseph gathered all the money for the corn which the people bought Genesis 47:14.
  • H7458 râʻâb (famine): This term describes the dire circumstance that often necessitated the use of H7666. It was because the famine was so sore in all lands that countries came to Egypt to buy corn Genesis 41:57.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H7666 is demonstrated through its various applications.

  • Divine Providence: The act of buying and selling grain is a central part of God's plan to preserve life during the famine. Jacob commands his sons to go to Egypt and buy H7666 so "that we may live, and not die" Genesis 42:2, showing how a simple commercial act becomes an instrument of divine salvation.
  • Ethical Commerce and Justice: The word is used to highlight the moral dimension of trade. Proverbs promises a blessing on the one who selleth H7666 corn Proverbs 11:26, while Amos uses the same word to condemn merchants who use their business to exploit the needy Amos 8:5-6.
  • Spiritual Sustenance: Isaiah elevates the concept from a physical transaction to a spiritual one. The invitation to buy H7666 food and drink "without money and without price" Isaiah 55:1 illustrates that God's life-giving grace and sustenance are available freely to all who are thirsty.

Summary

In summary, H7666 moves from a literal term for commerce to a word carrying significant theological meaning. Rooted in the buying and selling of grain for physical survival, as seen in the Joseph narrative, it also serves as a benchmark for social justice in the marketplace. Ultimately, it is transformed into a powerful metaphor for the free gift of spiritual life offered by God to a world in need.

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 21 occurrences, inflected in 9 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.

  • שְׁבָּר
  • שִׁבְרוּ
  • נַשְׁבִּירָה
  • מַּשְׁבִּיר
  • תַּשְׁבִּרֵ
  • יִּשְׁבֹּר
  • נִשְׁבְּרָה
  • תִּשְׁבְּרוּ
  • שֹׁבְרִים

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.

H7668 שֶׁבֶר the same as שֶׁבֶר; grain (as if broken into kernels); corn, victuals. H7069 קָנָה a primitive root; to erect, i.e. create; by extension, to procure, especially by purchase (causatively, sell); by implic H3701 כֶּסֶף from כָּסַף; silver (from its pale color); by implication, money; money, price, silver(-ling). H7458 רָעָב from רָעֵב; hunger (more or less extensive); dearth, famine, [phrase] famished, hunger.

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 20 verses across 5 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Genesis (14 verses); never once in the other 34.

14
Genesis
2
Deuteronomy
1
Proverbs
1
Isaiah
2
Amos

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.