Lexical Summary seber: Hope, expectation Original Word: שֵׂבֶר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance hope From sabar; expectation -- hope. see HEBREW sabar NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom sabar Definition a hope NASB Translation hope (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs [שֵׂ֫בֶר] noun masculine hope; — suffix שִׂבְרִי Psalm 119:116, ׳שִׂבְרוֺ עַליֿ Psalm 146:5. Topical Lexicon Root and Meaning The noun שֵׂבֶר (seber) conveys the idea of positive anticipation—“hope,” “expectation,” or “confidence” in a future good. While the more common Hebrew term for hope is תִּקְוָה (tiqvah), seber nuances that hope as an inward posture of waiting that is grounded in the reliability of God’s spoken word and saving character rather than in human calculation. Occurrences and Literary Context Seber appears only twice, both in Psalms. Hope within the Story of Redemption Seber joins the wider biblical testimony that true hope is anchored in God’s faithfulness: Hope and Covenant Faithfulness By placing seber alongside references to the “word” (Psalm 119) and the “God of Jacob” (Psalm 146), the Psalter locates hope within the two fundamental pillars of covenant life: 1. The reliability of divine revelation. Thus seber is neither wishful thinking nor vague optimism; it is covenantal realism. Because Yahweh is righteous and His word is steadfast, the believer’s expectation is sure. Connection with Messianic Expectation Early Jewish interpreters linked Psalm 146 to messianic hope because of its emphasis on God’s reign and justice (cf. Psalm 146:10). In Christian reading, this finds fulfillment in Jesus Christ, whose resurrection secures “a living hope” (1 Peter 1:3). Seber, though sparse in usage, foreshadows the definitive hope embodied in the Messiah. Practical and Pastoral Applications • Discipleship: Grounding believers in Scripture cultivates seber—an unshakable expectancy that shapes perseverance and obedience. Historical and Theological Reception Rabbinic tradition associated hope with waiting for the redemption of Israel, while early church fathers saw in these Psalms a foretaste of Christian assurance. Reformers highlighted the contrast between biblical hope and human presumption, emphasizing sola Scriptura as the foundation of confident expectation. Summary שֵׂבֶר communicates a covenant-rooted, Scripture-informed hope that never collapses because it rests on the steadfast character of God. Though it occurs only twice, its theological weight is profound: those who place their seber in the Lord find help, blessing, and deliverance, experiencing a foretaste of the ultimate fulfillment secured in Christ. Forms and Transliterations ברו מִשִּׂבְרִֽי׃ משברי׃ שִׂ֝בְר֗וֹ ḇə·rōw ḇərōw miś·śiḇ·rî miśśiḇrî missivRi veRoLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Psalm 119:116 HEB: וְאַל־ תְּ֝בִישֵׁ֗נִי מִשִּׂבְרִֽי׃ NAS: And do not let me be ashamed of my hope. KJV: and let me not be ashamed of my hope. INT: not me be ashamed of my hope Psalm 146:5 2 Occurrences |