Lexical Definition

‎סָבַב‎ çâbab (saw-bab') to turn: turn ^H:V
a primitive root

bring, cast, fetch, lead, make, walk, [idiom] whirl, [idiom] round about, be about on every side, apply, avoid, beset (about), besiege, bring again, carry (about), change, cause to come about, [idiom] circuit, (fetch a) compass (about, round), drive, environ, [idiom] on every side, beset (close, come, compass, go, stand) round about, inclose, remove, return, set, sit down, turn (self) (about, aside, away, back).

• to revolve, surround, or border
• used in various applications, literally and figuratively

1) to turn, turn about or around or aside or back or towards, go about or around, surround, encircle, change direction
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to turn, turn about, be brought round, change
1a2) to march or walk around, go partly around, circle about, skirt, make a round, make a circuit, go about to, surround, encompass
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to turn oneself, close round, turn round
1b2) to be turned over to
1c) (Piel) to turn about, change, transform
1d) (Poel)
1d1) to encompass, surround
1d2) to come about, assemble round
1d3) to march, go about
1d4) to enclose, envelop
1e) (Hiphil)
1e1) to turn, cause to turn, turn back, reverse, bring over, turn into, bring round
1e2) to cause to go around, surround, encompass
1f) (Hophal)
1f1) to be turned
1f2) to be surrounded

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Extended Information

• : turn/bring_around

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎סָבַב‎ verb turn about, go around, surround ( Late Hebrew id., Pi`el Hiph`il, and derivatives; Aramaic ‎סוֺבְבָא‎ rim, border; Arabic rope, lock of hair; possibly also II. prepare a means of attaining something Lane¹²⁸⁴); —

Qal Perfect 3 masculine singular ‎׳‎‎ס‎ Ezek 42:19 +; 1 singular ‎סַבֹּ֫תִי‎ 1Sam 22:22 (but see below), ‎סַבּ֫וֺתִי‎ Eccl 2:20; Eccl 7:25 3 plural ‎סָָֽבְבוּ‎ Josh 6:15 + 1Sam 14:21; 2Sam 24:6 (see below), suffix ‎סְבָבוּנִי‎ Ps 18:6* +, ‎סַבּוּנִי‎ Ps 88:18* + 2 t., ‎סַבֻּנִי‎ 2Sam 22:6 2 masculine plural ‎וְסַבֹּתֶם‎ consecutive Josh 6:3, etc.; Imperfect ‎יָסֹב‎ 1Kgs 7:15 +, suffix ‎יְסֻבֵּנִי‎ Ps 49:6* oftener ‎יִסֹּב‎ 1Sam 5:8 +, ‎וַיִּסֹּב‎ Gen 42:24 +; 3 masculine plural ‎יָסֹ֫בוּ‎ Job 16:13, ‎וַיָּסֹ֫בוּ‎ Josh 6:14 +, 3 feminine plural ‎תְּסֻבֶּינָה‎ Gen 37:7, etc.; Imperative masculine singular ‎סֹב‎ 1Sam 22:18, feminine singular ‎סֹ֫בִּי‎ Isa 23:16, etc.; Infinitive construct ‎לִסְבֹּב‎ Num 21:4, ‎סֹב‎ Deut 2:3 Participle ‎סוֺבֵב‎ 2Kgs 6:15 +, ‎הַסֹּבֵיב‎ 2Kgs 8:21 (Ginsb ‎הִסְבִּיב‎ Kt, ‎הַסֹּבֵב‎ Qr), etc.; —

1. turn, intransitive (Imperfect of form ‎יִסֹּב‎ in this sense only):
a. turn about, often as preliminary to something else 1Sam 15:12; 1Sam 15:27 (followed by infinitive), 1Chr 16:43 (id.; ‎וַ֫יָּשָׁב‎ in || 2Sam 6:20) + 1Sam 14:21 (read ‎סָֽבְבוּ גַם‎ for ᵑ0 ‎סָבִיב‎ ‎וְגַם‎, ᵐ5 ᵑ6 ᵑ9 Th We, etc.), Jer 41:14 a (+ ‎שׁוב‎ v^b, but ᵐ5 omits v^a compare Gie), Eccl 1:6 (twice in verse); of door, Prov 26:14 turn on (‎עַל‎) its hinge (compare Niph`al Ezek 26:2); turn (toward one) 1Sam 22:17; 1Sam 22:18 (twice in verse); 2Sam 18:30 (twice in verse); Song 2:17 (see Bu); also with ‎אֶלֿ‎ 2Sam 14:24 (twice in verse); + 2Sam 24:6 (read ‎סָֽבְבוּ‎ for ‎סָבִיב‎ We Dr Bu Kit HPS; Klo ‎יָסֹבוּ‎, compare Löhr), Ezek 42:19; Eccl 1:6, ‎אֶלאַֿחֲרָ֑י‎ 2Kgs 9:18; 2Kgs 9:19 of cup of ‎׳‎‎י‎, it shall come round unto (‎עַלֿ‎, with hostile implication; ‎עָבַר עַל‎ Lam 4:22) Hab 2:16 of Jordan, turn ‎לְאָחוֺר‎ Ps 114:3; Ps 114:5 turn about from (‎מֵעַל‎) Gen 42:24, (‎מִן‎) 1Sam 18:11, + ‎אֶלֿ‎ 1Sam 17:30 so of inheritance Num 36:7 it shall not go about from (‎מִן‎) tribe to (‎אֶלֿ‎) tribe, also vNum 36:9 (‎לְ‎ for ‎אֶלֿ‎); compare (absolute) ‎וַתִּסֹּב הַמְּלוּכָה וַתְּהִי לְאָתִי‎ 1Kgs 2:15 (compare Hiph`il 1 b); = be brought round, with accusative of location 1Sam 5:8 (of ark).
b. turn = change, only Zech 14:10 (of land, changed like [‎כְּ‎, i.e. into] a plain), compare Hiph`il 1 c. c. figurative turn (in a new direction) to do something (infinitive) Eccl 2:20; Eccl 7:25. — Ps 71:21 is dubious; Bae reads ‎וְתָשֻׁב‎ for ‎וְתִסֹּב‎ after ᵐ5 ᵑ6 ᵑ9; Hup-Now Che and others below
a. above: turn, comfort me. — Job 10:8 read ‎אַחַר תִּסֹּב‎ for ᵑ0 ‎יחד‎ ‎סביב‎ De and others

2. a. march, or walk, around, with accusative (city) Josh 6:3; Josh 6:4; Josh 6:7; Josh 6:14; Josh 6:15 (twice in verse) (all J E), Ps 48:13* possibly also ‎נָסֹב‎ 1Sam 16:11 (of marching about altar? so HPS; turn to do something else Th), but compare ‎תסוב‎ Eccl 32:1 sit about a table (see Schechter^{BS p. 56, and} compare ‎מֵסַב‎), or read ‎נֵשֵׁב‎ Weir in Dr Kit Bu Löhr (perhaps).
b. go partly round, circle about, skirt, with accusative (land) Num 21:4 (JE) Judg 11:18, also Deut 2:1; Deut 2:3 of rivers Gen 2:11; Gen 2:13.
c. make a round, or circuit, go about to, with accusative of location 1Sam 7:16 go about in (‎בְּ‎) 2Chr 17:9, compare also (with ‎בְּ‎) 2Chr 23:2; Song 3:5; Song 5:7; Eccl 12:5, so with accusative Isa 23:16 = make a circuitous march 2Kgs 3:9 (with accusative ‎דֶּרֶךְ‎). — See also 2Sam 5:23; 1Chr 14:14 Hiph`il 2 a. d. surround, encompass, absolute Gen 37:7 (E); with accusative Job 40:22 with hostile purpose, 2Kgs 6:15; Eccl 9:14 (both of siege), compare 2Kgs 3:25 accusative omitted Judg 16:2, compare 2Sam 18:15 with accusative of thing + ‎עַלֿ‎ person Judg 20:5 with ‎עַלֿ‎ person alone Job 16:13; 2Chr 18:31 with ‎אֶלֿ‎ person 2Kgs 8:21 = 2Chr 21:9 often figurative in poetry, with accusative Hos 7:2; 2Sam 22:6 = Ps 18:6*; Ps 22:13*; Ps 22:17*; Ps 49:6*; Ps 88:18*; Ps 118:10; Ps 118:11 (twice in verse); Ps 118:12 so also Ps 17:11 (Kt ‎סְבָבוּנִי‎, Qr ‎סְבָבוּנוּ‎; on text see especially Hup-Now); literally of cord surrounding (measuring circumference of), with accusative 1Kgs 7:15 = Jer 52:21; 1Kgs 7:23 = 2Chr 4:2 of ornaments, etc., surrounding something (accusative) 1Kgs 7:24; 2Chr 4:3 surround one with something (2 accusative) 1Kgs 5:17*; Ps 109:3 accusative + ‎בְּ‎ instrumental Hos 12:1* ‎לָעֹפֶל‎ ‎׳‎‎ס‎ 2Chr 33:14 (i.e. build a wall around it). — 1Sam 22:22 read ‎חַבְתִּי‎ (√ ‎חוּב‎), ᵐ5 ᵑ6 Th We Dr Kit Bu Löhr HPS. Niph`al Perfect 3 masculine singular ‎נָסַב‎ Josh 15:3 +; 3 feminine singular ‎נָסֵ֫בָּה‎ Ezek 26:2 (Ges^{«GKC:67t»§ 67t} St^{§ 410 b} Kö^{i. 342}); ‎וְנָָֽסְבָה‎ Ezek 41:7 (but read ‎וְנוֺסְפָה‎ Ew Sm Co Toy^Hpt, compare Berthol); 3 plural ‎נָסַ֫בּוּ‎ Gen 19:4 +; Imperfect 3 masculine plural ‎יִסַּ֫בּוּ‎ Ezek 1:9 + 5 t.; —

1. a. turn oneself against (‎עַלֿ‎), close round upon (‎עַל‎) Gen 19:4 (J) Josh 7:9 (JE); with accusative Judg 19:22.
b. turn round (from a direct course), of wheels Ezek 1:9; Ezek 1:12; Ezek 1:17; Ezek 10:11 (twice in verse), also vEzek 10:16 (but dubious, Co ‎ישׁבו‎, Toy^Hpt leave, Symm ἀπελείποντο); ‎נָסֵ֫בָּה אֵלַי‎ Ezek 26:2 of Jerusalem under figure of door (Sm Co Berthol Toy^Hpt).
c. especially of boundary (Hexateuch only P): turn round from (‎מִן‎), toward (‎לְ‎) Num 34:4, + ‎ה‎ locative Josh 18:14 with ‎מִן‎ + ‎ה‎ locative + ‎אֶלֿ‎ Josh 15:10 with ‎מִן‎ alone Num 34:5 with ‎ה‎ locative alone Jer 31:39; Josh 15:3; Josh 16:6 circle about, skirt, with accusative Josh 19:14.

2. passive be turned over to (‎לְ‎), into the power of, Jer 6:12. Pi`el Infinitiveconstruct ‎סַבֵּב אֶתפְּֿנֵי הַדָּבָר‎ 2Sam 14:20 to change, transform, the aspect of the matter. Po`. Imperfect 3 masculine singular suffix ‎יְסֹבְבֵנִי‎ Jonah 2:4*; Jonah 2:6*, ‎יְסֹבְבֶנְהוּ‎ Deut 32:10, ‎יְסוֺבְבֶנּוּ‎ Ps 32:10 3 feminine singular ‎תְּסוֺבֵב‎ Jer 31:22, etc.; — encompass, surround (in poetry and chiefly late): —

1. encompass (with protection), with accusative Deut 32:10 ( ‎׳‎‎י‎ subject), with 2 accusative ‎חֶסֶד יְסוֺבְבֶנּוּ‎ Ps 32:10, compare vPs 32:7 (but 2nd object here dubious); similarly ‎נְקֵבָה‎ ‎תְּסוֺבֵב גָּ֑בֶר‎ Jer 31:22 i.e. either shall protect (so most) or (Che, compare Gf) the woman (figurative of Israel), instead of holding aloof (‎הַבַּת הַשּׁוֺבֵבָה‎ vJer 31:22), will, in the new future which ‎׳‎‎י‎ creates, with affection press round her divine husband.

2. come about, assemble round (accusative of person ‎׳‎‎י‎) Ps 7:8*.

3. march or go about, city (accusative) Ps 55:11*; Ps 59:7*; Ps 59:15* altar (in solemn procession) Ps 26:6 go about in (‎בְּ‎) city Song 3:2.

4. enclose, envelop, with accusative of person Jonah 2:4*; Jonah 2:6* (of waters).

Hiph`il Perfect 3 masculine singular ‎הֵסֵב‎ 2Kgs 16:18 +; 2 masculine singular ‎הֲסִבֹּ֫תָ‎ 1Kgs 18:37 3 plural ‎הֵסַ֫בּוּ‎ 1Sam 5:9; 1Sam 5:10, etc.; Imperfect 3 masculine singular ‎וַיַּסֵּב‎ Exod 13:18 +, suffix ‎וַיְסִבֵּ֫נִי‎ Ezek 47:2 3 masculine plural ‎וַיַּסֵּ֫בּוּ‎ Judg 18:23 + 2 t.; 1 plural ‎נָסֵב‎ 2Chr 14:6*, cohortative ‎נָסֵ֫בָּה‎ 1Chr 13:3 Imperative masculine singular ‎הָסֵב‎ 2Sam 5:23; 1Chr 14:14 (but see below); feminine singular ‎הָסֵ֫בִּי‎ Song 6:5 Infinitive construct ‎הָסֵב‎ 2Sam 3:12; 1Chr 12:33* Participle ‎מֵסֵב‎ Jer 21:4 perhaps also plural suffix ‎מְסִבָּ֑י‎ Ps 140:10* (Ginsb); —

1. a. turn (transitive), cause to turn: turn face (accusative) Judg 18:23; 1Kgs 8:14 = 2Chr 6:3 (all = turn toward); = turn round face 1Kgs 21:4, + ‎אֶלהַֿקִּיר‎ 2Kgs 20:2 = Isa 38:2 + ‎מִן‎ Ezek 7:22 (subject ‎׳‎‎י‎), 2Chr 29:6 (of neglect), 2Chr 35:22 (of avoiding battle); turn away eyes from (‎מִן‎), Song 6:5 turn (back), change heart 1Kgs 18:37 (recall from apostasy; + ‎אֲחֹרַנִּית‎), Ezra 6:22 (+ ‎עַלֿ‎); turn back, reverse (weapons) Jer 21:4.
b. bring over (i.e. to allegiance), with accusative + ‎אֶלֿ‎ person, 2Sam 3:12; 1Chr 12:24* (van d. H. v.1Chr 12:23*); of ‎׳‎‎י‎, turn over kingdom to (‎לְ‎) 1Chr 10:14 (compare Qal 1 a, 1Kgs 2:15).
c. turn into, of changing name, 2 accusative 2Kgs 23:24 = 2Chr 36:4; 2Kgs 24:14.
d. = bring round, with accusative 1Sam 5:8; 1Sam 5:9 + ‎מִן‎ 2Sam 20:12 + ‎אֶלֿ‎ 1Sam 5:10; 1Chr 13:3 + accusative of location 2Kgs 16:18 (sense obscure).

2. a. cause to go around: of carrying ark around city (2 accusative) Josh 6:11 (J E; but Qal ᵐ5 ᵑ6 ᵑ9); lead round , i.e. by a round-about way, accusative of person + accusative ‎דֶּרֶךְ‎ Exod 13:18 (E) Ezek 47:2 with accusative + infinitive of purpose 2Chr 13:13 accusative omitted, lead round toward (‎אֶלֿ‎) 2Sam 5:23, away from (‎מֵעַלֿ‎) || 1Chr 14:14 (where, however, perhaps read as Samuel, so Be Öttli, and, in both, ‎סֹב‎ for ‎הָסֵב‎ Dr Kit^Kau Hpt Bu HPS Löhr).
b. surround with (accusative) wall, 2Chr 14:6* (accusative of city omitted).
c. perhaps also encompass (as foe), ‎מְסִבָּ֑י‎ Ps 140:10* those encompassing me (others below ‎מֵסַב‎ below).

Hoph`al Imperfect 3 masculine singular ‎יוּסָּ֑ב‎ Isa 28:27 Participle feminine plural construct ‎מֻסַבֹּת‎ Exod 28:11; Exod 39:6 ‎מוּסַבֹּת‎ vExod 39:13; Num 32:38 (see below); ‎מוּסַבּוֺת‎ Ezek 41:24 —

1. be turned, of cart wheel, with ‎עַלֿ‎ upon, over; ‎מוּסַבּוֺת דְּלָתוֺת‎ Ezek 41:24 participle apparently as gerundive, that can be turned, movable (Ges^{«GKC:116e»§ 116e}; Co reads ‎׳‎‎צלעות מ‎, compare Toy^Hpt); ‎שֵׁם‎ ‎׳‎‎מוּס‎ Num 32:38 turned (i.e. changed) as to name, but gloss, see Di.

2. surrounded, i.e. set, of jewels (participle construct) Exod 28:11; Exod 39:6; Exod 39:13 (all P).

Brown-Driver-Briggs References