שָׁבָה47 H7617
To take captive, carry away as a prisoner; as participle, a captor or a captive person.
At the heart of Israel's vocabulary of exile and warfare, this verb names the brutal act of seizing people and removing them from their land. From the earliest conquest narratives (Num 21:1) through the Babylonian deportation, it traces the arc of military capture and forced displacement. The Nifal passive reverses the perspective, voicing the anguish of those taken. Its participial forms crystallize into nouns: the captor who drags away, and the captive who is dragged. Spanish distinguishes 'cautivaron' (they took captive) from 'cautivos' (captives), while French shifts from 'emmener captif' (carry off captive) to 'captifs' (prisoners), mapping the verb-to-noun gradient precisely.
1. take captive, carry away — Qal active finite: to seize persons and carry them away as captives in war or raid. This is the core military action, used of armies capturing populations during conquest (Num 21:1; 1 Sam 30:2) and of Babylon deporting Judah (Jer 41:10). Spanish 'capturaron / cautivaron' and French 'emmener captif' consistently encode the forcible removal. The verb often pairs with accusative objects naming women, children, or entire populations. 27×
AR["سَبَاهُمْ","سَبَوْا","سَبَيْتُمْ","فَ-سَبَاهُمْ","فَسَبَى","وَ-سَبَاهُمْ","وَ-سَبَوا","وَ-سَبَوْا","وَ-سَبَى","وَتَسْبِي","وَسَبَوا","وَسَبَوْا","وَيَسْبِيهِمْ"]·ben["আর-বন্দি-করবে-তাদের","আর-বন্দি-করলেন","আর-বন্দী-করল","এবং-তুমি-বন্দী-করেছ","এবং-বন্দী-করবে-তাদের","এবং-বন্দী-করল","এবং-বন্দী-করলেন","এবং-বন্দী-করলেন-তাদের","এবং-বন্দী-করেছিল","এবং-সে-বন্দী-করবে","ও-বন্দী-করল","বন্দী-করল","বন্দী-করেছ","বন্দী-করেছিল","বন্দী-করেছিলেন"]·DE["gefangenfuehren","nahm-Gefangener","und-du-nehmen-captive","und-er-kehrte-um","und-gefangenfuehren","und-nahm-Gefangener","und-nahm-captive","und-nahm-ein","und-sie-nimm-Gefangener-ihnen"]·EN["and-captured","and-carried-away","and-carry-them-captive","and-take-them-captive","and-they-captured","and-they-take-captive-them","and-took-captive","and-took-captive-","and-took-them-captive","and-you-take-captive","captured","took-captive","you-took-captive"]·FR["emmener-captif","et-captura","et-emmener-captif","et-ils-prends-captif-eux","et-prit-captif","et-tu-prendre-captif","prit-captif"]·heb["ו-ישב","ו-ישבו","ו-ישבם","ו-שבו","ו-שבום","ו-שבום-ם","ו-שבית","ו-שבם","שבה","שבו","שביתם"]·HI["और-बंदी-बनाए","और-बंदी-बनाएगा","और-बंदी-बनाएगा-उनको","और-बंदी-बनाया","और-बंदी-बनाया-","और-बंदी-बनाया-उनको","और-बन्दि-बनय","और-बन्दी-ले-जाएं-उन्हें","और-बन्दीबनाया","और-ले-गए","और-ले-जाएँगे-बंदी","बंदी-बनाया-तुमने","बंदी-बनाया-था","बंदी-ले-गए"]·ID["Dan-mereka-menawan","dan-ditawan","dan-kamu-menawan","dan-membawa-tawanan","dan-menawan","dan-menawan-","dan-menawan-mereka","dan-mereka-membawa-mereka-tertawan","ditawan","kalian-tawan","menawan"]·IT["condurre-in-cattività","deportare","e-abito","e-catturo","e-condurre-in-cattività","e-deportare","e-essi-prendi-prigioniero-loro","e-prese-captive","e-prese-prigioniero","e-tu-prendere-captive","prese-prigioniero"]·jav["Lan-mbucal","Lan-nawan","Lan-piyambakipun-sedaya-nawan","Lan-sami-nawan","ditawan","lan-diboyong","lan-dipuntawan","lan-nawan","lan-nawan-piyambakipun","lan-panjenengan-nawan","lan-sami-nawan","lan-sami-nawan-","mboyong","nawan","sami-nawan"]·KO["그-와-사로잡았다","그리고-그들-이-사로잡았다","그리고-사로잡겠다-그가-그들을","그리고-사로잡아-가면","그리고-사로잡았다","그리고-사로잡았다-그들을","그리고-사로잡으면","그리고-사로잡으면-그들-을","그리고-포로로-잡았다","너희-가-사로잡았다","사로잡아-간","사로잡았다"]·PT["E-capturaram","E-levaram-cativos","E-levou-cativo","capturaram","cativastes","e-capturaram","e-capturares","e-capturou","e-levaram-","e-levaram-cativo","e-levaram-cativos","e-levarem-cativos","e-levou-cativos","e-os-levará-cativos","levaram-cativos","levou-cativo"]·RU["взяли-в-плен","и-взял-в-плен","и-взяли-в-плен","и-взяли-в-плен-","и-возьмёшь-в-плен","и-захватили","и-пленит-их","и-уведут-их","и-уведут-их-в-плен","и-увели","и-увели-в-плен","и-увёл-их","увели-в-плен","увёл-в-плен"]·ES["Y-capturaron","Y-cautivaron","Y-llevaron-cautivas","Y-llevó-cautivo","capturaron","capturasteis","había-llevado-cautivo","llevaron-cautivos","y-capturaron","y-captures","y-cautivó","y-habían-capturado","y-llevaron","y-llevaron-cautivo","y-los-cautivará","y-los-llevaren-cautivos","y-los-llevarán-cautivos","y-los-llevó-cautivos"]·SW["Na-wakateka","aliwateka","au","mliwateka","na-akachukua","na-akawateka","na-atawachukua-mateka","na-utawachukua-mateka","na-wakachukua","na-wakachukua-mateka","na-wakateka","na-wakateka-","na-wakawachukua-mateka","na-wakawateka","nchi-yao","waliwateka"]·TR["Ve-esir-aldı","Ve-esir-aldılar","esir-aldı","esir-aldılar","esir-aldınız","esir-ettiler","ve-aldı-esir","ve-aldılar","ve-esir-alacak-onları","ve-esir-aldilar","ve-esir-aldı-onları","ve-esir-aldılar","ve-esir-aldılar-","ve-esir-edersen","ve-götürürlerse-onları","ve-sürülerlerse-onlar"]·urd["اور-تُو-قیدی-بنائے","اور-قید-کرےگا-انہیں","اور-قید-کیا","اور-قید-کیا-","اور-قید-کیا-انہیں","اور-قیدی-کیا","اور-لے-جائیں","اور-لے-جائیں-اُنہیں","اور-لے-گئے","اور-پکڑا","اور-پکڑے","تم-نے-قید-کیا","قید-کیا","قید-کیا-تھا","پکڑے"]
Gen 34:29, Num 21:1, Num 24:22, Num 31:9, Deut 21:10, Judg 5:12, 1 Sam 30:2, 1 Kgs 8:46, 1 Kgs 8:48, 2 Kgs 5:2, 2 Kgs 6:22, 1 Chr 5:21 (+15 more)
▼ 3 more senses below
Senses
2. captor, one who takes captive — Qal active participle used as an agentive substantive: captor, one who holds captives. In the prayers of Solomon (1 Kgs 8:46-50) and the Chronicler (2 Chr 6:36; 30:9), Israel asks mercy 'before their captors.' English 'captors,' Spanish 'cautivadores,' and French 'leurs capteurs' all nominalize the agent. The participial form freezes the action into a social role: the one who has power over the exiled. 10×
AR["آسِرِينَ","سابيهِم","سَابُونَا","سَابُوهُمْ","سَابِوهُمْ","سَابِيهِمْ","لِـ-آسِرِيهِمْ"]·ben["-তাদের-বন্দীকারীদের","তাদের-বন্দিকারীদের","তাদের-বন্দীকারীদের","তাদের-বন্দীকারীরা","বন্দিকারীরা-তাদের","বন্দীকর্তারা-আমাদের","বন্দীকারী","যারা-তাদের-বন্দী-করেছে"]·DE["gefangenfuehren","ihr-captors","unser-captors"]·EN["captors","of-their-captors","our-captors","their-captors"]·FR["emmener-captif","emmener-en-captivité","leur-captors"]·heb["ל-שוביהם","שוביהם","שוביהם-ם","שובים","שובינו"]·HI["अपने-बन्दी-बनाने-वालों-के","उनके-बंदी-बनानेवालों-के","उनके-बन्दी-करने-वालों","बंदी-बनाने-वालों-ने-उन्हें","बंदी-बनानेवाले-उनके","बंदी-बनानेवालों-उनके-के","बन्दी-बनाने-वाले","बन्दी-बनानेवाले-उनके","हमारे-बन्दी-बनाने-वालों-ने"]·ID["para-penawan-mereka","penawan","penawan-penawan-mereka","yang-menawan-kami","yang-menawan-mereka"]·IT["catturo'","condurre-in-cattività","deportare","loro-conquistatori"]·jav["dhateng-ingkang-nawan-piyambakipun","ingkang-mbanda-piyambakipun","ingkang-nawan","ingkang-nawan-piyambakipun","para-panawanè","tiyang-ingkang-nawan","tiyang-ingkang-nawan-kita"]·KO["그들-을-사로잡은-자들-의","그들-의-사로잡는-자들","그들을-사로잡은-자들의","그들을-사로잡은-자들이","사로잡는-자들로","사로잡았던-자들을","우리-를-사로잡은-자들-이","포로로-잡은-자들이-그들을"]·PT["captores-deles","cativando","nossos-captores","os-que-os-cativaram","os-que-os-cativarem","os-que-os-levaram-cativos","seus-captores","seus-cativadores"]·RU["-пленившими-их","пленившие-их","пленившие-нас","пленившими-их","пленивших-их","пленящие-их","пленяющими","пленяющими-их","пленяющих-их","уводящие-их"]·ES["captores-de-ellos","captores-sus","cautivadores","de-sus-cautivadores","nuestros-captores","sus-captores","sus-cautivadores"]·SW["karibu","shwobeyhem","tumefanya-uovu","waliotuchukua","waliowachukua-mateka","waliowateka","waliowatwaa-mateka","wanaowatwaa-mateka","watekaji-wao"]·TR["esir-alanları","esir-alanlarımız","esir-alanların","esir-edenler","esir-edenlerin","sürenleri-onların","tutan","tutanlari"]·urd["اُن-کے-قید-کرنے-والوں-کے","اپنے-قید-کرنے-والوں-کی","اپنے-قید-کرنے-والوں-کے","قید-کرنے-والے","قیدی-بنانے-والوں-نے-اُن-کے","ہمارے-قید-کرنے-والوں-نے"]
3. be taken captive — Nifal passive: to be taken captive, to suffer capture. This sense voices the experience of the victim rather than the aggressor. Lot 'was taken captive' (Gen 14:14); David's families 'had been taken captive' (1 Sam 30:3, 5). French 'ils furent pris captif' and Spanish 'fue llevado cautivo' employ passive constructions that mirror the Hebrew Nifal. The sense also extends to livestock in legal contexts (Exod 22:10). 8×
AR["سُبيوا","سُبيَت","سُبُوا","سُبِيوا-","سُبِيَ","سُبِيَتا","قَدْ-سُبِيَ"]·ben["বন্দি-হয়েছে-","বন্দী","বন্দী-হয়","বন্দী-হয়েছিল-","বন্দী-হয়েছে"]·DE["gefangen-war","gefangenfuehren","genommen-Gefangener","ist-nahm-ein","sie-waren-genommen-Gefangener-"]·EN["is-captured","is-taken-captive","taken-captive","they-were-taken-captive","they-were-taken-captive-","was-captured"]·FR["emmener-captif","est-captura","ils-furent-pris-captif-","pris-captif","était-captura"]·heb["נשבה","נשבו"]·HI["पकद-गय","बंदी-बनाया-गया","बंदी-हुए","बन्दि","बन्दि-हुइ-थेएन","बन्दी-बनाए-गए-","ले-जाया-जाए","वे-बंधुआ-गए-"]·ID["ditawan","ditawan-","ia ditawan","mereka-ditawan","mereka-ditawan-"]·IT["condurre-in-cattività","condurre-prigioniero","deportare","essi-erano-preso-prigioniero-","fu-captured","preso-prigioniero","è-captured"]·jav["dipun-tawan","dipunbekta-tawanan-","dipunboyong-","dipuntawan","dipuntawan-"]·KO["그들이-사로잡힌-바-된-","사로잡혀-간-","사로잡혀가면","사로잡혀감-","사로잡혀갔다","사로잡혔다"]·PT["cativos-foram","foi-capturado","foi-levado-cativo","for-levado-cativo","foram-levados","forem-levados-cativos","levadas-cativas","levados-cativos"]·RU["были-уведены-в-плен-","взят-в-плен","взяты-в-плен","пленены-","пленены-были-","уведено-в-плен","угнано"]·ES["es-llevado-cautivo","fue-cautivado","fue-llevado-cautivo","fueron-llevados-cautivos","llevadas-cautivas","llevados-cautivos"]·SW["alitekwa","kutekwa","na-wakaomba-kwako","umetekwa","walitekwa","wamechukuliwa-mateka","wametekwa"]·TR["esir-alındı","esir-alındılar","esir-alınmış","esir-alınırsa","esir-edildi-","esir-edildiler-","sürgün-edildi"]·urd["اُنہیں-قید-کیا-گیا","قید-ہو-گیا","قید-ہوں-","قیدی-ہوئیں","قیدی-ہوئے-","قیدی-ہوا","لے-جایا-جائے"]
4. captive, prisoner — Qal passive participle used as a substantive noun: a captive, prisoner. In Gen 31:26 Laban accuses Jacob of leading his daughters away 'like captives of the sword,' and Isa 61:1 promises liberty 'to captives.' Spanish 'cautivos' and French 'captifs' treat these as settled nouns rather than verbal forms, confirming the fully nominalized status of the participle in these occurrences. 2×
AR["كَ-سَبايا","لِ-الْمَسْبِيِّينَ"]·ben["বন্দিনীদের-মতো","বন্দীদের-কাছে"]·DE["gefangenfuehren","wie-Gefangene"]·EN["like-captives-of","to-captives"]·FR["comme-captifs-de","emmener-captif"]·heb["כ-שביות","ל-שבויים"]·HI["घोषणा-करने-को","बन्दियों-की-तरह"]·ID["kepada-tawanan-tawanan","seperti-tawanan"]·IT["come-captives-di","deportare"]·jav["dhateng-ingkang-dipuntawan","kados-tawanan"]·KO["에-포로들에게","포로들처럼"]·PT["aos-cativos","como-cativas-de"]·RU["как-пленниц","пленникам"]·ES["a-los-cautivos","como-cautivas-de"]·SW["kama-mateka","kwa-wafungwa"]·TR["esirleri-gibi","tutsaklara"]·urd["قیدیوں-کی-طرح","قیدیوں-کے-لیے"]
BDB / Lexicon Reference
שָׁבָה47 vb. take captive (NH, Old Aramaic id.; Arabic سَبَا (سبى); Aramaic שְׁבָא ܫܒܳܐ );— Qal Pf. 3 ms. שׁ׳ Je 41:14; sf. וְשָׁבָם (consec.) 43:12 (but read וְשָׁבָה Gie; Du conj. וְשָֽׁמְמוּ); 2 ms. שָׁבִיתָ 2 K 6:22 ψ 68:19, etc.; Impf. 3 ms. וַיִּשְׁבְּ Nu 21:1 Je 41:10, etc.; Imv. ms. וּשְׁבֵה Ju 5:12; Inf. cstr. שְׁבוֹת Ob 11; Pt. act. pl. שֹׁבִים Is 14:2, etc.; pass. mpl. שְׁבוּיִם Is…