H7659 H7659
Sevenfold, seven times; a dual-form intensifier expressing complete or amplified retribution and blessing.
A distinctive dual form (שִׁבְעָתַיִם) meaning 'sevenfold' or 'seven times over,' used to intensify promises and warnings. God's protective mark on Cain carries the warning that vengeance will be returned sevenfold (Gen 4:15), and Lamech boasts of seventy-sevenfold retaliation (Gen 4:24). The Psalmist prays that neighbors' reproach be returned sevenfold into their lap (Ps 79:12), while Psalm 12:6 declares God's words pure as silver refined seven times. Proverbs 6:31 requires the thief to repay sevenfold. French interestingly renders one occurrence as 'double,' softening the Hebrew intensification.
Senses
1. sevenfold — A dual-form numeral functioning as an adverbial intensifier meaning 'sevenfold' or 'seven times,' expressing the completeness or amplification of divine and human action. In Genesis 4:15 it appears in God's decree of sevenfold vengeance on anyone who kills Cain, establishing a principle of proportional divine protection. Lamech escalates this to 'seventy-sevenfold' in Genesis 4:24. Psalm 79:12 invokes sevenfold retribution on Israel's enemies, while Psalm 12:6 uses it positively of silver refined seven times, signifying perfect purity. Proverbs 6:31 applies it to restitution law. The French rendering 'double' for one occurrence notably underrepresents the Hebrew intensification, while English 'sevenfold' and Spanish 'siete veces' preserve the full force. 6×
AR["سَبْعَةَ-أَضْعَافٍ"]·ben["সাতগুণ", "সাতবার"]·DE["[שבעתים]", "sevenfold", "sieben-Zeiten", "siebenfältig"]·EN["seven-times", "sevenfold"]·FR["[שבעתים]", "double", "sevenfold", "שבעתים"]·heb["שבעתיים", "שבעתים"]·HI["सात-गुना", "सात-बार"]·ID["tujuh-kali", "tujuh-kali-lipat"]·IT["[שבעתים]", "sette-volte", "sevenfold"]·jav["kaping-pitu", "pitu-kali-lipat"]·KO["일곱-배-로", "일곱-배로", "일곱-으로", "일곱-을", "일곱배"]·PT["sete-vezes"]·RU["в-семь-раз,", "всемеро", "семикратно", "семикратным"]·ES["siete-veces"]·SW["mara-saba"]·TR["yedi-kat", "yedi-kez"]·urd["سات-بار", "سات-گنا", "سات-گُنا"]
Related Senses
H3117 1. day, specific time (2231×)H5704 1. until, unto, as far as (1238×)H8141 1. year, unit of time (880×)H6258 1. and now (421×)G2250 1. day (388×)H5750 1. again, more, further (288×)H5769 1. forever, to eternity (280×)H6256 1. time, period (264×)H2320 1. month, calendar period (260×)H0310a 2. after (temporal) (258×)H3915 1. night, period of darkness (234×)H1242 1. morning (214×)H5750 2. still, yet (continuative) (166×)G5119 1. then (160×)G3568 1. now (147×)G2193 1. until (143×)G3825 1. (141×)G3752 1. (123×)H6153 1. evening, time of day (123×)H0227a 1. then (122×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† שִׁבְעָתַ֫יִם n.f. du. seven-fold, seven times (cf. Ges§§ 97 h, 134 r);— 1. 2, Is 30:26; Pr 6:31; as adv. Gn 4:15, 24 ψ 79:12. 2. seven times, adv. ψ 12:7.—2 S 21:9 read Qr שְׁבַעְתָּם v. i. שֶׁ֫בַע" dir="rtl" >שֶׁבַע.