שֵׂיבָה
se.vah (H7872)
greyheaded
AI Word Study
# Sêvâh: Greyness and Old Age in Biblical Hebrew The Hebrew word *sêvâh* (שֵׂיבָה) denotes the physical condition of having grey or white hair, functioning as a visual marker of advanced age in biblical texts. Its literal meaning—"greyheaded"—reflects the natural physiological change that accompanies aging. With 19 occurrences across the biblical corpus, the word appears with sufficient frequency to indicate it held meaningful cultural significance for ancient Hebrew speakers and writers. Beyond its purely descriptive function, *sêvâh* carried cultural weight in contexts where grey hair symbolized wisdom, experience, or social standing. The term bridges the physical reality of aging with its social implications, making it useful for writers describing elderly individuals or emphasizing the passage of time. Its presence in biblical narrative and poetry suggests that visible signs of age were noteworthy enough to warrant specific terminology, reflecting how ancient communities understood and represented the aging process in their literature.
AI synthesis uses only provided lexicon data -- never training knowledge.
but you will go to your fathers in peace. You will be buried at a good old age.
Abraham gave up his spirit, and died at a good old age, an old man, and full of years, and was gathered to his people.
He said, “My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he only is left. If harm happens to him along the way in which you go, then you will bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to Sheol.”
If you take this one also from me, and harm happens to him, you will bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to Sheol.’
it will happen, when he sees that the boy is no more, that he will die. Your servants will bring down the gray hairs of your servant, our father, with sorrow to Sheol.
“ ‘You shall rise up before the gray head and honor the face of the elderly; and you shall fear your God. I am Yahweh.
Outside the sword will bereave, and in the rooms, terror on both young man and virgin, the nursing infant with the gray-haired man.
Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age, and was buried in the tomb of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
He shall be to you a restorer of life and sustain you in your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, who is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.”
Do therefore according to your wisdom, and don’t let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace.
Now therefore don’t hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man; and you will know what you ought to do to him, and you shall bring his gray head down to Sheol with blood.”
He died at a good old age, full of days, riches, and honor; and Solomon his son reigned in his place.
He makes a path shine after him. One would think the deep had white hair.
Yes, even when I am old and gray-haired, God, don’t forsake me, until I have declared your strength to the next generation, your might to everyone who is to come.
They will still produce fruit in old age. They will be full of sap and green,
Gray hair is a crown of glory. It is attained by a life of righteousness.
The glory of young men is their strength. The splendor of old men is their gray hair.
Even to old age I am he, and even to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear. Yes, I will carry, and will deliver.
Strangers have devoured his strength, and he doesn’t realize it. Indeed, gray hairs are here and there on him, and he doesn’t realize it.