Who are the…
Sabeans

Hebrew: סְבָאִי —meaning: inhabitants of Seba (Gen. 10:7)

also known as: Sabaeans and Sebaim

Language of these people: Sabaean (an old south Arabic language)

These are descendants of Sheba, a son of Joktan. They were “men of stature,” and engaged in trading merchandise (Isa. 45:14). There’s was the ancient Sabaean Kingdom. Sabaeans are mentioned in the books of Genesis, 1 Kings, Isaiah, Joel, Ezekiel and Job.

Their conversion to the Lord was predicted (Psalm 72:10).

Seba’s ancient capital was Marib (Ma'rib) (not mentioned by name in the Bible). The city was located in what is now Yemen.

Inspired by Satan, the Sabeans stole from Job and killed his people (Job 1:15).

They are also mentioned in Joel 3:4–8 and Isaiah 45:14.

Sabaic language

also known as: Sabaean and Himyaritic

This is an Old South Arabian language that was spoken between about 1000 BC and the 6th century AD by the Sabaeans. It was used as a written language by some other peoples of the ancient civilization of South Arabia, including the Ḥimyarites, Ḥashidites, Ṣirwāḥites, Humlanites, Ghaymānites, and Radmānites.1 Sabaic was written in the South Arabian alphabet, and like Hebrew and Arabic marked only consonants

The Book of Ezekiel

In some Bible translations, the name “Sabeans” appears in Ezekiel 23:42 (KJV) (and NKJV), however this translation is uncertain.

Hebrew: סָבָא —transliteration: caba'

“The sound of a carefree multitude was with her, and Sabeans were brought from the wilderness with men of the common sort, who put bracelets on their wrists and beautiful crowns on their heads.” —NKJV

“The sound of a carefree multitude was with her; and drunkards were brought from the wilderness with men of the common sort. And they put bracelets on the hands of the women and beautiful crowns on their heads.” —NASB (“drunkards” is also used in RSV, ESV, NIV, etc.)

  1. Andrey Korotayev, Ancient Yemen (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1995, ISBN 0-19-922237-1.

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Article Version: April 15, 2024