the Berasit Hebrew Dictionary

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=====seb=====
שב

'seb' appears to be a nuanced word with a range of meaning around the idea of "resting" or "staying put". It is in this context that it became the root word of the term "Sabbath". However, things are not as straightforward as they appear.

Under the guise of several differing [[strong number]]s the traditional interpretation has been stretched somewhat into a series of very similar but slightly different meanings: "abide"((Lex ID 3427)), "remain"((Lex ID 7725)), "stop"((Lex ID 7673)), and "broken"((Lex ID 7665)).

By application of [[affixes]], this set is extended to include: "ripen"((Lex ID 6212)), "consider"((Lex ID 2803)), "scheme"((Lex ID 4284)), "oath"((Lex ID 7621)). The logic here is quite feasible; the act of abiding allows time for consideration, consideration becomes scheming, often ripening into an oath. A parallel etymological path brings us the the meaning "head of grain"((Lex ID 7641)) (after having ripened) and probably also "rod, staff or scepter"((Lex ID 7626)) (as in a ripened stick of wood). This last meaning is also used metaphorically to refer to a "tribe", for the same reasons that the scepter is still used as a symbolic artifact of royalty/governance.

The idea of "Sabbath"((LexID 7676)) stems from a novel interpretation beginning only in the book of Exodus and in the context of the Mosaic law. This also ties in with the number seven((LexID 7651)), and "fulfillment" or "satisfaction"((LexID 7646)) more variant meaning of the same word 'seb'.