Sabaoth

SABAOTH. - A Hebrew term (ṣābhā'ōth), often transcribed in Greek, especially in Isaiah (more than 50 times). In the Vulgate it is transcribed once (Jer. 11:20). It is read in the New Testament (Rom. 9:29; Jas. 5:4) and was therefore received into the liturgy.

It is the plural of ṣābhā', which means "army," but in the construct state with ḥaṭ-ōmājim it can also mean "stars" (cf. Isa. 34:4; 40:26; 45:12 etc.) or "angels" (cf. 1 Kings 22:19; 2 Chron. 18:18). In the plural it often retains its ordinary meaning. The very common expression Jahweh Ṣābhā'ōth (= "Jahweh of hosts") presupposes the concept that God was the invisible "captain" of the Israelite hosts in numerous wars, especially against the Philistines (cf. 1 Sam. 17:45; 2 Sam. 5:24). Even earlier it was customary to speak of the "armies of the Lord" (cf. Ex. 7:4; 12:41; Josh. 5:14).

In the Psalms and in the prophetic literature there are allusions (cf. Ps. 23:10) to this divine prerogative. But usually it is preferred to refer the epithet to the heavenly hosts, that is, to the angels, the stars and the totality of created beings. The reference to the stars included the concept of God's absolute dominion over such creatures. In practice, then, the epithet came to mean "God almighty, absolute master of all." Not for nothing did the Septuagint translate it most often as παντοκράτωρ ("almighty").

Angelo Penna