Sabaoth
From BibleWiki
the transliteration of the Hebrew word tsebha'oth, meaning "hosts," "armies" (Rom 9:29; Jam 5:4). In the LXX. the Hebrew word is rendered by "Almighty." (See Rev 4:8; comp. Isa 6:3.)
It may designate Jehovah as either (1) God of the armies of earth, or (2) God of the armies of the stars, or (3) God of the unseen armies of angels; or perhaps it may include all these ideas.
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(In Hebrew, plural form of "host" or "army"). The word is used almost exclusively in conjunction with the Divine name as a title of majesty: "the Lord of Hosts", or "the Lord God of Hosts". The origins and precise signification of the title are matters of more or less plausible conjecture. According to some scholars the "hosts" represent, at least primitively, the armies of Israel over whom Jehovah exercised a protecting influence. Others opine that the word refers to the hosts of heaven, the angels, and by metaphor to the stars and entire universe (cf. Genesis 2:1). In favour of the latter view is the fact that the title does not occur in the Pentateuch or Josue though the armies of Israel are often mentioned, while it is quite common in the prophetic writings where it would naturally have the more exalted and universal meaning.
The names Yhwh and Elohim frequently occur with the word Ẓeba'ot ("hosts"), as Yhwh Elohe Ẓeba'ot ("Yhwh God of Hosts") or "God of Hosts"; or, most frequently, "Yhwh of Hosts." To this last Adonai is often prefixed, making the title "Lord Yhwh of Hosts." This compound divine name occurs chiefly in the prophetic literature and does not appear at all in the Pentateuch or in Joshua or Judges. The original meaning of Ẓeba'ot is probably to be found in 1Sam 17:45, where "Yhwh Ẓeba'ot" is interpreted as denoting "the God of the armies of Israel" (comp. Josh 5:13-15; Isa 13:4). The word, apart from this special use, always means armies or hosts of men, as, for example, in Ex 6:26, vii. 4, xii. 41, while the singular "ẓaba" is used to designate the heavenly host. It is noteworthy also that the name Yhwh Ẓeba'ot is more than once directly associated with the Ark, which was the symbol of God's presence in the midst of the hosts of His people (Num 10:35, 36; 1Sam 4:4; 2 Sam 6:2). Later, and especially in prophetic usage, the word was transferred to the heavenly hosts, or rather the heavenly were added to the earthly hosts. For this idea of heavenly hosts joining their forces with those of God's people, or fighting on behalf of God's servants, compare Jdg 5:20; 2Kg 6:16, 17; Ps 347, lxviii. 17.
