Sabaoth, Lord of
Sabaoth, Lord of
Hebrew tsebaot (not Sabbath, an altogether different word), i.e. “of hosts”, namely, of the heavenly powers (1Ki 22:19; Psa 103:21; Psa 148:2; Rom 9:29; Jam 5:4, reminding the rich who think the poor have no advocate that the Lord of the whole hosts in heaven is their patron). Implying the boundless resources at His command for His people’s good (Psa 59:5). The sabaoth included both the angelic and starry hosts. The latter were objects of the idolatry, hence called sabaism (2Ki 17:16). God is above even them (1Ch 16:26). The “groves” symbolized these starry hosts. In contrast, Jehovah is the Lord of them, therefore alone to be worshipped. The title does not occur in the Pentateuch, nor earlier than 1Sa 1:3, but in the singular Jos 5:14-15.