← H696 H698 →

אַרְבֶּה

𐤀𐤓𐤁𐤄

ʼarbeh

H697 noun

SILEX Entry

Root רבה to be many, to multiply, to become great, to increase

Definition

Locust; a migratory, swarming grasshopper species known for its destructive plagues and rapid multiplication. The term primarily refers to the desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria) or similar species that appear in vast swarms, causing significant devastation to crops and vegetation across the Levant. In biblical contexts, אַרְבֶּה denotes not just an individual insect, but the phenomenon of locust swarms as agents of ecological and social crisis.

Semantic Range

locust, migratory locust, swarming locust, plague insect, symbol of devastation

Root / Etymology

From the root רָבָה (to be many, become great, multiply). אַרְבֶּה derives from this root, likely alluding to the most notable feature of locusts: their tendency to multiply rapidly and assemble in overwhelming numbers. The derivation is directly from the participial pattern, indicating 'the swarming one' or 'the multiplying one.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

אַרְבֶּה occurs primarily in descriptions of natural disasters (e.g., the Egyptian plagues in Exodus 10), in poetry (e.g., Joel 1-2), or in apocalyptic imagery (e.g., referring to overwhelming devastation). Historically, אַרְבֶּה signified both a specific insect species and a symbol of catastrophic environmental events in the agrarian society of ancient Israel. The term is distinct from other Hebrew words for insects, such as חָסִיל (khāsil) or גָּזָם (gazām), which can refer to other stages of locust development or different species of crop-devouring insects. English translations as 'locust' are accurate for the general sense, but in some poetic or prophetic contexts, the nuance of irresistible, collective destructive force is stronger than in modern English usage. Later translations (such as 'grasshopper') are less precise and conflate this word with non-swarming insect species. Over time, אַרְבֶּה continued to represent both the literal insect and a paradigmatic symbol of judgment and disaster in Jewish literature.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from רָבָה; a locust (from its rapid increase); grasshopper, locust.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

רבה (r-b-h) — to be many, to multiply, to become great, to increase

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4766 מַרְבֶה for increase of
H4767 מִרְבָּה great increase
H4768 מַרְבִּית increase of
H7235 רָבָה I will cause to multiply
H7236 רְבָה he made great

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H697-03 הָ/אַרְבֶּֽה haarebeh HTd/Ncmsa the multiplying locust 8
H697-01 אַרְבֶּ֖ה arebeh HNcmsa I will cause to multiply 7
H697-04 כָּ/אַרְבֶּ֖ה kaarebeh HRd/Ncmsa the swarming locust 5
H697-05 לָ/אַרְבֶּֽה laarebeh HRd/Ncmsa to a swarming locust 2
H697-02 בָּֽ/אַרְבֶּ֔ה baarebeh HRd/Ncmsa swarming locust 1
H697-06 מֵֽ/אַרְבֶּ֔ה mearebeh HR/Ncmsa multiplying locust 1

Occurrences in Scripture

24 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H697-01 Exodus 10:4 אַרְבֶּ֖ה arebeh HNcmsa I will cause to multiply
H697-02 Exodus 10:12 בָּֽ/אַרְבֶּ֔ה baarebeh HRd/Ncmsa swarming locust
H697-03 Exodus 10:13 הָ/אַרְבֶּֽה haarebeh HTd/Ncmsa the multiplying locust
H697-03 Exodus 10:14 הָֽ/אַרְבֶּ֗ה haarebeh HTd/Ncmsa the multiplying locust
H697-01 Exodus 10:14 אַרְבֶּה֙ arebeh HNcmsa I will cause to multiply
H697-03 Exodus 10:19 הָ֣/אַרְבֶּ֔ה haarebeh HTd/Ncmsa the multiplying locust
H697-01 Exodus 10:19 אַרְבֶּ֣ה arebeh HNcmsa I will cause to multiply
H697-03 Leviticus 11:22 הָֽ/אַרְבֶּ֣ה haarebeh HTd/Ncmsa the multiplying locust
H697-03 Deuteronomy 28:38 הָ/אַרְבֶּֽה haarebeh HTd/Ncmsa the multiplying locust
H697-01 Judges 6:5 אַרְבֶּה֙ arebeh HNcmsa I will cause to multiply
← H696 Hebrew Lexicon H698 →