← H3378 H3380 →

יָרׇבְעָם

𐤉𐤓𐤁𐤏𐤌

Yarveam

H3379 noun

SILEX Entry

Root ריב, עם to contend, to strive, to quarrel; people, nation

Definition

Personal name Jeroboam, meaning 'the people contend' or 'may the people increase.' Used as the name of two kings in northern Israelite history: Jeroboam I, the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel after the division of the monarchy, and Jeroboam II, a later 8th-century BCE king of Israel. The name itself expresses the idea of striving, contending, or perhaps growth, in relation to the people (ʻam).

Semantic Range

personal name; 'the people contend,' 'the people strive,' 'may the people increase,' name of northern Israelite kings

Root / Etymology

Proper noun derived from the roots ריב (riv, 'to contend, strive, quarrel') and עם ('am, 'people'). The construction יָרׇבְעָם is probably a verbal form (yiravʻam, 'he/it contends for the people' or 'the people contend') or a wish formula ('may the people become numerous'), though precise formation is debated. The meaning leans toward 'the people contend' or 'the people increase.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

The name יָרׇבְעָם appears for two major Israelite kings: Jeroboam I (10th c. BCE), who led the northern tribes in secession from the Davidic monarchy and founded the northern kingdom of Israel, and Jeroboam II (8th c. BCE), who ruled Israel during a time of territorial expansion. The name reflects a period of tribal and national contention and identity formation following the split of the monarchy. The choice of such a name may be intentional, reflecting the monarch's role as a leader among the 'people' (as distinct from the dynasty of Judah). Later tradition preserves the name with a negative connotation due to the association of Jeroboam I with the division of the nation and establishment of sanctuaries in Bethel and Dan, but the primary meaning is not inherently negative. English translations historically render the name as 'Jeroboam,' reflecting the Septuagint and later traditions.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from רִיב and עַם; (the) people will contend; Jarobam, the name of two Israelite kings; Jeroboam.

Bantu Hebrew

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

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

ריב עם (r-y-b, ʿ-m) — to contend, strive, quarrel; people, nation

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H3379-03 יָרָבְעָ֖ם yaraveam HNp Jeroboam People-Contends 89
H3379-01 לְ/יָֽרָבְעָ֔ם leyaraveam HR/Np to Jeroboam to People-Contend 8
H3379-02 וְ/יָרָבְעָם֩ veyaraveam HC/Np and Jeroboam and People-Contends 7

Occurrences in Scripture

104 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H3379-02 1 Kings 11:26 וְ/יָרָבְעָם֩ veyaraveam HC/Np And Jeroboam and People-Contends
H3379-03 1 Kings 11:28 יָרָבְעָ֖ם yaraveam HNp Jeroboam People-Contends
H3379-02 1 Kings 11:29 וְ/יָֽרָבְעָ֖ם veyaraveam HC/Np and Jeroboam and People-Contends
H3379-01 1 Kings 11:31 לְ/יָֽרָבְעָ֔ם leyaraveam HR/Np to Jeroboam to People-Contend
H3379-03 1 Kings 11:40 יָרָבְעָ֑ם yaraveam HNp Jeroboam People-Contends
H3379-03 1 Kings 11:40 יָרָבְעָ֗ם yaraveam-2 HNp Jeroboam People-Contends
H3379-03 1 Kings 12:2 יָרָבְעָ֣ם yaraveam HNp Jeroboam People-Contends
H3379-03 1 Kings 12:2 יָרָבְעָ֖ם yaraveam-2 HNp Jeroboam People-Contends
H3379-03 1 Kings 12:3 יָרָבְעָ֖ם yaraveam HNp Jeroboam People-Contends
H3379-03 1 Kings 12:12 יָרָבְעָ֧ם yaraveam HNp Jeroboam People-Contends
← H3378 Hebrew Lexicon H3380 →