← H7230 H7232 →

רָבַב

𐤓𐤁𐤁

râbab

H7231 verb

SILEX Entry

Root רבב to be many, become numerous, multiply, increase

Definition

To become numerous or great, to increase, especially in number; to multiply. Used of people, animals, or things becoming abundant, the process of increasing or being made many. Can carry both the nuance of natural growth (as of a population or possessions) or intentional multiplication (as by blessing or divine decree).

Semantic Range

to become numerous, to be multiplied, to cause to increase, to make many, to abound, to increase in number or quantity, to multiply greatly

Root / Etymology

From the root רבב, meaning 'to be many' or 'become numerous.' This root underlies nouns for 'multitude' (רְבָבָה, 'ten thousand, myriad') and adjectives meaning 'great, numerous.' The verb רָבַב is a stative or fientive verb deriving from this root, indicating the process or result of becoming many or being multiplied.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, רָבַב is used both intransitively ('to become numerous') and, less often, transitively ('to cause to be many, to multiply'). It commonly describes the increase of Israelite descendants, livestock, possessions, or other groupings. Frequently appears in covenant contexts to express divine blessing of abundance (e.g., promises to the patriarchs). The verb contrasts with verbs denoting being few (מָעַט) or perishing. In later Hebrew, the related noun רְבָבָה ('myriad, ten thousand') became a fixed numerical term. Although the English KJV and other translations sometimes render the word or its cognates as 'ten thousand,' the core sense is not confined to any precise number and rather connotes general abundance or multiplicity. In poetry and prophecy, the term may intensify to indicate overwhelming increase or multitudes. There is overlap but distinction from רָבָה (H7235), which is the more common verb for 'to be many, to multiply.'

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; (compare רָבִיב); also as denominative from רְבָבָה; properly, to cast together , i.e. increase, especially in number; to multiply by the myriad; increase, be many(-ifold), be more, multiply, ten thousands.

Bantu Hebrew

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

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

רבב (r-b-b) — to be many, become numerous, multiply, increase

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1337 בַּת רַבִּים many
H2579 חֲמַת רַבָּה great
H4764 מֵרָב Abundant one
H7227 רַב many
H7228 רַב his archers

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H7231-03 רַבּוּ֙ rabu HVqp3cp are many they have become numerous 8
H7231-04 וְ/רַבּ֖וּ verabu HC/Vqq3cp and are many and they multiplied 3
H7231-02 מְרֻבָּב֗וֹת merubavot HVPsfpa thousands greatly multiplied ones 1
H7231-01 לָ/רֹ֖ב larov HR/Vqc to multiply to multiply 1

Occurrences in Scripture

13 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H7231-01 Genesis 6:1 לָ/רֹ֖ב larov HR/Vqc to multiply to multiply
H7231-04 Isaiah 66:16 וְ/רַבּ֖וּ verabu HC/Vqq3cp and many will be and they multiplied
H7231-03 Jeremiah 5:6 רַבּוּ֙ rabu HVqp3cp are many they have become numerous
H7231-03 Jeremiah 14:7 רַבּ֥וּ rabu HVqp3cp are many they have become numerous
H7231-03 Jeremiah 46:23 רַבּוּ֙ rabu HVqp3cp they are numerous they have become numerous
H7231-03 Psalms 3:2 רַבּ֣וּ rabu HVqp3cp have increased they have become numerous
H7231-03 Psalms 4:8 רָֽבּוּ rabu HVqp3cp abound they have become numerous
H7231-03 Psalms 25:19 רָ֑בּוּ rabu HVqp3cp they are many they have become numerous
H7231-04 Psalms 38:20 וְ/רַבּ֖וּ verabu HC/Vqp3cp and they are multiplied and they multiplied
H7231-03 Psalms 69:5 רַבּ֤וּ rabu HVqp3cp have become many they have become numerous
← H7230 Hebrew Lexicon H7232 →