רְבוּ
𐤓𐤁𐤅
rᵉbûw
H7238 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
State or quality of being great, greatness in rank, status, or dignity; may refer to prominent position, high status, or recognized authority and honor. In Aramaic contexts, this often indicates exaltation or distinction, particularly in attributing majesty or greatness to earthly rulers or the divine.
Semantic Range
greatness; majesty; high status; exaltation; dignity; splendor; recognized authority
Root / Etymology
From the root רָבָה (r-b-h), meaning 'to be/become great, increase, multiply.' רְבוּ is the Aramaic noun form, derived to express the abstract quality or state of being great. In Hebrew, the corresponding form is רְבִי or similar, but רְבוּ is distinctively Aramaic in form and occurrence.
Historical & Contextual Notes
רְבוּ occurs in Aramaic sections of the Hebrew Bible (e.g., Daniel and Ezra), primarily in official or courtly language describing the majesty and exalted status of kings or the Most High. The term is not used in earlier biblical (Hebrew) periods but appears in exilic and post-exilic literature, reflecting Persian and Babylonian bureaucratic terminology. In Daniel, רְבוּ describes the greatness or splendor attributed to Nebuchadnezzar and the 'Most High.' English translations often render it 'majesty' or 'greatness,' but the nuance of official, even institutional, grandeur is significant. Unlike the Hebrew גְּדֻלָּה (g'dulah, greatness/magnificence), רְבוּ carries an Aramaic administrative or honorific overtone.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) from a root corresponding to רָבָה; increase (of dignity); greatness, majesty.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
רבה (r-b-h) — to be great, to become great, to increase, to multiply
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4766 | מַרְבֶה | for increase of |
| H4767 | מִרְבָּה | great increase |
| H4768 | מַרְבִּית | increase of |
| H697 | אַרְבֶּה | I will cause to multiply |
| H7235 | רָבָה | I will cause to multiply |
Word Forms
4 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7238-03 |
וּ/רְבוּתָ/א֙ | urevuta | AC/Ncfsd/Td |
and greatness | and the greatness | 2 |
H7238-01 |
רְבוּתָ/א֙ | revuta | ANcfsd/Td |
the greatness | the greatness | 1 |
H7238-02 |
וּ/רְב֥וּ | urevu | AC/Ncfsa |
and-greatness | and increase | 1 |
H7238-04 |
וּ/רְבוּתָ֤/ךְ | urevutakhe | AC/Ncfsc/Sp2ms |
and your greatness | and your greatness | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
5 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7238-04 |
Daniel 4:19 | וּ/רְבוּתָ֤/ךְ | urevutakhe | AC/Ncfsc/Sp2ms |
and your greatness | and your greatness |
H7238-02 |
Daniel 4:33 | וּ/רְב֥וּ | urevu | AC/Ncfsa |
and-greatness | and increase |
H7238-03 |
Daniel 5:18 | וּ/רְבוּתָ/א֙ | urevuta | AC/Ncfsd/Td |
and greatness | and the greatness |
H7238-01 |
Daniel 5:19 | רְבוּתָ/א֙ | revuta | ANcfsd/Td |
the greatness | the greatness |
H7238-03 |
Daniel 7:27 | וּ/רְבוּתָ֗/א | urevuta | AC/Ncfsd/Td |
and the greatness | and the greatness |