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רִבּוֹ

𐤓𐤁𐤅

ribbôw

H7239 adjective

SILEX Entry

Definition

A myriad, an indefinitely large or countless number, often used to express the sense of 'ten thousand' or other large groupings; figuratively, to denote an uncountable multitude or very great quantities. In some contexts, the term is used specifically for the number 10,000, while in poetic or figurative settings it can denote innumerable multitudes or enormous magnitude.

Semantic Range

a myriad; ten thousand; very large number; countless multitude; multitudes; great quantities; enormous magnitude

Root / Etymology

From the Hebrew root רָבַב (ravav), meaning 'to be many, to become numerous.' The noun רִבּוֹ (ribbôw) is a numerical term derived from this root, denoting a large number or group, most frequently the quantity 'ten thousand.' Sometimes the alternate form רִבְּוֹא (ribbo), is used with the same meaning. The root concept is abundance or multiplicity, but the lexical form refers to a specific high number or collective sense of 'myriad.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical usage, רִבּוֹ commonly designates a group or amount of 10,000, but is also used in figurative contexts to indicate a vast, uncountable multitude (e.g., Deuteronomy 33:2; Psalm 91:7). The term is paired with other numbers for large sums (such as 'myriad upon myriad' to mean countless hosts), and at times stands as an idiom for 'great things' or any very large or impressive total. In ancient Israelite numeration, precise counting often stopped at thousands, with 'myriad' functioning as an upper boundary for practical calculation or literary exaggeration. Later biblical books retain this function, sometimes using the term hyperbolically. English translations usually render it as 'ten thousand' or 'myriad,' but such translations may not fully capture its usage as a flexible term for a very large or innumerable group. There is no direct overlap with later Greek 'myrias' (μυριάς), but both function similarly as numeric terms for high, indefinite values.

Translation Consistency

primary "myriad" 10 occurrences

Most occurrences in the P2 dataset use 'myriad/myriads', and 'myriad' naturally covers both the literal numeric sense (ten thousand) and the common figurative sense (countless multitudes). It is a natural, concise English rendering that preserves the full semantic range better than the more specific 'ten thousand' or the vaguer 'multitude.'

Alternatives (1 occurrence):
"tens of thousands" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from רָבַב; or רִבּוֹא from רָבַב; a myriad, i.e. indefinitely, large number; great things, ten ((eight) -een, (for) -ty, [phrase] sixscore, [phrase] threescore, [idiom] twenty, (twen) -ty) thousand.

Bantu Hebrew

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

Root Family

רבב (Merav) — to be many, to increase, to become numerous

Root רבב to be many, increase, multiply
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4764 מֵרָב Abundant one
H7227 רַב many
H7228 רַב his archers
H7229 רַב the great one
H7230 רֹב in abundance

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H7239-01 רִבּוֹ֒ ribo HAcbsa ten thousand a myriad a myriad 6
H7239-02 רִבֹּא֖וֹת riboot HNcbpa many ten thousands myriads myriads 1
H7239-03 רִבּ֑וֹת ribot HNcbpa tens-of-thousands myriads tens of thousands 1
H7239-04 רִבֹּתַ֣יִם ribotayim HAcbda myriads two myriads two myriads 1
H7239-05 רִבֹּ֣אות ribovt HNcbpa thousand myriads myriads 1
H7239-06 רבו rvv HNcbsc its abundance myriad of myriad of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

11 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H7239-06 Hosea 8:12 רבו rvv HNcbsc its abundance myriad of myriad of
H7239-01 Jonah 4:11 רִבּ֜וֹ ribo HAcbsa thousand a myriad a myriad
H7239-04 Psalms 68:18 רִבֹּתַ֣יִם ribotayim HAcbda myriads two myriads two myriads
H7239-02 Daniel 11:12 רִבֹּא֖וֹת riboot HNcbpa many ten thousands myriads myriads
H7239-01 Ezra 2:64 רִבּ֔וֹא ribo HAcbsa thousand a myriad a myriad
H7239-05 Ezra 2:69 רִבֹּ֣אות ribovt HNcbpa thousand myriads myriads
H7239-01 Nehemiah 7:66 רִבּ֔וֹא ribo HAcbsa two thousand a myriad a myriad
H7239-03 Nehemiah 7:70 רִבּ֑וֹת ribot HNcbpa tens-of-thousands myriads tens of thousands
H7239-01 Nehemiah 7:71 רִבּ֔וֹא ribo HAcbsa tens-of-thousands a myriad a myriad
H7239-01 1 Chronicles 29:7 רִבּוֹ֒ ribo HAcbsa ten thousand a myriad a myriad
H7239-01 1 Chronicles 29:7 רִבּ֛וֹ ribo-2 HAcbsa ten thousand a myriad a myriad
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