רָבִיב
𐤓𐤁𐤉𐤁
râbîyb
H7241 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A heavy shower or rainstorm characterized by a significant accumulation of raindrops; specifically denotes a copious or abundant rainfall, often implying an intense or pouring rain distinct from lighter, scattered rain. The word is usually used in poetic contexts to evoke imagery of sustained, plentiful rainfall.
Semantic Range
heavy rain, copious shower, abundant rainfall, intense rainstorm, downpour
Root / Etymology
From the root רבב (ר-ב-ב), which carries the core sense of 'to be many, to multiply, to become numerous or abundant.' The noun רָבִיב (râbîyb) derives from this root, indicating something that comes in abundance—in this case, an abundance of raindrops resulting in a heavy rain or shower.
Historical & Contextual Notes
רָבִיב occurs rarely in the Hebrew Bible (Psalm 72:6) and is poetic in tone. It stands in contrast to more common terms like גֶּשֶׁם (geshem, 'rain') and מָטָר (matar, 'rain'), both of which refer to rain generally or as a phenomenon. רָבִיב emphasizes the abundant and copious aspect of rainfall, making it suitable for poetic or elevated descriptions of fertility and blessing. In translation traditions, it is sometimes rendered as 'shower,' 'abundant rain,' or 'plentiful rain,' though these can obscure the nuance of gathered, multiplied raindrops implied in the Hebrew term. Later Rabbinic literature does not preserve this form, and its meaning is primarily reconstructed from scriptural context and cognate Semitic roots. Its association with divine blessing in agricultural contexts highlights its rhetorical force in Israelite poetry, particularly in appeals for fecundity.
Translation Consistency
רָבִיב denotes a copious, intense rainfall — a sustained, pouring rain. “Downpour” is a single, natural English noun that captures the heavy, abundant, poetic quality of the term better than weaker words like “shower” or non-nominal choices like “abundant.” It is concise and will read naturally across contexts.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from רָבַב; a rain (as an accumulation of drops); shower.
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
| 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
4 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7241-02 |
כִּ/רְבִיבִ֖ים | kirevivim | HR/Ncmpa |
like showers | like abundant downpours | like abundant downpours | 2 |
H7241-03 |
רְבִבִ֔ים | revivim | HNcmpa |
showers | abundant downpours | abundant downpours | 2 |
H7241-01 |
בִּ/רְבִיבִ֥ים | birevivim | HR/Ncmpa |
with showers | copious downpours | with showers | 1 |
H7241-04 |
וְ/כִ/רְבִיבִ֖ים | vekhirevivim | HC/R/Ncmpa |
and as showers | and as abundant downpours | and as abundant showers | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
6 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7241-04 |
Deuteronomy 32:2 | וְ/כִ/רְבִיבִ֖ים | vekhirevivim | HC/R/Ncmpa |
and as showers | and as abundant downpours | and as abundant showers |
H7241-03 |
Jeremiah 3:3 | רְבִבִ֔ים | revivim | HNcmpa |
the showers | abundant downpours | abundant downpours |
H7241-03 |
Jeremiah 14:22 | רְבִבִ֑ים | revivim | HNcmpa |
showers | abundant downpours | abundant downpours |
H7241-02 |
Micah 5:6 | כִּ/רְבִיבִ֖ים | kirevivim | HR/Ncmpa |
like showers | like abundant downpours | like abundant downpours |
H7241-01 |
Psalms 65:11 | בִּ/רְבִיבִ֥ים | birevivim | HR/Ncmpa |
with showers | copious downpours | with showers |
H7241-02 |
Psalms 72:6 | כִּ֝/רְבִיבִ֗ים | kirevivim | HR/Ncmpa |
like showers | like abundant downpours | like abundant downpours |