Lexical Definition

‎רָבָה‎ râbâh (raw-baw') to multiply ^H:V
a primitive root

(bring in) abundance ([idiom] -antly), [phrase] archer (by mistake for ‎רָבַב‎), be in authority, bring up, [idiom] continue, enlarge, excel, exceeding(-ly), be full of, (be, make) great(-er, -ly, [idiom] -ness), grow up, heap, increase, be long, (be, give, have, make, use) many (a time), (any, be, give, give the, have) more (in number), (ask, be, be so, gather, over, take, yield) much (greater, more), (make to) multiply, nourish, plenty(-eous), [idiom] process (of time), sore, store, thoroughly, very.

• to increase (in whatever respect)

1) be or become great, be or become many, be or become much, be or become numerous
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to become many, become numerous, multiply (of people, animals, things)
1a2) to be or grow great
1b) (Piel) to make large, enlarge, increase, become many
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to make much, make many, have many
1c1a) to multiply, increase
1c1b) to make much to do, do much in respect of, transgress greatly
1c1c) to increase greatly or exceedingly
1c2) to make great, enlarge, do much
2) (Qal) to shoot

See Greek: ἀνορθόω · αὐξάνω · ἐπιθυμέω · καυχάομαι · μακράν · μακρός · μεγαλύνω · μέγας · μέγας · μεθύσκω · ὁμιλέω · ὄχλος · πλεονάζω · πληθύνω · ποιέω · προστίθημι · ὑψόω

Extended Information

• Aramaic equivalent: re.vah (‎ר‎ְ‎ב‎ָ‎ה‎ "to grow great" רְבָה)

Brown-Driver-Briggs

I. [‎רָבָה‎]₂₂₅ verb be, or become, much, many, great (Late Hebrew id.; Assyrian rabû, be great, grow; Arabic Aramaic ‎רְבָא‎; , , all grow, increase); —

Qal₅₉, Perfect 3 feminine singular ‎רָֽבְתָה‎ 1Sam 14:30 2 masculine singular ‎וְרָבִ֫יתָ‎ consecutive Deut 30:16 3 plural ‎רָבוּ‎ Ezra 9:6 +, etc.; Imperfect 3 masculine singular ‎יִרְבֶּה‎ Deut 8:13 +, jussive ‎יִ֫רֶב‎ Gen 1:22 + 2Chr 24:27 Qr (< ‎ורב‎ Kt, see ‎רֹב‎

1.), ‎וַיִּ֫רֶב‎ Exod 1:20 3 feminine singular ‎תִּרְבֶּה‎ Deut 7:22; Dan 12:4, ‎וַתֵּ֫רֶב‎ Gen 43:34; 1Kgs 5:10* 3 masculine plural ‎יִרְבּוּ‎ Deut 11:31 +, ‎יִרְבּוּן‎ Ps 139:18, ‎יִרְבְּיֻן‎ Deut 8:13 etc.; Imperative masculine singular ‎וּרְבֵה‎ Gen 35:11 Infinitive construct ‎רְבוֺת‎ Exod 11:9 +; — Participle ‎רֹבֶה‎ see II. ‎רבה‎; —

1. become many, numerous:
a. of people, Exod 1:10; Exod 1:12 (J), vExod 1:20 (E), Deut 6:3; Deut 8:1; Deut 30:16; Zech 10:8; 1Chr 5:23 ‎רָבוּ לְמָ֑עְלָה‎ 1Chr 23:17 especially + ‎פרה‎ be fruitful and multiply Jer 3:16; Jer 23:3 (figurative of flock), Gen 47:27b (P), Exod 1:7 (P), Ps 107:38 also (of man and beast) Ezek 36:11 of children Job 27:14 ‎צַדִּיקִים‎ Prov 28:28, ‎׳‎‎בִּרְבוֺת צ‎ Prov 29:2 (Toy ‎רְדוֺת‎ rule, || ‎מְשֹׁל‎ ),‎רְשָׁעִים‎ ‎׳‎‎בר‎ vProv 29:16 (Toy id.).
b. of animals Deut 7:22 (+ ‎עַל‎ person), Deut 8:13; 1Chr 5:9 + ‎פרה‎ Gen 1:22; Gen 8:17 (both P; compare Ezek 36:11 above).
c. of things Deut 8:13 (twice in verse); Ezek 31:5; Exod 11:9 (P), Eccl 5:10* of sins Ezra 9:6 (+ ‎לְמַ֫עְלָה‎), Prov 29:16 + ‎מִן‎ compare Ps 16:4; Ps 139:18 of days Gen 38:12 (J), Deut 11:21; 1Sam 7:2; Prov 9:11, years of life Prov 4:10 of waters Gen 7:17 (J), vGen 7:18 (P).

2. a. be great: (I) of things Gen 43:24 (J; + ‎מִן‎ compare), 1Sam 14:30 of way = be long Deut 19:6 and (‎מִן‎ compare person) Deut 14:24 be too long for; of wisdom 1Kgs 5:10* (‎מִן‎ compare). (2) of person, ‎יִרְבֶּה אֱלֹהִים מֵאֱנוֺשׁ‎ Job 33:12 i.e. is too great for (De and others); has loftier, nobler thoughts (Di Bu), but no ||.
b. grow great (Aramaism): (I) of person, = grow up Ezek 16:7 ( + ‎גָּדַל‎), Job 39:4. (2) of glory Ps 49:17*, knowledge Dan 12:4. — 2Chr 24:27 see above Pi:4., make large, increase; — Imperative masculine singular‎רַבֶּה צְבָאֲךָ‎ Judg 9:29 enlarge thy host; Perfect 2 masculine singular ‎רִבִּיתָ בִּמְחִירֵיהֶם‎ Ps 44:13* thou hast not made great with their price (set a high price; so Ew De Che and others); or increased (that is, thy wealth) by their price (Hup Bae); = bring up, rear (children) Lam 2:22 (+ ‎טפּח‎), whelps Ezek 19:2 (in figurative). Hiph`il₁₆₂ Perfect 3 masculine singular ‎הִרְבָּה‎ Hos 8:11 +, suffix ‎וְהִרְבְּךָֹ‎ consecutive Deut 30:5 2 masculine singular ‎הִרְבִּיתָ‎ Isa 9:2* +, 1 singular ‎הִרְבֵּיתִי‎ Hos 2:10* +, etc.; Imperfect ‎יַרְבֶּה‎ Hos 12:2* +, ‎וַ֫יֶּרֶב‎ 2Sam 18:8; Lam 2:5 etc.; Imperative masculine singular ‎הַרְבֵּה‎ Ezek 24:10, ‎הֶ֫רֶב‎ Judg 20:38 + Ps 51:4* Qr (‎הרבה‎ Kt, Infinitive absolute), etc.; feminine singular ‎הַרְבִּי‎ Isa 23:16, masculine plural ‎הַרְבּוּ‎ Amos 4:4; Gen 34:12 Infinitive absolute ‎הַרְבֵּה‎ Gen 15:1 +, ‎הַרְבָּה‎ (Ba^{NB 90, 91}) Gen 3:16; Gen 16:10; Gen 22:17 construct ‎הַרְבּוֺת‎ Deut 28:63 + (2Sam 14:11 Kt ‎הרבית‎; Amos 4:9; Prov 25:27 see below); Participle ‎מַרְבֶּה‎ Exod 16:17 +, construct ‎מַרְבֵּה‎ Lev 11:42, etc.; —

1. make much, or many:
a. object person (or a people), multiply, increase Gen 16:10; Gen 17:20; Isa 9:2* +; Ezek 36:10 (+ ‎עַל‎ person), vEzek 36:11 (man and beast; + id.); Deut 30:5 (+ ‎מִן‎ compare person); + ‎פרה‎ Hiph`il Gen 28:3; Gen 48:4 (both P); ‎הִרְבָּה כּוֺשֵׁל‎ Jer 46:16 = he made many stumble; = have many 1Chr 7:4; 1Chr 8:40; 1Chr 23:11.
b. object animals Deut 17:16 (twice in verse) (compare Ezek 36:11 above).
c. object things Hos 2:10*; Hos 8:11; Hos 8:14; +; ‎הַרְבּוּ עָלַי מְאֹד מֹהַר וּמַתָּן‎ Gen 34:12 opposed to ‎הִמְעִיט‎ Lev 26:16; Num 26:54; Num 33:54 object words Eccl 10:14 (see Job 34:37 below 2), compare Isa 1:15; Job 40:27*, ‎הַרְבִּי שִׂיר‎ Isa 23:16 object days Job 29:18 (like sand); = use many (medicines) Jer 46:11 have many (feet) Lev 11:42 bring abundantly 2Chr 31:5 yield abundantly Neh 9:37 with ‎ל‎ of object Hos 10:1 (‎ל‎ 3 a); object omitted Hab 2:6; Prov 22:16, also (opposed to ‎מעט‎ [usually Hiph`il]) Exod 16:17; Exod 16:18; Exod 30:15; Num 35:8 (all P), Prov 13:11.
d. (1) followed by infinitive, make much to do, do much in respect of, = do much, abundantly; greatly, often, etc. (Dr^{181, 12}): ‎הַרְבּוּ לִפְשֹׁעַ‎ Amos 4:4 = transgress greatly, so Ezra 10:13, compare 2Kgs 21:6 = 2Chr 33:6 further, Isa 55:7; Exod 36:5; 2Chr 36:14; Ps 78:38, also 2Sam 14:11 (Kt ‎מהרבית‎, Qr ‎מֵהַרְבַּת‎, read probably ‎מֵהַרְבוֺת‎ Dr^reff. Ges^{«GKC:75»§ 75} ff. Th Löhr); + ‎מִן‎ compare 2Sam 18:8; 1Sam 1:12 = pray a long time; Judg 20:38 strike out ‎הֶרֶב‎ as dittograph of ‎הארב‎ Be Bu GFM. (2) followed by finite verb (Dr^sm Ges^{«GKC:120g»§ 120g}), ‎אַלֿ‎ ‎תַּרְבּוּ תְדַבְּרוּ‎ 1Sam 2:3 i.e. talk not so much; compare Ps 51:4*. e the Infinitive absolute (Ol^{§ 191 b} Kö^{ii. 1, 555} Ges^{«GKC:75»§ 75} ff.) is used: (1) ‎הַרְבָּה אַרְבֶּה‎ I will greatly increase Gen 3:16; Gen 16:10; Gen 22:17 (all J; Ges^{«GKC:113n»§ 113n}); (2) ‎וְהַרְבֵּה‎ carrying on infinitive construct Ezek 21:20* (3) ‎הַרְבֵּה‎ as adverb (c. verbs and [Eccl 7:16](/btb/not_created.html)] adjective ), greatly, exceedingly, etc., especially ‎מְאֹד‎ ‎׳‎‎ה‎ Gen 41:49 (E), 1Sam 26:21; 2Sam 12:30 = I Chron 2Sam 20:2, Josh 13:1 (D), 2Kgs 21:16; Neh 2:2 perhaps also 1Kgs 5:9*. 1Kgs 10:10 (both with ‎נָתַן‎), v1Kgs 10:11 (with ‎הֵבִיא‎), Jer 40:12 (with ‎אָסַף‎), 2Chr 14:12* (with ‎נָשָׂא‎); ‎הַרְבֵּה‎ alone 2Kgs 10:8 (opposed to ‎מְעָ֑ט‎), Neh 3:33*; Eccl 1:16; Eccl 5:19*; Eccl 7:16; Eccl 7:17; Ps 51:4* Kt (Qr ‎הֶרֶב‎ Imperative); (4) as adjective attributive (Kö^{Synt.:§ 318 e} ), ‎מְאֹד‎ ‎׳‎‎ח‎ Deut 3:5; Josh 22:8 (D; || ‎רַבמְֿאֹד‎ ), 2Sam 8:8 (‎רַבָּה מְאֹד‎ in || 1Chr 18:18), 1Chr 12:2; Isa 30:33; 2Chr 32:27 so ‎הַרְבֵּה‎ alone Neh 4:4*; Neh 4:13* (+ ‎רְחָבָה‎), Ezra 10:1 (preceding n., compare 1. ‎רַב‎), Eccl 2:7; Eccl 5:6*; Eccl 5:16* (reading ‎כעס‎ as n., Ew De Hi-Now and others), Eccl 6:11; Eccl 9:18; Eccl 11:8a Eccl 12:9; Eccl 12:12 (twice in verse),‎הַרְבּוֺת‎ alone Prov 25:27 (Toy reads ‎הַרְבֵּה‎); ‎חִרְבֵּה מְאֹד‎ as predicate Gen 15:1 (J; Samaritan ‎אַרְבֶּה‎), Eccl 11:8b Ps 130:7 (adverb Bae); (5) ‎הַרְבֵּה‎ as concrete noun (Kö^{Synt.:§ 318 a}) 2Sam 14; Jer 42:2 (‎בֶּה‎- van d. H.), with ‎מִן‎ compare, 2Chr 25:9; Jonah 4:11 as object (or adverb), opposed to ‎מְעַט‎ Hag 1:6; Hag 1:9; Eccl 5:11* late in adverb phrase (‎לְהַרְבֵּה (מְאֹדׅ‎) Neh 5:18; 2Chr 11:12; 2Chr 16:8 ‎הַרְבּוֺת‎ as noun Amos 4:9 (read probably ‎הֶחֱרַבְתַּי‎ We Now).

2. make great, object person 2Sam 22:36 = Ps 18:36* enlarge border 1Chr 4:10 perhaps also Job 34:37 make words great, presumptuous, against God (‎לְאֵל‎; so Buhl^Lex; most make many words, 1 c).

II. [‎רָבָה‎] verb shoot (compare II. ‎רָבַב‎, I. ‎רָמָה‎); — only Qal Participle ‎רֹבֶה קַשָּׁ֑ת‎ Gen 21:20 < ‎רֹבֵה‎ ‎קָ֑שֶׁת‎, Kn Di and others, but read probably ‎׳‎‎דֹמֵה ק‎ Ol Ball, one shooting the bow. ‎רַבָּה‎, ‎רִבּוֺ(אׅ‎, ‎רַבִּית‎, ‎רְבִיבִים‎, see ‎רבב‎.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References