← H3400 H3402 →

יָרִיב

𐤉𐤓𐤉𐤁

yârîyb

H3401 noun

SILEX Entry

Root ריב to contend, strive, dispute, quarrel

Definition

An adversary, opponent, or contender, especially one engaged in a legal dispute or contention; also used adjectivally to describe someone contentious or prone to quarrel or dispute. In context, the term most often describes a party to a lawsuit or a rival in personal, legal, or political conflict.

Semantic Range

adversary, legal opponent, accuser, contender, one who contends, contentious (adj.), rival

Root / Etymology

From the root ריב (riv), meaning 'to strive, contend, dispute, quarrel.' The form יָרִיב (yârîyb) is an active participle or verbal adjective meaning 'one who contends' or 'contender.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

יָרִיב appears primarily in legal and adversarial contexts in the Hebrew Bible, such as in Job 31:35 ('my adversary'), where it denotes a legal adversary or accuser. The participial form emphasizes the role of active contention rather than passive opposition. During the monarchic and exilic periods, such language was prevalent in legal proceedings and disputes over property, honor, or justice. The term is distinct from שָׂטָן (śāṭān, H7854) which may also mean 'adversary' but often with an accusatorial or prosecutorial connotation in later texts. English translations sometimes render יָרִיב as 'adversary,' 'opponent,' or 'accuser,' but 'legal opponent' or 'contender' more precisely reflect its typical biblical usage. Its use as an adjective for an argumentative person is rare and context-bound.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from רִיב; literally he will contend; properly, adjective, contentious; used as noun, an adversary; that content(-eth), that strive.

Bantu Hebrew

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

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

ריב (r-y-b) — to contend, strive, dispute, quarrel

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3080 יְהוֹיָרִיב to YHWH-contends
H3377 יָרֵב may he contend
H3402 יָרִיב and to He-Contends
H4808 מְרִיבָה in dispute-of
H4809 מְרִיבָה contention

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H3401-01 יְרִיבָֽ/י yerivay HNcmpc/Sp1cs of my accusers my contenders my accusers 2
H3401-02 יְרִיבֵ/ךְ֙ yerivekhe HNcmsc/Sp2fs your contender your contender your contender 1

Occurrences in Scripture

3 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H3401-02 Isaiah 49:25 יְרִיבֵ/ךְ֙ yerivekhe HNcmsc/Sp2fs your contender your contender your contender
H3401-01 Jeremiah 18:19 יְרִיבָֽ/י yerivay HNcmpc/Sp1cs of my accusers my contenders my accusers
H3401-01 Psalms 35:1 יְרִיבַ֑/י yerivay HNcmpc/Sp1cs those who contend with me my contenders my contenders
← H3400 Hebrew Lexicon H3402 →