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אַרְבֶּה

𐤀𐤓𐤁𐤄

ʼarbeh

H697 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Locust; a migratory, swarming grasshopper species known for its destructive plagues and rapid multiplication. The term primarily refers to the desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria) or similar species that appear in vast swarms, causing significant devastation to crops and vegetation across the Levant. In biblical contexts, אַרְבֶּה denotes not just an individual insect, but the phenomenon of locust swarms as agents of ecological and social crisis.

Semantic Range

locust, migratory locust, swarming locust, plague insect, symbol of devastation

Root / Etymology

From the root רָבָה (to be many, become great, multiply). אַרְבֶּה derives from this root, likely alluding to the most notable feature of locusts: their tendency to multiply rapidly and assemble in overwhelming numbers. The derivation is directly from the participial pattern, indicating 'the swarming one' or 'the multiplying one.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

אַרְבֶּה occurs primarily in descriptions of natural disasters (e.g., the Egyptian plagues in Exodus 10), in poetry (e.g., Joel 1-2), or in apocalyptic imagery (e.g., referring to overwhelming devastation). Historically, אַרְבֶּה signified both a specific insect species and a symbol of catastrophic environmental events in the agrarian society of ancient Israel. The term is distinct from other Hebrew words for insects, such as חָסִיל (khāsil) or גָּזָם (gazām), which can refer to other stages of locust development or different species of crop-devouring insects. English translations as 'locust' are accurate for the general sense, but in some poetic or prophetic contexts, the nuance of irresistible, collective destructive force is stronger than in modern English usage. Later translations (such as 'grasshopper') are less precise and conflate this word with non-swarming insect species. Over time, אַרְבֶּה continued to represent both the literal insect and a paradigmatic symbol of judgment and disaster in Jewish literature.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from רָבָה; a locust (from its rapid increase); grasshopper, locust.

Bantu Hebrew

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

Root Family

רבה (marbeh) — to be(come) many, to become great, to increase

Root רבה to be many, to multiply, to become great, to increase
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4766 מַרְבֶה for increase of
H4767 מִרְבָּה great increase
H4768 מַרְבִּית increase of
H7235 רָבָה I will cause to multiply
H7236 רְבָה he made great

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H697-03 הָ/אַרְבֶּֽה haarebeh HTd/Ncmsa the locust the multiplying locust the multiplying locust 8
H697-01 אַרְבֶּ֤ה arebeh HNcmsa locust I will cause to multiply locust 7
H697-04 כָּ/אַרְבֶּ֑ה kaarebeh HRd/Ncmsa like locusts the swarming locust like a locust 5
H697-05 לָ/אַרְבֶּ֑ה laarebeh HRd/Ncmsa to the locust to a swarming locust for the locust 2
H697-02 בָּֽ/אַרְבֶּ֔ה baarebeh HRd/Ncmsa for locusts swarming locust for the locust 1
H697-06 מֵֽ/אַרְבֶּ֔ה mearebeh HR/Ncmsa than locusts multiplying locust than locusts 1

Occurrences in Scripture

24 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H697-01 Exodus 10:4 אַרְבֶּ֖ה arebeh HNcmsa locusts I will cause to multiply locusts
H697-02 Exodus 10:12 בָּֽ/אַרְבֶּ֔ה baarebeh HRd/Ncmsa for locusts swarming locust for the locust
H697-03 Exodus 10:13 הָ/אַרְבֶּֽה haarebeh HTd/Ncmsa locust the multiplying locust the multiplying locust
H697-03 Exodus 10:14 הָֽ/אַרְבֶּ֗ה haarebeh HTd/Ncmsa the locust the multiplying locust the multiplying locust
H697-01 Exodus 10:14 אַרְבֶּה֙ arebeh HNcmsa locust I will cause to multiply the multiplying locust
H697-03 Exodus 10:19 הָ֣/אַרְבֶּ֔ה haarebeh HTd/Ncmsa locusts the multiplying locust the locust
H697-01 Exodus 10:19 אַרְבֶּ֣ה arebeh HNcmsa locust I will cause to multiply locust
H697-03 Leviticus 11:22 הָֽ/אַרְבֶּ֣ה haarebeh HTd/Ncmsa the locust the multiplying locust the multiplying locust
H697-03 Deuteronomy 28:38 הָ/אַרְבֶּֽה haarebeh HTd/Ncmsa the locust the multiplying locust the locust
H697-01 Judges 6:5 אַרְבֶּה֙ arebeh HNcmsa locusts I will cause to multiply locusts
H697-04 Judges 7:12 כָּ/אַרְבֶּ֖ה kaarebeh HRd/Ncmsa like locusts the swarming locust like the locust
H697-01 1 Kings 8:37 אַרְבֶּ֤ה arebeh HNcmsa locust I will cause to multiply locust
H697-06 Jeremiah 46:23 מֵֽ/אַרְבֶּ֔ה mearebeh HR/Ncmsa than locusts multiplying locust than locusts
H697-03 Joel 1:4 הָֽ/אַרְבֶּ֔ה haarebeh HTd/Ncmsa the swarming locust the multiplying locust the multiplying locust
H697-03 Joel 1:4 הָ/אַרְבֶּ֖ה haarebeh-2 HTd/Ncmsa of the swarming locust the multiplying locust the multiplying locust
H697-03 Joel 2:25 הָֽ/אַרְבֶּ֔ה haarebeh HTd/Ncmsa the-swarming-locust the multiplying locust the multiplying locust
H697-04 Nahum 3:15 כָּ/אַרְבֶּֽה kaarebeh HRd/Ncmsa like the locust the swarming locust the swarming locust
H697-04 Nahum 3:17 כָּֽ/אַרְבֶּ֔ה kaarebeh HRd/Ncmsa like locusts the swarming locust like the swarming locust
H697-05 Psalms 78:46 לָ/אַרְבֶּֽה laarebeh HRd/Ncmsa to the locust to a swarming locust to a swarming locust
H697-01 Psalms 105:34 אַרְבֶּ֑ה arebeh HNcmsa locusts I will cause to multiply locust
H697-04 Psalms 109:23 כָּֽ/אַרְבֶּֽה kaarebeh HRd/Ncmsa like a locust the swarming locust like a locust
H697-05 Proverbs 30:27 לָ/אַרְבֶּ֑ה laarebeh HRd/Ncmsa to-the-locust to a swarming locust for the locust
H697-04 Job 39:20 כָּ/אַרְבֶּ֑ה kaarebeh HRd/Ncmsa like a locust the swarming locust like a locust
H697-01 2 Chronicles 6:28 אַרְבֶּ֤ה arebeh HNcmsa locust I will cause to multiply locust
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