רַב
𐤓𐤁
rab
H7227 adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
An adjective denoting greatness in number, quantity, or magnitude; frequently used to indicate 'many,' 'much,' or 'great' as opposed to few or little. In certain contexts, also functions as a substantive to mean 'a great one,' 'chief,' 'leader,' or 'officer.' The term encompasses both quantitative and qualitative greatness, including age, importance, power, or status.
Semantic Range
great (in number, magnitude, status), many, much, abundant, chief, leader, officer, captain, elder, exceedingly, full, plentiful, populous, principal person or official, master
Root / Etymology
Derived from the Hebrew root רבב (rbb), meaning 'to be or become many, to multiply, to be numerous.' The form רַב (rab) is an adjective and sometimes a noun meaning 'great' or 'many,' reflecting the root idea but with a lexical emphasis on magnitude or status rather than the verbal sense of multiplying.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, רַב is most commonly used as an adjective describing people, things, or qualities that are numerous or great—'a great people,' 'many years,' 'great wealth.' When used substantively, especially with additional terms such as רַב־סָרִיס (chief eunuch) or רַב סֹפֵר (chief scribe), it denotes a chief or high-ranking official, often in royal or military contexts. Over time, particularly in postbiblical Hebrew and Aramaic contexts, the term developed into a formal title for teachers or leaders (as in 'rabbi'), but in classical biblical usage this developed sense is not present. The term can indicate seniority by age (an elder) or in command (a captain, chief, officer). While English translations often render it as 'great,' 'many,' 'chief,' or 'captain,' the nuances depend strongly on context. The word is more flexible in biblical Hebrew than in later tradition, sometimes merely indicating largeness or abundance, and sometimes conferring honor or high status. In contrast with other terms for leadership, such as נָשִׂיא (nasi, 'prince') or שֹׁפֵט (shofet, 'judge'), רַב is more general, emphasizing greatness or preeminence without specifying office. In poetic, wisdom, and prophetic literature, it may highlight abundance, duration, or intensity.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
by contracted from רָבַב; abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality); (in) abound(-undance, -ant, -antly), captain, elder, enough, exceedingly, full, great(-ly, man, one), increase, long (enough, (time)), (do, have) many(-ifold, things, a time), (ship-)master, mighty, more, (too, very) much, multiply(-tude), officer, often(-times), plenteous, populous, prince, process (of time), suffice(-lent).
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
רבב (r-b-b) — to be many, to become great, to multiply
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1337 | בַּת רַבִּים | many |
| H2579 | חֲמַת רַבָּה | great |
| H4764 | מֵרָב | Abundant one |
| H7228 | רַב | his archers |
| H7229 | רַב | the great one |
Word Forms
25 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7227-14 |
רַבִּֽים | rabim | HAampa |
many | many | 172 |
H7227-16 |
רָ֔ב | rav | HAamsa |
great | great | 139 |
H7227-10 |
רַבָּ֛ה | rabah | HAafsa |
great | great | 35 |
H7227-15 |
רַבּ֔וֹת | rabot | HAafpa |
many | many (feminine plural) | 30 |
H7227-25 |
וְ/רַ֖ב | verav | HC/Aamsa |
and great | and great | 20 |
H7227-04 |
הָֽ/רַבִּ֜ים | harabim | HTd/Aampa |
the many | the many | 11 |
H7227-11 |
רַבַּ֖ת | rabat | HAafsc |
many | Great One (feminine) | 10 |
H7227-23 |
וְ/רַבִּ֖ים | verabim | HC/Aampa |
and many | many | 7 |
H7227-05 |
הָ/רַב֙ | harav | HTd/Aamsa |
great | the great one | 7 |
H7227-18 |
וָ/רָ֖ב | varav | HC/Aamsa |
and numerous | and great | 5 |
Occurrences in Scripture
461 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7227-10 |
Genesis 6:5 | רַבָּ֛ה | rabah | HAafsa |
great | great |
H7227-10 |
Genesis 7:11 | רַבָּ֔ה | rabah | HAafsa |
great | great |
H7227-16 |
Genesis 13:6 | רָ֔ב | rav | HAamsa |
great | great |
H7227-10 |
Genesis 18:20 | רָ֑בָּה | rabah | HVqp3fs |
is great | great |
H7227-14 |
Genesis 21:34 | רַבִּֽים | rabim | HAampa |
many | many |
H7227-16 |
Genesis 24:25 | רַ֣ב | rav | HAamsa |
plentiful | great |
H7227-25 |
Genesis 25:23 | וְ/רַ֖ב | verav | HC/Aamsa |
and the older | and great |
H7227-10 |
Genesis 26:14 | רַבָּ֑ה | rabah | HAafsa |
household | great |
H7227-15 |
Genesis 30:43 | רַבּ֔וֹת | rabot | HAafpa |
large | many (feminine plural) |
H7227-16 |
Genesis 33:9 | רָ֑ב | rav | HAamsa |
plenty | great |