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רַב

𐤓𐤁

rab

H7228 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A professional or skilled archer; one who shoots arrows with a bow, often as a specialized military role or member of a group of archers. This term denotes an individual known for proficiency in archery, and may be used collectively for groups of archers or archery units, especially in military contexts.

Semantic Range

archer, skilled bowman, member of troops equipped with bows, professional shooter (specifically with arrows); contrasted with 'great' or 'chief' in other contexts

Root / Etymology

From the root רָבַב (ravav), which in its core sense means 'to shoot, shoot arrows, to be many/multiplied.' The noun form here likely derives from the idea of one skilled in shooting (i.e., a shooter, specifically of arrows), although the term may be related by sound or semantic extension rather than direct morphological derivation.

Historical & Contextual Notes

רַב (rab) in the sense of 'archer' is attested in a limited set of biblical contexts, notably in military passages alluding to specialized fighters or units skilled with the bow (cf. Jer 50:29; 51:3). The same spelling רַב, however, is more commonly known as an adjective or title meaning 'great, leader, chief'; only contextual cues differentiate these senses, as they are written identically in the consonantal text. Modern English translations often render this military noun as 'archer' or 'bowman,' but its use is considerably more specific in ancient Israelite military organization than in later English archery traditions. Jewish tradition and later Hebrew tend to reserve רַב for the title 'rabbi' (teacher), a usage unrelated to this military sense. Related terms include קַשָּׁת (qashshat) and יֹרֵה (yoreh), also denoting archers but with broader or slightly different nuances. The translation 'archer' is accurate in the contexts given, but care should be taken not to conflate this רַב with its far more common semantic ranges of 'great' or 'chief.'

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

by contraction from רָבַב; (or perhaps the same as רַב); an archer; archer.

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

Root רבב to be many, to become great, to shoot (arrows)
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4764 מֵרָב Abundant one
H7227 רַב many
H7229 רַב the great one
H7230 רֹב in abundance
H7231 רָבַב to multiply

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H7228-01 רַבָּ֗י/ו rabayv HNcmpc/Sp3ms his multitude his archers his archers 1
H7228-02 רַ֠בִּים rabim HNcmpa many many many archers 1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H7228-02 Jeremiah 50:29 רַ֠בִּים rabim HNcmpa many many many archers
H7228-01 Job 16:13 רַבָּ֗י/ו rabayv HNcmpc/Sp3ms his multitude his archers his archers
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