רֹב

𐤓𐤁

rôb

H7230 noun

SILEX Entry

Root רבב to be many, to multiply, to be great in quantity

Definition

A large quantity, magnitude, number, or degree; the state or condition of being many or much. Used to denote abundance or multiplicity, whether of things (such as possessions, grain, days) or people (populations, armies). In poetic and narrative passages, can emphasize intensity or greatness in various attributes (goodness, judgment, riches, etc.).

Semantic Range

abundance, much, multitude, great number, plenty, magnitude, fullness, majority, long (of time), intensity, exceeding, numerous quantity, excellence, greatness

Root / Etymology

From the root רָבַב (ravav), meaning to be or become many, to multiply, to be great in quantity. רֹב (rôb) is a masculine noun formation from this root, expressing the abstract or concrete state of 'muchness' or abundance. The root primarily connotes quantity or magnitude.

Historical & Contextual Notes

רֹב (rôb) is widely used in biblical Hebrew to signify quantitative greatness, whether of physical objects, abstract qualities, or periods (e.g., 'a multitude of days' = a long time). Especially common in poetry and prophetic texts, it often stands in contrast to words denoting fewness or scarcity (e.g., מעט, מְעַט). In some contexts, it functions idiomatically to mean 'most of' or 'the majority.' In post-exilic and late biblical texts, the nuance of 'abundance' broadens, with roles in communal or societal contexts (such as describing populations or resources). English translations sometimes over-generalize the word with terms like 'plenty' or 'multitude,' but concrete context is crucial. The word's range overlaps with גָּדוֹל (gadol, 'great') in magnitude, and המון (hamon, 'multitude') in regards to number, but רֹב is less specific about type, focusing instead on mass, quantity, or degree.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from רָבַב; abundance (in any respect); abundance(-antly), all, [idiom] common (sort), excellent, great(-ly, -ness, number), huge, be increased, long, many, more in number, most, much, multitude, plenty(-ifully), [idiom] very (age).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

רבב (r-b-b) — to be many, to multiply, to be great in quantity

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1337 בַּת רַבִּים many
H2579 חֲמַת רַבָּה great
H4764 מֵרָב Abundant one
H7227 רַב many
H7228 רַב his archers

Word Forms

17 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H7230-05 לָ/רֹ֔ב larov HR/Ncbsa in abundance to abundance 55
H7230-02 בְּ/רֹ֥ב berov HR/Ncbsc in the multitude in abundance of 27
H7230-07 מֵ/רֹֽב merov HR/Ncbsa for multitude from abundance 21
H7230-16 וְ/רֹ֥ב verov HC/Ncbsc and multitude and abundance of 10
H7230-10 רֹ֣ב rov HNcbsc the multitude abundance of 8
H7230-04 כְּ/רֹ֣ב kerov HR/Ncbsa according to the multitude according to abundance 7
H7230-14 וּ/בְ/רֹ֥ב uverov HC/R/Ncbsc and-by great and in abundance of 6
H7230-01 בְּ/רָב berav HR/Ncbsc by great in abundance 4
H7230-09 רָב rav HNcbsc Many great 2
H7230-15 וְ/רָב verav HC/Ncbsc and-abundance and great 2

Occurrences in Scripture

150 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H7230-07 Genesis 16:10 מֵ/רֹֽב merov HR/Ncbsa for multitude from abundance
H7230-16 Genesis 27:28 וְ/רֹ֥ב verov HC/Ncbsc and an abundance and abundance of
H7230-05 Genesis 30:30 לָ/רֹ֔ב larov HR/Ncbsa to a multitude to abundance
H7230-07 Genesis 32:13 מֵ/רֹֽב merov HR/Ncbsa for multitude from abundance
H7230-05 Genesis 48:16 לָ/רֹ֖ב larov HR/Ncbsa into a multitude to abundance
H7230-14 Exodus 15:7 וּ/בְ/רֹ֥ב uverov HC/R/Ncbsc And in the greatness and in abundance of
H7230-10 Leviticus 25:16 רֹ֣ב rov HNcbsc the multitude abundance of
H7230-05 Deuteronomy 1:10 לָ/רֹֽב larov HR/Ncbsa for multitude to abundance
H7230-08 Deuteronomy 7:7 מֵֽ/רֻבְּ/כֶ֞ם merubekhem HR/Vqc/Sp2mp because of your multitude from your abundance
H7230-05 Deuteronomy 10:22 לָ/רֹֽב larov HR/Ncbsa for multitude to abundance