רֹב
𐤓𐤁
rôb
H7230 noun
SILEX Entry
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
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot 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 |