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רְבָבָה

𐤓𐤁𐤁𐤄

rᵉbâbâh

H7233 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A very large number or multitude; typically used to denote tens of thousands, myriads, or a vast abundance, particularly in reference to people, animals, armies, or blessings. The term extends to indicate great quantity, magnitude, or extent, with a focus on multitude or profusion rather than a precise numerical value.

Semantic Range

multitude, myriad, tens of thousands, great number, abundance, innumerable quantity, vast host, countless amount

Root / Etymology

From the root רָבַב (ravav), meaning 'to be/make many, increase, multiply.' רְבָבָה is a feminine noun formation indicating 'abundance' or 'myriad.' The noun develops from the core sense of the root—multiplicity or increase—and serves to denote large, often innumerable groups or amounts. The form may also serve as a collective noun for 'ten thousand' or more, although not always used in a mathematically precise sense.

Historical & Contextual Notes

רְבָבָה appears in diverse biblical contexts to describe exceptionally large numbers, such as military forces (e.g., Deuteronomy 33:17), the descendants of Israelite ancestors (e.g., Genesis 24:60), or general abundance (e.g., Deuteronomy 28:11). The term often carries a sense of overwhelming plenty rather than literal enumeration; in poetic or hyperbolic passages, it can signify 'countless' or 'innumerable.' In later periods, specifically in post-biblical Hebrew and some Ancient Near Eastern parallels, it also acquires a more concrete sense as a technical numeral ('ten thousand'). However, in most biblical texts, it functions more as an expression of extraordinary multitude. English translations sometimes render it as 'ten thousand,' 'myriad,' 'hosts,' or 'abundance,' though these can be too specific or too general to capture the range of uses. רְבָבָה contrasts with אֶלֶף (elef, 'thousand') by indicating an order of magnitude larger, but is less precise than numbers like עֶשֶׂר רִבּוֹאֹת ('one hundred thousand'). In Greek translation traditions (LXX), it is often rendered as μυριάς (myrias, 'myriad'), and in later tradition as 'million' or similar terms, though these anachronistically suggest greater precision than the Hebrew intended. Throughout Israelite and Judahite history, רְבָבָה retains its sense of vastness, whether describing the population, the prosperity of the land, or the size of a military contingent.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from רָבַב; abundance (in number), i.e. (specifically) a myriad (whether definite or indefinite); many, million, [idiom] multiply, ten thousand.

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 numerous, to increase, to multiply
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4764 מֵרָב Abundant one
H7227 רַב many
H7228 רַב his archers
H7229 רַב the great one
H7230 רֹב in abundance

Word Forms

10 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H7233-06 רְבָבָ֑ה revavah HNcfsa a myriad vast multitude ten thousands 4
H7233-02 בְּ/רִבְבֹתָֽי/ו berivevotayv HR/Ncfpc/Sp3ms his ten thousands in his myriads in his myriads 3
H7233-05 מֵ/רִבְבֹ֣ת merivevot HR/Ncfpc from the ten thousands from myriads of from myriads of 2
H7233-08 רִבְב֣וֹת rivevot HNcfpc myriads myriads of myriads of 2
H7233-10 ב/רבבת/ו vrvvtv HR/Ncfpc/Sp3ms his ten thousands in his myriads in his myriads 2
H7233-01 בְּ/רִֽבְב֖וֹת berivevot HR/Ncfpc with ten thousands of in myriads of with myriads of 1
H7233-03 לָ/רְבָבָ֔ה larevavah HRd/Ncfsa to-ten-thousands to a vast multitude for every ten thousand 1
H7233-04 מֵ/רְבָבָֽה merevavah HR/Ncfsa among ten thousand from a vast multitude from a vast multitude 1
H7233-07 רְבָב֔וֹת revavot HNcfpa ten thousands myriads ten thousands 1
H7233-09 וּ/רְבָבָ֥ה urevavah HC/Ncfsa and ten thousand and a myriad and ten thousand 1

Occurrences in Scripture

18 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H7233-06 Genesis 24:60 רְבָבָ֑ה revavah HNcfsa ten thousands vast multitude ten thousands
H7233-06 Leviticus 26:8 רְבָבָ֣ה revavah HNcfsa ten thousand vast multitude ten thousand
H7233-08 Numbers 10:36 רִֽבְב֖וֹת rivevot HNcfpc myriads myriads of myriads of
H7233-06 Deuteronomy 32:30 רְבָבָ֑ה revavah HNcfsa ten-thousand vast multitude a myriad
H7233-05 Deuteronomy 33:2 מֵ/רִבְבֹ֣ת merivevot HR/Ncfpc from the ten thousands from myriads of from myriads of
H7233-08 Deuteronomy 33:17 רִבְב֣וֹת rivevot HNcfpc ten-thousands myriads of myriads of
H7233-03 Judges 20:10 לָ/רְבָבָ֔ה larevavah HRd/Ncfsa to-ten-thousands to a vast multitude for every ten thousand
H7233-02 1 Samuel 18:7 בְּ/רִבְבֹתָֽי/ו berivevotayv HR/Ncfpc/Sp3ms his ten thousands in his myriads in his myriads
H7233-07 1 Samuel 18:8 רְבָב֔וֹת revavot HNcfpa ten thousands myriads ten thousands
H7233-10 1 Samuel 21:12 ב/רבבת/ו vrvvtv HR/Ncfpc/Sp3ms his ten thousands in his myriads in his myriads
H7233-02 1 Samuel 21:12 בְּ/רִבְבֹתָֽי/ו berivevotayv HR/Ncfpc/Sp3ms his ten thousands in his myriads in his myriads
H7233-10 1 Samuel 29:5 ב/רבבת/ו vrvvtv HR/Ncfpc/Sp3ms his ten thousands in his myriads in his myriads
H7233-02 1 Samuel 29:5 בְּ/רִבְבֹתָֽי/ו berivevotayv HR/Ncfpc/Sp3ms his ten thousands in his myriads in his myriads
H7233-06 Ezekiel 16:7 רְבָבָ֗ה revavah HNcfsa a myriad vast multitude vast multitude
H7233-01 Micah 6:7 בְּ/רִֽבְב֖וֹת berivevot HR/Ncfpc with ten thousands of in myriads of with myriads of
H7233-05 Psalms 3:7 מֵ/רִבְב֥וֹת merivevot HR/Ncfpc of tens of thousands from myriads of from myriads of
H7233-09 Psalms 91:7 וּ/רְבָבָ֥ה urevavah HC/Ncfsa and ten thousand and a myriad and ten thousand
H7233-04 Song of Songs 5:10 מֵ/רְבָבָֽה merevavah HR/Ncfsa among ten thousand from a vast multitude from a vast multitude
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