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רְבִיעַי

𐤓𐤁𐤉𐤏𐤉

rᵉbîyʻay

H7244 adjective

SILEX Entry

Definition

Ordinal number meaning 'fourth'; denotes the fourth in a sequence (e.g., fourth person, fourth item, fourth division). Can also function adverbially (e.g., in the fourth place) or with fractional sense as 'a fourth part.' Used in enumeration, division of time or units, and assignment of order, primarily in administrative or liturgical contexts in late biblical Hebrew and Aramaic literature.

Semantic Range

fourth (in position or order); a fourth part; in the fourth place; pertaining to the number four in sequence or division

Root / Etymology

From the root רבע ('rbʻ), meaning 'to be four, to divide in fours, to be quadrate.' רְבִיעַי (rᵉbîyʻay) is the masculine singular ordinal form meaning 'fourth,' following the Aramaic morphological pattern and corresponding to the Hebrew רְבִיעִי (rᵉbîyʻî). The formation utilizes the root idea of 'four' to express order or sequence.

Historical & Contextual Notes

רְבִיעַי appears in late biblical texts, specifically in the Aramaic portions of the Hebrew Bible (e.g., Ezra 6:17, Daniel 3:25), corresponding to Hebrew רְבִיעִי. It designates the fourth entity (person, thing, division, etc.) or the fourth part of something. The use is primarily administrative or liturgical, reflecting Persian or post-exilic bureaucratic lists, division of sacrificial animals, or periods of time (e.g., the fourth month, fourth watch). In some contexts, the term can also reference ordinal position in series or hierarchy. English translations typically render it as 'fourth,' sometimes as 'a fourth part,' but this does not fully capture the term's nuanced and context-specific function in ancient Near Eastern enumeration systems. While later translations or traditions may link such ordinals with ethnic or religious groupings (e.g., priestly courses), the biblical term itself is strictly ordinal and non-titular, and any association with communal identity is contextual rather than lexical. Compared to other ordinal numerals, its usage is limited to Aramaic narrative or administrative registers, with the Hebrew form used elsewhere in the Tanakh.

Translation Consistency

primary "fourth" 10 occurrences

This lemma is an ordinal/adjectival form meaning the fourth in order or a fourth part. "Fourth" is the natural, common English rendering for position (in the fourth place), division (a fourth part), and descriptive use (the fourth person/item), so it best captures the typical semantic range and will read naturally in all contexts.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

(Aramaic) corresponding to רְבִיעִי; {fourth; also (fractionally) a fourth}; fourth.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

רבע (r-b-ʿ) — to be four, to divide into four, to be in the fourth position

Root רבע to be four, to divide into four, to be in the fourth position
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H702 אַרְבַּע four
H703 אַרְבַּע four
H7243 רְבִיעִי fourth
H7250 רָבַע to lie-flat with her
H7251 רָבַע made four-sided

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H7244-01 רְבִ֣יעָאָ֔ה reviaah AAofsa fourth fourth (feminine) fourth 4
H7244-02 רְבִיעָ֣יְתָ֔/א reviayeta AAofsd/Td fourth the fourth (feminine) the fourth 2
H7244-04 רביעיה rvyyh AAobsd fourth fourth the fourth 2
H7244-03 רביעי/א rvyy AAomsd/Td fourth the fourth the fourth 2

Occurrences in Scripture

10 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H7244-04 Daniel 2:40 רביעיה rvyyh AAobsd fourth fourth the fourth
H7244-01 Daniel 2:40 רְבִ֣יעָאָ֔ה reviaah AAofsa fourth fourth (feminine) fourth
H7244-03 Daniel 3:25 רביעי/א rvyy AAomsd/Td the fourth the fourth the fourth
H7244-01 Daniel 3:25 רְֽבִיעָ/אָ֔ה reviaah AAomsd/Td the fourth fourth (feminine) fourth
H7244-04 Daniel 7:7 רביעיה rvyyh AAofsa fourth fourth the fourth
H7244-01 Daniel 7:7 רְֽבִיעָאָ֡ה reviaah AAofsa fourth fourth (feminine) fourth
H7244-02 Daniel 7:19 רְבִיעָ֣יְתָ֔/א reviayeta AAofsd/Td the fourth the fourth (feminine) the fourth
H7244-02 Daniel 7:23 רְבִיעָ֣יְתָ֔/א reviayeta AAofsd/Td fourth the fourth (feminine) the fourth
H7244-03 Daniel 7:23 רביעי/א rvyy AAomsd/Td fourth the fourth the fourth
H7244-01 Daniel 7:23 רְבִיעָ/אָה֙ reviaah AAofsd/Td fourth fourth (feminine) fourth
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