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רָבַע

𐤓𐤁𐤏

râbaʻ

H7251 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To be four-sided, to form a square or quadrilateral shape, particularly in reference to measurements or objects with a rectangular or square profile. The word is used primarily in technical or descriptive contexts to indicate something that has four sides or is made square.

Semantic Range

to be four-sided, to make square, to form a quadrilateral, to describe or designate as square or rectangular

Root / Etymology

From the root ר-ב-ע, whose core semantic idea is 'four.' רָבַע is a denominative verb formed from רֶבַע ('quarter, fourth part') and reflects the process of making something four-sided or square. The verb itself is rare and typically appears in measured or descriptive contexts, often related to architectural or ritual objects.

Historical & Contextual Notes

רָבַע occurs only a handful of times in the Hebrew Bible and is usually found in texts describing the dimensions of altars, stones, or other objects needing to be square (e.g., Exodus 27:1 regarding the altar of burnt offering). It denotes the action or resulting state of having four sides rather than a specific action performed on an object. The verb does not carry extended metaphorical senses such as fairness or completeness, focusing strictly on geometric attributes. Related terms such as אַרְבַּע ('four') reflect the same root. English translations typically render this word as 'square' or 'be square,' which captures the geometric sense but may miss the verb's technical nuance in ritual or construction contexts. Over time, the meaning has remained specific, with little evolution beyond its architectural and descriptive uses.

Translation Consistency

primary "square" 9 occurrences

'Square' is the most natural, common single-word verb that covers both states and actions in the SILEX range (to be four-sided; to make or form into a square). It matches the majority attested renderings, fits technical/descriptive contexts, and is preferable to adjectival or clumsy multi-word alternatives like 'be four-sided' or 'make square.'

Alternatives (3 occurrences):
"four-sided ones" (1x) "made four-sided" (1x) "four-sided one" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root (rather identical with רָבַע through the idea of sprawling 'at all fours' (or possibly the reverse is the order of deriv.); compare אַרְבַּע); properly, to be four (sided); used only as denominative of רֶבַע; to be quadrate; (four-) square(-d).

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

רבע (Reva) — to be four, fourfold, consisting of four

Root רבע to be four, to make four-sided
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H702 אַרְבַּע four
H703 אַרְבַּע four
H7243 רְבִיעִי fourth
H7244 רְבִיעַי fourth (feminine)
H7250 רָבַע to lie-flat with her

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H7251-04 רָב֤וּעַ ravua HVqsmsa square four-sided squared 7
H7251-01 מְרֻבָּ֣ע meruba HVPsmsa square made four-sided square 1
H7251-02 מְרֻבָּ֑עַת merubaat HVPsfsa square made four-sided made four-sided 1
H7251-03 מְרֻבָּע֖וֹת merubaot HVPsfpa square made four-sided square 1
H7251-05 רְבֻעָ֑ה revuah HVqsfsa squared four-sided one four-sided one 1
H7251-06 רְבֻעִ֣ים revuim HVqsmpa were square four-sided ones four-sided ones 1

Occurrences in Scripture

12 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H7251-04 Exodus 27:1 רָב֤וּעַ ravua HVqsmsa square four-sided squared
H7251-04 Exodus 28:16 רָב֥וּעַ ravua HVqsmsa square four-sided squared
H7251-04 Exodus 30:2 רָב֣וּעַ ravua HVqsmsa square four-sided squared
H7251-04 Exodus 37:25 רָב֗וּעַ ravua HVqsmsa square four-sided squared
H7251-04 Exodus 38:1 רָב֔וּעַ ravua HVqsmsa square four-sided squared
H7251-04 Exodus 39:9 רָב֧וּעַ ravua HVqsmsa foursquare four-sided squared
H7251-06 1 Kings 7:5 רְבֻעִ֣ים revuim HVqsmpa were square four-sided ones four-sided ones
H7251-03 1 Kings 7:31 מְרֻבָּע֖וֹת merubaot HVPsfpa square made four-sided square
H7251-02 Ezekiel 40:47 מְרֻבָּ֑עַת merubaat HVPsfsa square made four-sided made four-sided
H7251-05 Ezekiel 41:21 רְבֻעָ֑ה revuah HVqsfsa squared four-sided one four-sided one
H7251-04 Ezekiel 43:16 רָב֕וּעַ ravua HVqsmsa square four-sided squared
H7251-01 Ezekiel 45:2 מְרֻבָּ֣ע meruba HVPsmsa square made four-sided square
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