רִיב
𐤓𐤉𐤁
rîyb
H7378 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To engage in dispute, contention, or litigation, typically in a verbal or legal context; to contend against, quarrel with, or bring a charge or case against someone. The word often connotes both personal quarrel and formal legal controversy, including the act of prosecuting a case, defending oneself, or seeking arbitration.
Semantic Range
to contend (in litigation or dispute), to challenge, to bring a lawsuit, to accuse or defend before a judge, to quarrel, to argue, to wrangle, to bring a charge, to complain, to strive against, to prosecute, to seek vindication
Root / Etymology
From the root ריב, which carries the core sense of fighting, contending, or striving. While the root may echo a sense of physical striving or 'grappling,' in biblical usage the term evolved primarily into contexts of verbal dispute, legal complaint, or contestation.
Historical & Contextual Notes
רִיב appears frequently throughout the Hebrew Bible in narratives, prophetic oracles, and legal contexts. In early narratives and legal texts, it can describe interpersonal quarrels (e.g., between individuals or between groups) or a formal lawsuit. In prophetic literature, it is often used to describe YHWH bringing a case (רִיב) against Israel or other nations, invoking covenantal lawsuit imagery. The term can also refer more generally to any form of argument, strife, or controversy. Older English translations (such as KJV) sometimes obscure this nuance by employing terms like 'plead' or 'chide' which only capture a portion of the word's meaning. רִיב is distinct from other terms for violence or war; it most commonly refers to a dispute, argument, or legal contention, as opposed to outright physical combat (cf. לחם 'to fight' in the sense of warfare). Over time, the word continues to be used for lawsuit or legal action in later Hebrew.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or רוּב; a primitive root; properly, to toss, i.e. grapple; mostly figuratively, to wrangle, i.e. hold a controversy; (by implication) to defend; adversary, chide, complain, contend, debate, [idiom] ever, [idiom] lay wait, plead, rebuke, strive, [idiom] thoroughly.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
ריב (r-y-b) — to contend, dispute, strive, litigate
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3080 | יְהוֹיָרִיב | to YHWH-contends |
| H3377 | יָרֵב | may he contend |
| H3401 | יָרִיב | my contenders |
| H3402 | יָרִיב | and to He-Contends |
| H4808 | מְרִיבָה | in dispute-of |
Word Forms
32 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7378-31 |
יָרִ֥יב | yariv | HVqi3ms |
will contend | he will contend | 10 |
H7378-05 |
לָ/רִ֣יב | lariv | HR/Vqc |
to contend | to engage in dispute | 5 |
H7378-01 |
אָרִ֔יב | ariv | HVqi1cs |
I will contend | I will contend | 5 |
H7378-09 |
רָב֙ | rav | HVqp3ms |
am-pleading | great | 4 |
H7378-25 |
וַ/יָּ֣רֶב | vayarev | HC/Vqw3ms |
and quarreled | and he contended | 4 |
H7378-21 |
תְּרִיבוּ/ן֙ | terivun | HVqi2mp/Sn |
contend | you men will contend | 3 |
H7378-13 |
רִיבָ֣/ה | rivah | HVqv2ms/Sh |
Contend | Contend! | 3 |
H7378-15 |
רִ֖יבוּ | rivu | HVqv2mp |
contend | Contend! | 3 |
H7378-12 |
רִ֥יב | riv | HVqa |
argue | dispute | 3 |
H7378-30 |
יָ֣רֶב | yarev | HVqj3ms |
contend | let him contend | 3 |
Occurrences in Scripture
70 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7378-26 |
Genesis 26:20 | וַ/יָּרִ֜יבוּ | vayarivu | HC/Vqw3mp |
and they quarreled | and they contended |
H7378-26 |
Genesis 26:21 | וַ/יָּרִ֖יבוּ | vayarivu | HC/Vqw3mp |
and they quarreled | and they contended |
H7378-11 |
Genesis 26:22 | רָב֖וּ | ravu | HVqp3cp |
they quarreled | they contended |
H7378-25 |
Genesis 31:36 | וַ/יָּ֣רֶב | vayarev | HC/Vqw3ms |
and quarreled | and he contended |
H7378-25 |
Exodus 17:2 | וַ/יָּ֤רֶב | vayarev | HC/Vqw3ms |
and quarreled | and he contended |
H7378-21 |
Exodus 17:2 | תְּרִיבוּ/ן֙ | terivun | HVqi2mp/Sn |
do you quarrel | you men will contend |
H7378-32 |
Exodus 21:18 | יְרִיבֻ֣/ן | yerivun | HVqi3mp/Sn |
they contend | they contend |
H7378-25 |
Numbers 20:3 | וַ/יָּ֥רֶב | vayarev | HC/Vqw3ms |
and-contended | and he contended |
H7378-11 |
Numbers 20:13 | רָב֥וּ | ravu | HVqp3cp |
quarreled | they contended |
H7378-18 |
Deuteronomy 33:8 | תְּרִיבֵ֖/הוּ | terivehu | HVqi2ms/Sp3ms |
you contended with him | you contend against him |