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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.

Translation Consistency

primary "contend" 18 occurrences

“Contend” best covers the full SILEX range—personal quarrel, formal litigation, bringing a charge, and striving against—so it provides a single, consistent verb for all forms. It also reflects the majority usage in existing renderings and naturally fits both legal and disputative contexts better than more narrowly conversational verbs like “argue.”

Alternatives (2 occurrences):
"dispute" (1x) "pleaded" (1x)

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 recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

ריב (Yehoyariv) — to contend, strive, dispute, quarrel

Root ריב to contend, strive, dispute, quarrel
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3080 יְהוֹיָרִיב to YHWH-contends
H3401 יָרִיב my contenders
H3402 יָרִיב and to He-Contends
H4808 מְרִיבָה in dispute-of
H4809 מְרִיבָה contention

Word Forms

32 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H7378-31 יָרִ֥יב yariv HVqi3ms will contend he will contend he will contend 10
H7378-01 אָרִ֔יב ariv HVqi1cs I will contend I will contend I will contend 5
H7378-05 לָ/רִ֥ב lariv HR/Vqc to contend to engage in dispute to contend 5
H7378-09 רָב֩ rav HVqp3ms am-pleading great contending 4
H7378-25 וַ/יָּ֖רֶב vayarev HC/Vhw3ms and quarreled and he contended and he contended 4
H7378-12 רִ֥יב riv HVqa argue dispute dispute 3
H7378-13 רִיבָ֣/ה rivah HVqv2ms/Sh Contend Contend! Contend 3
H7378-15 רִ֤יבוּ rivu HVqv2mp contend Contend! Contend! 3
H7378-21 תְּרִיבוּ/ן֙ terivun HVqi2mp/Sn contend you men will contend do you contend 3
H7378-24 וָ/אָרִ֨יבָ/ה֙ vaarivah HC/Vqw1cs/Sh and I contended and I contended and I contended 3

Occurrences in Scripture

70 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H7378-13 Psalms 119:154 רִיבָ֣/ה rivah HVqv2ms/Sh Plead Contend! Contend
H7378-22 Proverbs 3:30 תרוב trvv HVqj2ms strive may you contend contend
H7378-16 Proverbs 3:30 תָּרִ֣יב tariv HVqj2ms quarrel may you contend contend
H7378-31 Proverbs 22:23 יָרִ֣יב yariv HVqi3ms will plead he will contend he will contend
H7378-31 Proverbs 23:11 יָרִ֖יב yariv HVqi3ms will plead he will contend he will contend
H7378-05 Proverbs 25:8 לָ/רִ֗ב lariv HR/Vqc to strive to engage in dispute to contend
H7378-12 Proverbs 25:9 רִ֣יב riv HVqv2ms argue dispute dispute
H7378-05 Job 9:3 לָ/רִ֣יב lariv HR/Vqc to contend to engage in dispute to contend
H7378-20 Job 10:2 תְּרִיבֵֽ/נִי teriveni HVqi2ms/Sp1cs contend with me You contend with me You contend with me
H7378-21 Job 13:8 תְּרִיבֽוּ/ן terivun HVqi2mp/Sn will you contend you men will contend will you contend
H7378-31 Job 13:19 יָרִ֣יב yariv HVqi3ms will contend he will contend he will contend
H7378-31 Job 23:6 יָרִ֣יב yariv HVqi3ms contend he will contend he will contend
H7378-02 Job 31:13 בְּ֝/רִבָ֗/ם berivam HR/VNc/Sp3mp when they contended in their contending in their contending
H7378-14 Job 33:13 רִיב֑וֹתָ rivota HVqp2ms against him you contended you contend
H7378-03 Job 40:2 הֲ֭/רֹב harov HTi/Vqa Shall he contend to contend shall one contend
H7378-10 Lamentations 3:58 רַ֧בְתָּ raveta HVqp2ms you have pleaded you contended you have pleaded
H7378-24 Nehemiah 5:7 וָ/אָרִ֨יבָ/ה֙ vaarivah HC/Vqw1cs/Sh and I contended and I contended and I contended
H7378-24 Nehemiah 13:11 וָ/אָרִ֨יבָ/ה֙ vaarivah HC/Vqw1cs/Sh and I contended and I contended and I contended
H7378-24 Nehemiah 13:17 וָ/אָרִ֕יבָ/ה vaarivah HC/Vqw1cs/Sh and-I-contended and I contended and I contended
H7378-23 Nehemiah 13:25 וָ/אָרִ֤יב vaariv HC/Vqw1cs and I contended and I contended and I contended
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