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תַּרְבִּית

𐤕𐤓𐤁𐤉𐤕

tarbîyth

H8636 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Material increase, especially as profit or gain resulting from lending or commerce. Denotes addition beyond the original amount, particularly in the context of economic or financial transactions, such as interest on a loan or profit from exchange. In certain contexts, it is associated with unjust or exploitative gain obtained through excessive interest.

Semantic Range

increase, multiplication, surplus, profit, additional gain, interest on a loan, unjust gain through lending, exploitative profit

Root / Etymology

From the root רְבָה (ר-ב-ה), meaning 'to be numerous, to increase.' The noun תַּרְבִּית is formed with the causative or resultative suffix, describing something produced by increase—a surplus or increment, especially financial. Root meaning refers broadly to multiplication or being abundant, but the lemma’s usage is restricted to financial or material contexts.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical usage, תַּרְבִּית appears almost exclusively in legal and ethical texts (e.g., Leviticus 25:36-37, Ezekiel 18:8, 13, 17), always in reference to financial increase, most often as the profit or interest gained on a loan. It is frequently paired with נֶשֶׁךְ (neshekh, 'bite', i.e., interest), with some debate among scholars over distinctions: נֶשֶׁךְ may refer more generally to any interest or usury (with its imagery of 'biting' the debtor), while תַּרְבִּית may emphasize the increase or surplus itself, sometimes implying compounding or additional profit. The term came to denote profit through lending, especially when viewed as exploitative, and is often explicitly prohibited in Torah legislation, reflecting social values around equity and protection of the vulnerable. English translations often render both נֶשֶׁךְ and תַּרְבִּית as 'interest' or 'usury,' but this may obscure the nuanced distinction in Hebrew legal vocabulary.

Translation Consistency

primary "profit" 6 occurrences

Covers the typical economic sense (surplus, gain, interest) and naturally conveys both legitimate and exploitative material increase. More specific and natural for financial contexts than the neutral 'increase' and broader than 'interest,' so it best fits the SILEX semantic range.

Alternatives (1 occurrence):
"profit-increase" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from רָבָה; multiplication, i.e. percentage or bonus in addition to principal; increase, unjust gain.

Bantu Hebrew

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

Root Family

רבה (marbeh) — to be(come) many, to become great, to increase

Root רבה to grow, multiply, become many, increase
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4766 מַרְבֶה for increase of
H4767 מִרְבָּה great increase
H4768 מַרְבִּית increase of
H697 אַרְבֶּה I will cause to multiply
H7235 רָבָה I will cause to multiply

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H8636-01 וְ/תַרְבִּית֙ vetarebit HC/Ncfsa and increase material increase and material profit 6
H8636-02 ו/ב/תרבית vvtrvyt HC/R/Ncfsa and by usury and in profit-increase and in profit-increase 1

Occurrences in Scripture

7 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H8636-01 Leviticus 25:36 וְ/תַרְבִּ֔ית vetarebit HC/Ncfsa or increase material increase and material profit
H8636-01 Ezekiel 18:8 וְ/תַרְבִּית֙ vetarebit HC/Ncfsa or increase material increase and material profit
H8636-01 Ezekiel 18:13 וְ/תַרְבִּ֥ית vetarebit HC/Ncfsa and increase material increase and material profit
H8636-01 Ezekiel 18:17 וְ/תַרְבִּית֙ vetarebit HC/Ncfsa or profit material increase and material profit
H8636-01 Ezekiel 22:12 וְ/תַרְבִּ֣ית vetarebit HC/Ncfsa and-increase material increase and material profit
H8636-02 Proverbs 28:8 ו/ב/תרבית vvtrvyt HC/R/Ncfsa and by usury and in profit-increase and in profit-increase
H8636-01 Proverbs 28:8 וְ/תַרְבִּ֑ית vetarebit HC/Ncfsa and increase material increase and material profit
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