Hebrew word · H3401

יָרִיב

yerivai

opponent

A rare noun from the root ryb/rib: to quarrel, dispute, bring a case, contend at law. A yariv is an opponent in a dispute, often in a legal setting: an adversary or accuser.

Appears 3 times in 3 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

contender, opponent, adversary

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Jeremiah 18:19

Range of meaning

A rare noun from the root ryb/rib: to quarrel, dispute, bring a case, contend at law. A yariv is an opponent in a dispute, often in a legal setting: an adversary or accuser.

Against the English

KJV/WEB "them that contend with me" is accurate, but to a modern ear "contend" can sound like a general quarrel. BSB's "accusers" brings out the legal side well. ESV's "adversaries" sits in between.

How it drifted

In older English, "contend" commonly meant to argue a case or strive against someone. Today it mostly means "claim" or "compete," so the courtroom picture fades.

Used elsewhere in the period

Ps 35:1: "Contend (riva), O LORD, with those who contend with me (yerivai)", the same word in a lament that also asks God to act as advocate. Isa 49:25: "I will contend with the one who contends with you (yerivekh)." The root rib is also used for God's own covenant "lawsuit" against Israel (Jer 2:9; Hos 4:1; Mic 6:1–2), and Jeremiah himself is called "a man of strife (rib)" in Jer 15:10.

From the study of Psalm 35:1

Range of meaning

Opponent in a dispute, adversary, especially one's opponent in a legal case. A rare noun: Ps 35:1; Isa 49:25; Jer 18:19.

Against the English

'Opponents' (BSB) is correct but breaks the sound link with the verb. 'Those who contend with me' (WEB, ESV, NIV, NASB) and 'my strivers' (YLT) keep the echo.

Used elsewhere in the period

Isa 49:25 has the same play on the root, with God as speaker: 'I will contend with the one who contends with you (wəʾeṯ-yərîḇēḵ ʾānōḵî ʾārîḇ).' Jer 18:19: 'listen to the voice of my adversaries (yərîḇāy).' The same form also occurs as a personal name, Jarib (1 Chr 4:24; Ezra 8:16).

Where it appears

Psalms · 1

  1. Psalm 35:1 יְרִיבַ֑י opponents my

    Of David. Contend with my opponents, O LORD; fight against those who fight against me.

    Here: 'My contenders.' The noun comes from the same root as the verb just before it, so the line rings: 'contend with my contenders.' These are the people bringing a case or accusation against the psalmist. Verse 11 calls them 'malicious witnesses'.

Isaiah · 1

  1. Isaiah 49:25 יְרִיבֵךְ֙ opponent your

    Indeed, this is what the LORD says: “Even the captives of the mighty will be taken away, and the plunder of the tyrant will be retrieved; I will contend with those who contend with you, and I will save your children.

    Here: 'Your adversary.' The 'your' is feminine singular, so the one addressed is Zion, pictured as a woman. The word belongs to the vocabulary of legal disputes: the other party in a case against you.

Jeremiah · 1

  1. Jeremiah 18:19 יְרִיבָֽי׃ opponents my

    Attend to me, O LORD. Hear what my accusers are saying!

    Here: "My opponents." From the root riv, a dispute or lawsuit, so this is someone on the other side of a case, an accuser. The scene is a courtroom: the other side has spoken, and Jeremiah asks the Judge to take note.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.