Hebrew word · H7231

רָבַב

verabah

to multiply

To be or become many, numerous, great. It is used of people multiplying (Gen 6:1 uses the related rābâ), of large herds, and of sins multiplying (Ps 25:19 uses it of enemies; Isa 59:12 of transgressions).

Appears 21 times in 21 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

1) to be or become many, be or become much, be or become great

1a)(Qal)

1a1) to be or become many

1a2) to be or become great

1a3) to be long (of journey)

2) (Pual) ten thousands

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 Genesis 18:20

Range of meaning

To be or become many, numerous, great. It is used of people multiplying (Gen 6:1 uses the related rābâ), of large herds, and of sins multiplying (Ps 25:19 uses it of enemies; Isa 59:12 of transgressions).

Against the English

English 'is great' gives size but loses the sense of number and growth. The verb suggests the cry has become great by adding up, more and more voices over time.

Used elsewhere in the period

The Septuagint renders it πεπλήθυνται, 'has been multiplied', which keeps the sense of number. The Vulgate likewise has multiplicatus est. Gen 19:13 restates it with gādlâ, 'has grown great before Yahweh'.

From the study of Deuteronomy 7:7

Range of meaning

To be many, become numerous, multiply. The related noun rov means "abundance, multitude, great number". In this period it is the standard vocabulary of national size and strength. Many people meant many soldiers, much labour, a great nation.

Against the English

BSB and NIV have "more numerous", and KJV, NASB, WEB and ESV "more in number". These are accurate. The causal force of the prefix mi- ("from, because of") is preserved by "because" in all of them.

Used elsewhere in the period

Deuteronomy 7:1 uses the related adjective rabbim when it describes the seven nations as "more numerous (rabbim) and stronger than you". 7:17 has Israel saying, "these nations are more numerous (rabbim) than I". Deut 1:10 and 10:22 claim God has made Israel "as numerous as the stars", a fulfilment of the promise to Abraham (Gen 15:5).

From the study of Exodus 23:29

Range of meaning

To be or become many, numerous or great. It is close to the more common rabah ('multiply'). With 'al ('upon/against') it can mean 'be too many for, overwhelm.'

Against the English

'Multiply against you' (KJV, BSB, WEB, ESV) keeps the hostile preposition. NIV's 'too numerous for you' and NASB's similar wording bring out the 'beyond your control' sense. Both readings are fair.

Used elsewhere in the period

Compare Deut 7:22: 'lest the beasts of the field increase upon you,' which uses the more common rabah with 'al. The sense is the same.

Where it appears

Genesis · 2

  1. Genesis 6:1 לָרֹ֖ב to become numerous

    Now when men began to multiply on the face of the earth and daughters were born to them,

  2. Genesis 18:20 רָ֑בָּה it is great

    Then the LORD said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great. Because their sin is so grievous,

    Here: 'It has grown great.' The verb describes something swelling in size and number, so the cry is loud and also multiplying, many voices piling up. The accent on the first syllable marks it as a verb ('has become great') and not just an adjective.

Exodus · 1

  1. Exodus 23:29 וְרַבָּ֥ה and it will become many

    I will not drive them out before you in a single year; otherwise the land would become desolate and wild animals would multiply against you.

    Here: 'And [it] would become many.' This continues the 'lest' clause. Animal numbers grow to fill the space that people have left empty.

Deuteronomy · 1

  1. Deuteronomy 7:7 מֵֽרֻבְּכֶ֞ם because were numerous you

    The LORD did not set His affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than the other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples.

    Here: The prefix mi- ("from") here means "because of". The whole word means "because of your being many" or "on account of your great numbers". It is the motive being ruled out.

1 Samuel · 1

  1. 1 Samuel 25:10 רַבּ֣וּ they are many

    But Nabal asked them, “Who is David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants these days are breaking away from their masters.

    Here: “They have become many” (a completed action with a present result). The point is that runaways are common now, and David is just one more.

Job · 1

  1. Job 35:6 וְרַבּ֥וּ and they have been many

    If you sin, what do you accomplish against Him? If you multiply your transgressions, what do you do to Him?

Psalms · 7

  1. Psalm 3:1 רַבּ֣וּ they are many

    A Psalm of David, when he fled from his son Absalom. O LORD, how my foes have increased! How many rise up against me!

    Here: "They have become many." The Hebrew past form describes a state that has been reached: the numbers have grown and now stand that high. It starts a drumbeat of the root r-b ("many") that sounds again in the next word but one and again in verse 2.

  2. Psalm 4:7 רָֽבּוּ׃ they abound

    You have filled my heart with more joy than when grain and new wine abound.

    Here: "They are many / have multiplied." It comes from the same root as rabbîm, "many" (people), at the start of v. 6. The "many" want their crops to be "many," and the psalmist's joy goes beyond even that.

  3. Psalm 25:19 רָ֑בּוּ they have become many

    Consider my enemies, for they are many, and they hate me with vicious hatred.

  4. Psalm 38:19 וְרַבּ֖וּ and they are many

    Many are my enemies without cause, and many hate me without reason.

    Here: "And they are many / have multiplied." The same pair of verbs (be mighty and be many) describes Israel growing in Egypt in Exodus 1:7, 9. Here it describes the enemies piling up.

  5. Psalm 69:4 רַבּ֤וּ׀ they are many

    Those who hate me without cause outnumber the hairs of my head; many are those who would destroy me—my enemies for no reason. Though I did not steal, I must repay.

    Here: 'They are many' or 'they outnumber'. The verb comes first for emphasis: what hits the speaker first is how many of them there are.

  6. Psalm 104:24 רַבּ֬וּ they are many

    How many are Your works, O LORD! In wisdom You have made them all; the earth is full of Your creatures.

    Here: 'They are many' (a verb describing a state, so it reads as present: 'are many'). The root covers both number and greatness; with 'beyond number' following in v. 25, 'many' is the main sense, though 'great' is in the background (compare Ps 92:5, 'How great are your works').

  7. Psalm 144:13 מְרֻבָּב֗וֹת producing ten thousands

    Our storehouses will be full, supplying all manner of produce; our flocks will bring forth thousands, tens of thousands in our fields.

    Here: 'Made into ten-thousands,' a passive form built from revavah, 'myriad.' It steps the number up and probably hints that the increase is something done to the flock, that is, given by God.

Ecclesiastes · 1

  1. Ecclesiastes 5:11 רַבּ֖וּ they increase

    When good things increase, so do those who consume them; what then is the profit to the owner, except to behold them with his eyes?

Isaiah · 4

  1. Isaiah 6:12 וְרַבָּ֥ה and it will become great

    until the LORD has driven men far away and the land is utterly forsaken.

  2. Isaiah 22:9 רָ֑בּוּ they were many

    You saw that there were many breaches in the walls of the City of David. You collected water from the lower pool.

  3. Isaiah 59:12 רַבּ֤וּ they are many

    For our transgressions are multiplied before You, and our sins testify against us. Our transgressions are indeed with us, and we know our iniquities:

    Here: A completed-state verb: 'they have become many / they are many'. It points to a total that has piled up over time, not to one incident.

  4. Isaiah 66:16 וְרַבּ֖וּ and they will be many

    For by fire and by His sword, the LORD will execute judgment on all flesh, and many will be slain by the LORD.

    Here: A perfect verb with "and" in front. In a sequence about the future this form reads as future: "and they will be many". It is a sober comment on how large the result will be. YLT's "have been" is too wooden a rendering.

Jeremiah · 3

  1. Jeremiah 5:6 רַבּוּ֙ they are many

    Therefore a lion from the forest will strike them down, a wolf from the desert will ravage them. A leopard will lie in wait near their cities, and everyone who ventures out will be torn to pieces. For their rebellious acts are many, and their unfaithful deeds are numerous.

    Here: 'They are many': the rebellions are not a single lapse but have piled up.

  2. Jeremiah 14:7 רַבּ֥וּ they are many

    Although our iniquities testify against us, O LORD, act for the sake of Your name. Indeed, our rebellions are many; we have sinned against You.

    Here: "Have become many." The admission is not one lapse but an accumulated pile.

  3. Jeremiah 46:23 רַבּוּ֙ they will be many

    They will chop down her forest, declares the LORD, dense though it may be, for they are more numerous than locusts; they cannot be counted.

    Here: 'They are many': the attacking host outnumbers everything. The verb sounds like the word for locust that follows (rabbû mēʾarbeh), a sound-play that piles up the sense of multitude.

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