Original Word: רַב
Part of Speech: Adjective; feminine; noun masculine
Transliteration: rab
Pronunciation: rahv
Phonetic Spelling: (rab)
KJV: (in) abound(-undance, -ant, -antly), captain, elder, enough, exceedingly, full, great(-ly, man, one), increase, long (enough, (time)), (do, have) many(-ifold, things, a time), ((ship-))master, mighty, more, (too, very) much, multiply(-tude), officer, often(-times), plenteous, populous, prince, process (of time), suffice(-lent)
Word Origin: [by contracted from H7231 (רָבַב - many)]

1. abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality)

in abundance, elder, enough, exceedingly, full, greatly, man, one,

By contracted from rabab; abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality) -- (in) abound(-undance, -ant, -antly), captain, elder, enough, exceedingly, full, great(-ly, man, one), increase, long (enough, (time)), (do, have) many(-ifold, things, a time), ((ship-))master, mighty, more, (too, very) much, multiply(-tude), officer, often(-times), plenteous, populous, prince, process (of time), suffice(-lent).

see HEBREW rabab

I. רַב₄₂₉ adjective much, many, great; — masculine singular absolute ׳ר Genesis 24:25+, רָ֑ב Genesis 33:9+, also רָ֛ב2Chronicles 20:2 ב֖2Chronicles 28:8, רָב֨ Ezra 10:13, etc.; construct תַב Exodus 34:6 +; feminine singular רַבָּה Numbers 11:33 +; construct רַבַּת Ezekiel 22:5 + רַבָּ֫תִי (Ges ^{§90 k 1}) Lamentations 1:1 (twice in verse); masculine plural absolute רַבִּים Exodus 23:2 (twice in verse)+, construct see II. רַב; feminine plural absolute רַבּוֺת Genesis 30:43 +; — [often both as predicate and as attributive; as attributive preceding noun (influence of usage for numerals ? Kö^{Synt.§334 k} Ges^{§ 132b}): רַב Isaiah 63:7; Psalm 145:7 (but read probably רֹב, רָבֿ; in Isaiah 21:7 ׳ר is predicate), רַבּים Jeremiah 16:16; Psalm 32:10; Psalm 89:51 (on context Bö^NÄ Bae, also Hup), Proverbs 7:26; 1 Chronicles 28:5, רַבּוֺת Nehemiah 9:28; Proverbs 31:29]; —

1 (often opposed to מְעַט)

a.-1much: of substances, gold 1 Kings 10:2; Psalm 19:11, silver (money) 2 Kings 12:11; 2Chron

b. plural many: person Exodus 5:5; Judges 8:30; Judges 9:40; 1 Kings 4:20; 1 Kings 11:1+, things Genesis 30:48; Amos 5:12; Deuteronomy 31:17 +; noun omitted רַבּוֺת Daniel 11:41 (that is, lands; read רִבּוֺת myriads Kmp Bev Behrm Marti Prince); יָמִים רֵבִּים many days (a long time) Genesis 21:34; Genesis 37:24+28 t.,שָׁנִים רַבּוֺת Nehemiah 9:30; Ecclesiastes 6:3a, אִם עוֺר רַבּוֺת בַּשָּׁנִים Leviticus 25:51; רַבּוֺת עִתִּים Nehemiah 9:28 many times (see above) =מְּעָמִים רַבּוֺת Psalm 106:43; Ecclesiastes 7:22; מַכָּה רַבָּה Deuteronomy 25:3 many blows; מַיִם רִַ׃בּים many waters Numbers 20:11+27 t., compare Isaiah 8:7; etc.

c. רַב as substantive collective person Exodus 19:21, also (opposed to מְעַט)1 Samuel 14:6; Numbers 13:18; Numbers 26:54,56; Numbers 33:54; Numbers 35:8; so רַבַּת (Ges^{§ 130a}) 2 Chronicles 30:17,18, and (thing; =much) Ezekiel 24:12; רַב construct before abstract (= רֹב) Isaiah 21:7; Isaiah 63:7; Psalm 145:7; especially plural רַבִּים of person Exodus 23:2 (twice in verse) +37 t. + בַּתרַֿבִּים Cant 7:5.

d. construct= abounding in, רַבבְּֿרֶכוֺת Proverbs 28:20, רַבחֶֿסֶר (see I. חֶסֶד 3), רַבמֹּֿךְַ Psalm 147:5, רַבמְֿאֵרוֺת Proverbs 28:27, רַב הַמְּהוּמָה Ezekiel 22:5, רַבנֿוֺצָךְ Ezekiel 17:7, רַבחֶֿעֲלִיָּה Jeremiah 32:19, רֵבמְּֿעֶלִים 2 Samuel 23:20= 1 Chronicles 11:22, רַבמָּֿ֑שַׁע Proverbs 29:22 רַבתְּֿבוּנָה Proverbs 14:29; רַבַּת אוֺצָרֹת Jeremiah 51:13, רַבַּת בָּנִים 1 Samuel 2:5 רַבָּ֫תִי עָם Lamentations 1:1 (Ges^{§ 90l}).

e. + מִן compare= more numerous than Exodus 1:9; Numbers 22:15; Joshua 10:11; Judges 16:30; 2 Kings 6:16; Isaiah 54:1; 1 Chronicles 24:4; 2Chronicles 32:7; Daniel 11:13; followed by infinitive, too many to Genesis 36:7; Judges 7:2 (compare Judges 7:4); see also following

f. רַב =abundant, enough Genesis 24:25; Genesis 33:9; as exclamation enough! Genesis 45:28; 2 Samuel 24:16; 1 Chronicles 21:15; 1 Kings 19:4, so (+ מִן infinitive) Exodus 9:28 (מִן 6d); רַבלָֿךְ (with implication of excess) Deuteronomy 3:26 (let it) suffice thee! so רַבלָֿכֶם Ezekiel 45:9, also Numbers 16:3,7= ye assume too much ! + infinitive it is enough for you to Deuteronomy 1:6; Deuteronomy 2:3 (i.e. you have done it enough), so+ מִן infinitive 1 Kings 12:23, מִן substantive Ezekiel 44:6.

g. as adverb much, exceedingly (only Psalms), רַב Psalm 123:3, ָ™רב Psalm 18:15 (Hup De Che and others; HPS^{2Samuel 22:15} conjectures רָמָה omits "" 2 Samuel 22:15); רַבָּה Psalm 62:3; Psalm 78:15; Psalm 89:8 (ᵐ5. Bae רַב הוּא ); רַבַּת (Aramaism, compare Syriac , , Nö^{§ 155} A&W^{SG 135}) Psalm 65:10; Psalm 120:6 (=long enough), Psalm 123:4; Psalm 129:1; Psalm 129:2;

2 less often great:

a. of space 1 Samuel 26:13, the deep Amos 7:4; Genesis 7:11; Isaiah 51:10; Psalm 36:7(figurative), city Lamentations 1:1 (רַ֫בָּתִי בַגּוֺיִם Ges§), — see also צִירוֺן חֲמַת; -plague Numbers 11:33, empire Esther 1:20 goodness Psalm 31:20, wickedness Genesis 6:5, etc.

b. specifically strong (opposed to אֵין כֹּחַ) 2 Chron 14:10; רַב לְהוֺשִׁיעַ Isaiah 63:1 so רַבִּים as substantive Isaiah 53:12 ("" עֲצוּמִים).

c. major natu Genesis 25:23 (opposed to צָעִיר); רַבּים as substantive grandoevi, Job 32:9.

d. + מִן compare greater than Deuteronomy 7:1,17; Deuteronomy 9:14; Deuteronomy 20:1 too great for Joshua 19:9; 1 Kings 19:7 — Proverbs 26:10 is hopelessly corrupt, see Toy.

II. רַב₄₉ noun masculine chief (Assyrian-Babylonian influence, compare rab Dl^{HWB 609 b}; Biblical Aramic רַב); — construct ׳ר Jeremiah 39:9+; plural construct רַבֵּי Jeremiah 39:13; Jeremiah 41:1 (but see below); — especially רַבֿ טַבָּחִים chief of guardsmen (see טַבָּח), only as title of Babylonian officer Jeremiah 30:9,10 15t. Jeremiah, 7 t "" 2 Kings 25 (compare ׳שַׁר הַט in Gen [J E]); also רַב הַחֹבֵל Jonah 1:6 chief of the sailors, i.e. captain; in General כָּלרַֿב בֵּיתוֺ Esther 1:8, רַבמָֿרִיסָיו Daniel 1:3 (see סָרִיס ), and so רַבֵּי מֶלֶךְ בָּבֶל Jeremiah 39:13, רַבֵּי הַמֶּלֶךְ Jeremiah 41:1 (late gloss; omitted by ᵐ5 and "" 2 Kings 25:25, so Hi Gf Gie). The following titles of Assyrian -Babylonian officers are probably loan-words in Hebrew: רַבמָֿ֑ג Jeremiah 39:3,13 usually chief soothsayer (see מָ֑ג), but = rab-mugi [? chief of princes] Pinches^{Hast. DB. BAB-MAG}; רַבסָֿרִיס (compare Old Aramaic [Nineveh] רב סרס Lzb³⁸⁶), 2 Kings 18:17 (Assyrian; not in "" Isaiah 36:2), Jeremiah 39:8,13 (Babylonian ), usually chief eunuch, but = rabû-ša-rêši, chief of the heads (the principal men) Wkl^{Unters. x.altor.Geschichte.1889, Excurs. v, p. 138} (actually found as rubû-ša-ri-ešu Pinches^{Acad June 25,1892, 618}), Pinches^{Hast.DB.RAB-SARIS}; רַבשָֿׁקֵה (van d. H. רַבְשָׁקֵה) chief of the officers (?) (so probably Assyrian rab-ŠA†; ša‡kû = high one; COT^{2Kings 18:17} KB^ii.23 Dl^{HWB 685 a} Tiele^{Bab.-As. Geschichte.497.513} Pinches^{Hast.DB.iv 191}), 2 Kings 18:17,19,26,27,37; 2 Kings 19:4,8 = Isaiah 36:2; Isaiah 36:4; Isaiah 36:11; Isaiah 36:13 (twice in verse); Isaiah 36:22; Isaiah 37:4,8;

רבב (√ of following; see Biblical Hebrew I. רבב, רַב, רִבּוֺ).

Overview of Range of Meaning

רַב (Strong 7227) functions across the Hebrew canon as an adjective, adverb, substantive, and title. It conveys ideas of multitude, abundance, greatness, intensity, and preeminence. The contexts span numerical quantity, moral and spiritual magnitude, administrative rank, and prophetic promise. Roughly four hundred sixty-two occurrences give the word a pervasive influence on the theology and narrative flow of Scripture.

Describing Quantity and Abundance

1. Countable multitudes: “Now the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD, exceedingly so” (Genesis 13:13).
2. Uncountable plenty: “The land had produced abundantly” (Genesis 41:47).
3. Longer time periods: “Israel has lived many days without a true god” (Hosea 3:4).

In each instance רַב underlines the scale—whether people, produce, or days—emphasizing the generous or excessive.

Expressing Magnitude and Greatness

Applied to strength, power, or wealth, the term draws attention to superiority. “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands” (1 Samuel 18:7); the amplified comparison turns on רַב. Likewise, “Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised” (Psalm 48:1) couples divine greatness with abundant praise.

The Majority Versus the Few

Israel’s self-understanding often pivots on contrasts between “many” and “few.” Moses reminds the nation, “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” (Deuteronomy 7:7). רַב here implies collective strength that Israel lacks in her own right, magnifying grace.

Abounding Character of God

Key covenantal formulas rely on רַב to celebrate divine mercy:
• “The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness” (Exodus 34:6).
• “The LORD is slow to anger and abounding in loving devotion” (Numbers 14:18).

The same word that measures human multitudes measures the immeasurable attributes of God, establishing a lexicon of assurance for worship and prayer (Psalm 86:5; Psalm 103:8).

Human Sin and Judgment in Great Measure

The breadth of wickedness receives equal emphasis: “The wickedness of man was great upon the earth” (Genesis 6:5); Nineveh’s “wickedness has come up before Me” (Jonah 1:2). Prophets often juxtapose abundant sin with abundant mercy, highlighting both the seriousness of judgment and the possibility of redemption (Isaiah 1:15-18).

Promise of Multiplication

The Abrahamic covenant hinges on the pledge, “I will greatly multiply your offspring” (Genesis 22:17). רַב supplies the verb or adjective for divine multiplication of seed, livestock, and blessing (Deuteronomy 28:11). The word thereby becomes a vehicle for hope, framing Israel’s population growth (Exodus 1:7) and foreshadowing the ingathering of Gentiles (Isaiah 60:5).

Messianic Overtones

Isaiah’s Servant Song uses the plural form to declare, “My righteous Servant will justify many” (Isaiah 53:11). “Many” accentuates the expansive scope of atonement without universalizing it—a term echoed by Jesus in the institution of the cup, “poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:28).

Rabbim as an Eschatological People

Daniel foresees resurrection: “Many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake” (Daniel 12:2). The “many” portrays a vast assembly entering eternal destinies. Zechariah describes “many peoples and strong nations” seeking the Lord in Jerusalem (Zechariah 8:22), linking quantity with fulfillment of prophetic pilgrimage.

Administrative and Military Titles

In several texts רַב becomes a noun meaning “chief” or “officer.” The Assyrian field commander is a “Rab-shakeh” (2 Kings 18:17). Babylonian officials—“chief of the eunuchs” (Daniel 1:3) and “chief priest” (Jeremiah 39:13)—bear titles built on the root. Within Israel, “captains of the guard” (2 Kings 25:24) carry similar nomenclature, signaling authority derived from preeminence rather than lineage.

Liturgical and Devotional Use

Psalms repeatedly employ רַב to magnify thanksgiving:
• Abundant mercy (Psalm 51:1).
• Great joy in salvation (Psalm 40:16).

Public worship thus draws vocabulary for exuberance and contrition alike from this single word.

Practical Ministry Application

1. Preaching: Contrast “many” sins with “abundant” grace (Romans 5:15 draws on the Septuagint’s use of πολὺς for רַב).
2. Counseling: Encourage believers that God’s “abundant mercy” outweighs “many transgressions.”
3. Mission: The promise of “many nations” invites global evangelism, trusting God to multiply spiritual offspring.
4. Leadership: Titles derived from רַב remind servants of Christ that true greatness is stewardship, not privilege (Mark 10:42-45).

Sample Index of Key Occurrences

Genesis 6:5; Genesis 15:1; Exodus 34:6; Numbers 14:18; Deuteronomy 7:7; Deuteronomy 28:11; Joshua 11:4; Judges 16:30; 1 Samuel 18:7; 2 Samuel 18:8; 1 Kings 8:5; 2 Kings 18:17; 1 Chronicles 11:21; 2 Chronicles 24:24; Nehemiah 9:19; Esther 8:17; Job 1:3; Psalm 5:7; Psalm 86:15; Proverbs 28:28; Ecclesiastes 5:10; Isaiah 53:11; Jeremiah 32:19; Ezekiel 16:7; Daniel 12:2; Hosea 9:7; Joel 2:13; Jonah 4:2; Micah 4:3; Zechariah 8:22; Malachi 1:11.

The pervasive reach of רַב invites readers to contemplate the exceeding breadth of both human need and divine provision, shaping a biblical worldview of abundance, responsibility, and hope.

בְ֝רַבִּ֗ים בְּרַ֖ב בְּרָב־ בָּֽרַבִּ֔ים בָרַבִּ֗ים ברב ברב־ ברבים הַבְּרָב־ הָֽרַבִּ֔ים הָֽרַבִּ֗ים הָֽרַבִּ֜ים הָרַב֙ הָרַבִּ֑ים הָרַבִּ֛ים הָרַבִּֽים׃ הָרַבִּים֩ הָרָ֑ב הָרָ֖ב הָרָ֛ב הָרָ֜ב הָרָֽב׃ הָרָב֙ הברב־ הרב הרב׃ הרבים הרבים׃ וְ֠רַבִּים וְהָ֣רַבִּ֔ים וְרַ֕ב וְרַ֖ב וְרַ֛ב וְרַ֣ב ׀ וְרַ֥ב וְרַבִּ֕ים וְרַבִּ֖ים וְרַבִּ֛ים וְרַבִּ֞ים וְרַבִּ֡ים וְרַבֵּ֨י וְרַבַּ֥ת וְרַבָּ֖ה וְרַבָּ֥ה וְרַבּ֖וֹת וְרַב־ וְרָב־ וָרָ֑ב וָרָ֖ב וָרָֽב׃ והרבים ורב ורב־ ורב׃ ורבה ורבות ורבי ורבים ורבת לְרַבִּ֑ים לְרַבִּ֣ים לָֽרַבִּ֑ים לָֽרַבִּֽים׃ לָרַ֗ב לָרַ֞ב לָרַבִּ֖ים לרב לרבים לרבים׃ מֵרַבִּֽים׃ מרבים׃ רַ֔ב רַ֖ב רַ֗ב רַ֛ב רַ֜ב רַ֝֗ב רַ֝בִּ֗ים רַ֠בַּת רַ֣ב רַ֤ב רַ֥ב רַ֭בִּים רַ֭בַּת רַ֭בּוֹת רַּב֙ רַֽב־ רַב֙ רַבִּ֑ים רַבִּ֔ים רַבִּ֕ים רַבִּ֖ים רַבִּ֗ים רַבִּ֛ים רַבִּ֜ים רַבִּ֞ים רַבִּ֣ים רַבִּ֣ים ׀ רַבִּ֤ים רַבִּ֥ים רַבִּ֥ים ׀ רַבִּ֧ים רַבִּ֨ים רַבִּֽים׃ רַבִּים֒ רַבִּים֙ רַבִּים֮ רַבֵּ֥י רַבַּ֖ת רַבַּ֣ת רַבַּ֥ת רַבַּ֬ת רַבַּת֮ רַבָּ֑ה רַבָּ֔ה רַבָּ֖ה רַבָּ֗ה רַבָּ֛ה רַבָּ֣ה רַבָּ֣תִי רַבָּ֤ה רַבָּ֥ה רַבָּֽה׃ רַבָּה֙ רַבּ֑וֹת רַבּ֔וֹת רַבּ֖וֹת רַבּ֗וֹת רַבּ֛וֹת רַבּ֜וֹת רַבּ֣וֹת רַבּ֤וֹת רַבּ֥וֹת רַבּ֨וֹת רַבּֽוֹת׃ רַבּוֹת֙ רַבּוֹת֮ רַב־ רָ֑ב רָ֑בָּה רָ֔ב רָ֕ב רָ֖ב רָ֗ב רָ֛ב רָ֝֗ב רָ֣ב רָ֭ב רָֽב׃ רָב֒ רָב֙ רָב־ רב רב־ רב׃ רבה רבה׃ רבות רבות׃ רבי רבים רבים׃ רבת רבתי bā·rab·bîm ḇā·rab·bîm barabBim bārabbîm ḇārabbîm bə·raḇ bə·rāḇ- ḇə·rab·bîm bəraḇ bərāḇ- ḇərabbîm beRav berov hā·raḇ hā·rāḇ hā·rab·bîm hab·bə·rāḇ- habbərāḇ- habberov hāraḇ hārāḇ harabBim hārabbîm haRav lā·raḇ lā·rab·bîm lāraḇ LarabBim lārabbîm laRav lə·rab·bîm lerabBim lərabbîm mê·rab·bîm merabBim mêrabbîm raḇ rāḇ raḇ- rāḇ- rab·bā·ṯî rab·bāh rāb·bāh rab·baṯ rab·bê rab·bîm rab·bō·wṯ rabBah rabbāh rābbāh rabBat rabbaṯ rabBati rabbāṯî rabbê rabBei rabBim rabbîm rabBot rabbōwṯ Rav rov varabBim vaRav veHarabBim verabBah verabBat verabBei Verabbim verabBot veRav verov wā·rāḇ wārāḇ wə·hā·rab·bîm wə·raḇ wə·raḇ- wə·rāḇ- wə·rab·bāh wə·rab·baṯ wə·rab·bê wə·rab·bîm wə·rab·bō·wṯ wəhārabbîm wəraḇ wəraḇ- wərāḇ- wərabbāh wərabbaṯ wərabbê wərabbîm wərabbōwṯInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts