from רָבָה; a multitude; also offspring; specifically interest (on capital); greatest part, greatness, increase, multitude.
Transliteration:marbîyth
Pronunciation:mar-beeth'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew noun מַרְבִּית (marbîyth, `{{H4768}}`) derives from the verbal root רָבָה (rabah, `{{H7235}}`), which fundamentally means "to be or become many, great, or much; to increase." This foundational meaning underpins the semantic range of marbîyth. Its primary senses include:
1. **Multitude/Great Number:** Referring to a large quantity or collection of people or things.
2. **Increase/Growth:** Denoting an expansion or augmentation in general terms.
3. **Offspring/Progeny:** Specifically, an increase in descendants.
4. **Greatest Part/Majority:** Indicating the larger portion of something.
5. **Interest/Usury:** A specialized and ethically charged meaning, referring to the increase charged on a loan, often translated as "interest" or "usury." This financial connotation highlights a specific type of "increase."
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The occurrences of מַרְבִּית (marbîyth, `{{H4768}}`) in the Hebrew Bible illustrate its diverse applications, particularly in ethical and social contexts:
* **Financial Interest/Usury:** This is the most frequent and significant usage. In the Mosaic Law, marbîyth explicitly refers to the practice of charging interest on loans, which was strictly prohibited among Israelites.
* In [[Leviticus 25:37]], the command is clear: "You shall not lend him your money at interest (marbîyth) or sell him your food for profit." This prohibition aims to protect the poor and vulnerable within the covenant community, ensuring that loans are acts of charity rather than opportunities for exploitation.
* Similarly, [[Deuteronomy 23:19]] (Hebrew 23:20) states, "You shall not charge interest (marbîyth) on loans to your brother, whether interest on money or interest on food or interest on anything that may be lent for interest." This reiterates the communal ethic, distinguishing between fellow Israelites and foreigners.
* The prophets also condemn the taking of marbîyth as a sign of injustice and moral decay. [[Ezekiel 22:12]] lists it among the sins that characterize Jerusalem's corruption: "In you they take bribes to shed blood; you take interest (marbîyth) and profit, and make gain of your neighbors by extortion; and you have forgotten me, declares the Lord GOD." Here, marbîyth is linked with other exploitative practices.
* **Multitude/Crowd:** In other contexts, marbîyth retains its general meaning of a large number or collection.
* [[Ezekiel 23:42]] describes a scene of revelry: "The sound of a carefree multitude (marbîyth) was with her, and from the drunkards of the desert were brought men with Sabeans." Here, it denotes a large gathering of people, emphasizing quantity rather than ethical implications.
These occurrences demonstrate marbîyth's dual nature: a neutral descriptor of numerical increase, but more prominently, a specific term for a prohibited financial practice rooted in the concept of increase.
### Related Words & Concepts
The semantic field of מַרְבִּית (marbîyth, `{{H4768}}`) is rich, connected primarily to its root and other derivatives:
* **Root רָבָה (rabah, `{{H7235}}`):** This is the foundational verb "to be or become many, great, or much; to increase." All meanings of marbîyth flow from this core concept of multiplication and growth.
* **רֹב (rob, `{{H7230}}`):** A masculine noun also derived from רָבָה, meaning "multitude, abundance, greatness." It often functions as a close synonym for marbîyth in its sense of "multitude" or "greatness."
* **תַּרְבִּית (tarbît, `{{H8636}}`):** Another feminine noun from the same root, often appearing alongside or in parallel with marbîyth in legal texts concerning loans. It also means "increase, usury, interest," confirming the specific financial connotation. For example, [[Leviticus 25:36]] uses tarbît in the same context as marbîyth in the following verse.
* **Concepts:** The word relates to broader concepts such as:
* **Growth and Fertility:** In a positive sense, reflecting divine blessings of population growth and abundance.
* **Abundance and Prosperity:** The state of having many resources.
* **Exploitation and Injustice:** Particularly when marbîyth refers to usury, it embodies the ethical failure of taking advantage of another's need for personal gain.
* **Covenantal Ethics:** The prohibitions against marbîyth are integral to the social and economic justice mandated by the Mosaic Covenant.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of מַרְבִּית (marbîyth, `{{H4768}}`) primarily revolves around its usage concerning financial interest:
* **Divine Concern for the Vulnerable:** The strong prohibition against charging marbîyth to fellow Israelites underscores God's deep concern for the poor and marginalized within the community. Lending was to be an act of compassion and solidarity, not a commercial enterprise designed for profit. This reflects a fundamental aspect of Yahweh's character as a God who champions the cause of the oppressed.
* **Covenantal Purity and Justice:** The laws against usury were not merely economic regulations but expressions of covenantal purity and righteousness. To exploit a brother through marbîyth was to violate the spirit of the covenant, which called for mutual support and love. It was a failure to live out the implications of being God's holy people.
* **Critique of Greed and Materialism:** The prophetic denunciations of marbîyth highlight its connection to greed, avarice, and a pursuit of wealth at the expense of others. Such practices were seen as symptomatic of a society that had forgotten God and His righteous demands, leading to social decay and divine judgment.
* **Stewardship of Resources:** Implicit in the prohibition is the theological principle that all resources ultimately belong to God. Wealth and possessions are to be managed according to divine principles of justice and generosity, not merely for personal accumulation. The taking of marbîyth violated this principle, prioritizing self-interest over communal well-being and God's justice.
### Summary
מַרְבִּית (marbîyth, `{{H4768}}`) is a Hebrew noun derived from the root רָבָה (rabah, `{{H7235}}`), signifying "increase" or "multitude." While it can broadly denote a great number or offspring, its most significant and ethically charged usage in the biblical text is "interest" or "usury" charged on loans. The prohibition of marbîyth to fellow Israelites in the Mosaic Law, and its condemnation by the prophets, reveals a profound theological emphasis on social justice, compassion for the poor, and the ethical use of wealth within the covenant community. It stands as a testament to God's character as one who demands righteousness and abhors exploitation, highlighting the importance of mutual support over selfish gain.
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