The Hebrew word râbâh, represented by H7235, is a primitive root that broadly signifies to increase in any respect. It appears 227 times across 211 unique verses in the Bible, highlighting its importance. Its meaning encompasses concepts like making something more numerous, enlarging, becoming great, or bringing in abundance.
Beyond simple enumeration, H7235 often carries an intensive force, particularly in the Piel and Hiphil conjugations, or when coupled with adverbial modifiers. This emphasizes not merely an increase, but a great or exceeding increase. For instance, God's promise to Abraham in Genesis 22:17, "in multiplying I will multiply thy seed," utilizes the infinitive absolute with the Hiphil verb, underscoring the absolute certainty and immense scale of the promised increase. This intensive usage highlights a divine act of superabundant provision or, conversely, a profound severity in judgment. The word thus captures both quantitative growth and a qualitative measure of magnitude, whether in blessing or in affliction.
H7235 can describe an increase that is not necessarily positive, sometimes denoting an excess or an undesirable proliferation. While it frequently signifies God's blessing, it also appears in contexts where human actions lead to an increase of negative elements. For example, the legal injunctions in Deuteronomy caution kings not to "multiply horses to himself" or "multiply wives to himself," nor to "greatly multiply to himself silver and gold" Deuteronomy 17:16-17. Here, H7235 points to an accumulation that is excessive, potentially leading to spiritual deviation or corruption. This nuanced application demonstrates the word's capacity to articulate growth within moral and ethical frameworks, where "more" is not always "better."
In the biblical narrative, H7235 is frequently used to describe God's covenantal promises of blessing. God repeatedly vows to multiply the descendants of the patriarchs, promising Abraham, "in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven" Genesis 22:17, and later reaffirming this to Isaac Genesis 26:24 and Jacob Genesis 35:11. The concept is foundational, appearing in the initial command to humanity to "Be fruitful, and multiply" Genesis 1:28. Conversely, the term can denote negative growth, such as God's declaration to Eve, "I will greatly multiply thy sorrow" Genesis 3:16, or the sorrows that are multiplied for those who follow other gods Psalms 16:4. It is also used to describe an increase in authority or knowledge (Proverbs 29:2, Daniel 12:4).
The semantic range of H7235 extends significantly to the increase of material possessions, wealth, and military strength, reflecting the tangible outcomes of blessing or successful human endeavor. Kings and nations are described as having their resources H7235ed, such as Hezekiah, who "had exceeding much riches and honour" 2 Chronicles 32:27, or King David, who took "exceeding much brass" from conquered cities 2 Samuel 8:8 and "great abundance" of spoil 2 Samuel 12:30. This usage often highlights divine favor and prosperity, as seen in the promise that "thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied" Deuteronomy 8:13. Similarly, the multiplication of livestock, like the "exceeding many flocks and herds" of the rich man in Nathan's parable 2 Samuel 12:2, or the cattle of the children of Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh that "multiplied in the land of Gilead" 1 Chronicles 5:9, demonstrates the word's application to agricultural and pastoral abundance.
Conversely, H7235 is frequently employed to describe the proliferation of sin, wickedness, and the resulting judgment or sorrow. Prophets use it to condemn Israel's spiritual decline, as when Ephraim "hath made many altars to sin" Hosea 8:11 or when Judah "hath multiplied fenced cities" in reliance on human strength rather than God Hosea 8:14. The prophet Hosea further laments that Ephraim "daily increaseth lies and desolation" Hosea 12:1. Ezekiel repeatedly uses H7235 to indict Jerusalem for its "multiplied whoredoms" and "abominations" Ezekiel 16:25, 26, 29, 51. This negative usage underscores a theological principle where unchecked disobedience leads to an exponential growth of evil and its destructive consequences, such as the multiplication of "slain in this city" Ezekiel 11:6 or "innocent blood very much" shed by Manasseh 2 Kings 21:16.
Several related words expand upon the concept of increase and abundance:
- H6509 pârâh (to bear fruit): This word is often used in parallel with H7235 to express fertility and productive growth, as in the command to be fruitful and multiply Genesis 1:28.
- H1431 gâdal (to become great): While H7235 often refers to numerical increase, H1431 emphasizes growth in size, status, or significance. It can describe a person who has increased and waxen great Ezekiel 16:7.
- H4591 mâʻaṭ (to diminish): As a direct opposite, this term highlights the theme of increase by contrast. God promises to multiply His people so they will not be few Jeremiah 30:19.
- H7230 rôb (abundance): This noun, derived from the same root, often describes the multitude or abundance that results from the action of H7235 Hosea 10:1.
- H7227 rab (much, many): This adjective, directly related to H7235, describes the state of being numerous, great, or abundant, representing the outcome or characteristic of something that has been H7235ed.
- H7233 rᵉbâbâh (ten thousand, myriad): This noun denotes a large numerical quantity, specifically ten thousand, illustrating the immense scale of multiplication that H7235 can convey, often in contexts of large populations or military hosts.
The theological weight of H7235 is significant, revealing key aspects of God's character and his relationship with humanity.
- Covenant Faithfulness: The promise to multiply is a cornerstone of God's covenant with His people. It serves as a tangible sign of His blessing and faithfulness, from the patriarchs Genesis 17:2 to the restored nation Ezekiel 36:11. Obedience is linked to this blessing of multiplication Deuteronomy 30:16.
- Divine Sovereignty over Growth: The Bible presents God as the ultimate source of all increase. He multiplies nations Isaiah 9:3, gives strength Isaiah 40:29, and grants wisdom 1 Kings 4:29. This sovereignty also extends to judgment, where He can multiply sorrows Genesis 3:16 or bring an end to increase Haggai 1:9.
- Spiritual Abundance: The meaning of H7235 transcends physical or numerical growth. It is used to describe the immense nature of God's grace, such as His capacity to abundantly pardon Isaiah 55:7 and the plenteous redemption found in Him Psalms 130:7.
- The Proliferation of Sin and Judgment: H7235 vividly illustrates how sin, once introduced, tends to H7235 or grow exponentially, leading to compounded transgression and intensified divine judgment. This is seen in Amos's sarcastic command to "at Gilgal multiply transgression" Amos 4:4, or Job's lament that God "multiplieth my wounds without cause" Job 9:17 and "increasest thine indignation upon me" Job 10:17. The theological implication is that sin is not static but dynamic, spreading and deepening its destructive impact, necessitating God's intervention in judgment.
- The Exaltation of Wisdom and Righteousness: In contrast to the negative multiplication of sin, H7235 also highlights the positive, life-affirming increase that comes through wisdom and righteous governance. Proverbs states, "by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased" Proverbs 9:11, directly linking wisdom with an abundance of life. Moreover, when the "righteous are in authority, the people rejoice" Proverbs 29:2, implying a multiplication of well-being and blessing. This theme underscores a core biblical principle: adherence to God's wisdom and justice leads to a flourishing life, both individually and corporately.
The Hebrew verb H7235 (râbâh) is a fundamental term in the Old Testament, denoting a dynamic process of increase in its myriad forms. From the initial divine imperative for creation to "be fruitful, and multiply" Genesis 1:28, to the foundational covenant promises of multiplying descendants "as the stars of heaven" Genesis 22:17, H7235 establishes God as the sovereign source of all life and growth. Its usage extends beyond mere numerical expansion to encompass qualitative growth, often intensified to signify "greatly" or "exceedingly," whether in blessing or in judgment. The word captures the progression from scarcity to abundance, from few to many, and from small to great, reflecting both natural processes and supernatural interventions.
This lexicon entry has further illuminated H7235's versatility, demonstrating its application to the proliferation of material wealth and resources, such as multiplied cattle, silver, gold, and spoils of war, which often serve as tangible signs of divine favor and human prosperity. Conversely, it starkly portrays the insidious growth of sin and wickedness within humanity, where transgressions, whoredoms, and abominations are seen to H7235 exponentially, leading to intensified divine indignation and judgment. This dual capacity underscores a profound theological principle: God's sovereignty extends over both the blessings of increase and the painful consequences of multiplied disobedience.
Ultimately, H7235 serves as a powerful descriptor of God's character and His interaction with creation. It reveals a God who is faithful to His covenant promises, capable of multiplying nations and individual lives beyond measure. Yet, it also portrays His justice, as He allows or orchestrates the multiplication of sorrow and the consequences of sin. The choice presented to humanity is clear: to pursue wisdom and righteousness, which multiply days and bring joy, or to embrace folly and transgression, which inevitably multiply vanity, sorrow, and desolation. Thus, H7235 is far more than a mathematical term; it is a theological lens through which to understand the dynamic, unfolding narrative of God's relationship with His world.
TRV