English · KJV
H7242

רָבִיד

râbîyd /raw-beed'/ Ask about this word
Rootfrom רָבַד
Meaninga collar (as spread around the neck)
KJV usagechain.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of râbîyd — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word râbîyd, represented by H7242, refers to a chain or collar. It appears 2 times in 2 unique verses in the Bible. The definition, "a collar (as spread around the neck); chain," suggests an item of adornment or a symbol of status bestowed upon an individual.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H7242 is used to signify honor and adornment in contexts of significant elevation. In one instance, Pharaoh H6547 bestows a gold H2091 chain upon Joseph's H3130 neck H6677 as part of his appointment to a place of great authority, along with a ring H2885 and vestures H899 of fine linen H8336 Genesis 41:42. In another context, the word is used metaphorically by God to describe how He decked H5710 Jerusalem with ornaments H5716, putting H5414 a chain on her neck as a sign of favor and beauty Ezekiel 16:11.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the meaning and context of the chain:

  • H2091 zâhâb (gold, figuratively, something gold-colored): The chain given to Joseph is explicitly a gold chain, linking this precious metal directly to the high honor signified by the ornament Genesis 41:42.
  • H6677 tsavvâʼr (the back of the neck): This word specifies the location where the chain is placed, emphasizing its visibility as a mark of honor around the neck H6677 Genesis 41:42.
  • H5716 ʻădîy (finery; generally an outfit; specifically, a headstall; ornament): This term categorizes the chain as a type of ornament. In Ezekiel, God uses it to describe His beautification of Jerusalem, which included the chain Ezekiel 16:11.
  • H6781 tsâmîyd (a bracelet or arm-clasp): Mentioned alongside the chain in Ezekiel's prophecy, bracelets are another form of adornment used to signify God's favor and blessing upon Jerusalem Ezekiel 16:11.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H7242 is seen in its symbolic representation of conferred dignity and favor.

  • Symbol of Honor and Authority: The chain is not merely decorative; it is a powerful symbol of elevated status. Pharaoh bestows it upon Joseph to publicly mark his appointment as second-in-command over Egypt Genesis 41:42.
  • Metaphor for Divine Favor: God uses the image of putting a chain on Jerusalem's neck to illustrate His lavish blessing and the beauty He bestowed upon His chosen people, transforming them from a state of being naked and bare Ezekiel 16:11.
  • Sign of Bestowed Value: The chain is consistently associated with being given H5414 by a higher authority (Pharaoh, God) to a recipient. This act of giving signifies that the recipient's value and position are conferred upon them (Genesis 41:42, Ezekiel 16:11).

Summary

In summary, H7242 râbîyd, while rare in scripture, carries significant weight in its two appearances. It functions as a clear and visible symbol of high honor and conferred authority. Whether given by a king like Pharaoh to elevate a faithful servant or used by God to describe His own gracious adornment of His people, the chain signifies a public declaration of a new, honored status.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 2 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • רָבִיד
  • רְבִד

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H6547 פַּרְעֹה of Egyptian derivation; Paroh, a general title of Egyptian kings; Pharaoh. H2091 זָהָב from an unused root meaning to shimmer; gold, figuratively, something gold-colored (i.e. yellow), as oil, a clear sky; g H3130 יוֹסֵף future of יָסַף; let him add (or perhaps simply active participle adding); Joseph, the name of seven Israelites; Joseph. H6677 צַוָּאר or צַוָּר; (Nehemiah 3:5), or צַוָּרֹןlemma צַוָּרן missing vowel, corrected to צַוָּרֹן; (Song of Solomon 4:9), or (fem H2885 טַבַּעַת from טָבַע; properly, a seal (as sunk into the wax), i.e. signet (for sealing); hence (generally) a ring of any kind; ri H899 בֶּגֶד from בָּגַד; a covering, i.e. clothing; also treachery or pillage; apparel, cloth(-es, ing), garment, lap, rag, raiment,

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 2 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Genesis and Ezekiel (1 verse each); never once in the other 37.

1
Genesis
1
Ezekiel

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.