Word Study for H7260 (רַבְרַב)

rabrab /rab-rab'/ Ask about this word

Root(Aramaic) from רַב

Meaninghuge (in size); domineering (in character)

KJV usage(very) great (things).

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of rabrab — 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 Aramaic word rabrab, represented by H7260, is derived from רַב and is used to describe something huge in size, domineering in character, or simply very great. It appears 8 times across 8 unique verses, with all occurrences found in the book of Daniel, where it signifies immense scale and importance.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H7260 is used to contrast divine power with earthly might. It describes the "great" signs of God, showcasing His supreme authority Daniel 4:3. In Daniel's visions, the term is applied to the formidable empires represented as "four great beasts" that rise from the sea (Daniel 7:3, Daniel 7:17). It also characterizes the terrifying fourth beast, which has "great iron teeth" Daniel 7:7. The word is further used to describe the arrogant and blasphemous words spoken by the little horn, referred to as "great things" (Daniel 7:8, Daniel 7:11) and "very great things" Daniel 7:20. On a personal level, it is used to describe the "great gifts" bestowed upon Daniel by King Nebuchadnezzar Daniel 2:48.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related Aramaic words provide additional context for understanding concepts of greatness, power, and dominion:

H7229 rab (great): A corresponding word meaning abundant, chief, or great. It is used to describe God as the "great God" who reveals future events Daniel 2:45.
H7690 saggîyʼ (many): This word signifies a large quantity or number. It appears alongside H7260 when describing the "many great gifts" given to Daniel Daniel 2:48.
H8624 taqqîyph (mighty, strong): This term denotes power. God's wonders are described as "mighty" Daniel 4:3, and the fourth beast is characterized as exceedingly "strong" Daniel 7:7.
H4101 mâh (how great): Often used as an interrogative, this word can also be an exclamation expressing awe. It is used to declare "How great" are God's signs Daniel 4:3.
H4437 malkûw (kingdom): This word refers to a dominion, realm, or reign. It is used to describe God's eternal "kingdom" in the same passage that praises His "great" signs Daniel 4:3.

Theological Significance

The thematic weight of H7260 is significant within the prophetic context of Daniel. It serves to frame the conflict between heavenly and earthly powers.

Divine vs. Human Power: The word is applied to both God's "great" works and the "great" boasts of arrogant earthly powers. This direct comparison highlights the difference between the enduring greatness of God and the prideful, transient power of human empires (Daniel 4:3, Daniel 7:8).
Prophetic Imagery: Its use in describing the "great beasts" and their features, like "great iron teeth," conveys the terrifying scope and destructive capacity of the kingdoms they symbolize in Daniel's visions (Daniel 7:3, Daniel 7:7).
Arrogant Speech: The term specifically characterizes the words of the little horn as "great things," emphasizing its hubris and rebellion against God (Daniel 7:11, Daniel 7:20).

Summary

In summary, H7260 is a powerful descriptor used exclusively in Daniel to convey a sense of immense scale, might, and significance. It functions to build a narrative of cosmic conflict, contrasting the magnificent and "great" works of God with the "great" but ultimately judged power and arrogance of worldly kingdoms. The word effectively captures the awe-inspiring nature of both divine wonders and the formidable beasts of prophetic vision.

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 an adjective across 8 occurrences, inflected in 3 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.

רַבְרְבָן
רַבְרְבָתָ
רַבְרְבִין

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

8 verses, all in Daniel — and none of the other 38 Old Testament books.

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.