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H7238

רְבוּ

rᵉbûw /reb-oo'/ Ask about this word
(Aramaic) from a root corresponding to רָבָה
increase (of dignity)
greatness, majesty.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of rᵉbûw — 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 rᵉbûw, represented by H7238, denotes greatness or majesty. It appears 5 times in 5 unique verses, exclusively within the book of Daniel. The term is rooted in the concept of an increase in dignity, signifying the impressive status and authority of a ruler or kingdom.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical context, H7238 is used to describe the immense power and status of rulers. It characterizes the greatness of King Nebuchadnezzar, which was said to have "grown, and reacheth unto heaven" Daniel 4:22. This God-given majesty was the source of his authority, causing all people to tremble before him Daniel 5:19. When Nebuchadnezzar's reason returned to him, "excellent majesty was added" unto him Daniel 4:36. The term is also applied prophetically, describing the greatness of the everlasting kingdom that will be given to the saints of the most High Daniel 7:27.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related Aramaic words clarify the concept of royal authority:

  • H1923 hădar (honour, majesty): This word often appears alongside H7238 to complete the picture of royal splendor. God gave Nebuchadnezzar not only majesty but also glory and honour Daniel 5:18.
  • H3367 yᵉqâr (glory, honour): Signifying value and dignity, this term is paired with majesty to describe the attributes of a king's reign. After his humbling, Nebuchadnezzar had glory and honour restored to his kingdom Daniel 4:36.
  • H7985 sholṭân (dominion): This term refers to the actual empire or dominion a ruler possesses. It is linked to greatness, as seen in the description of Nebuchadnezzar's rule, where his greatness grew and his dominion reached to the end of the earth Daniel 4:22.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H7238 is centered on the nature of sovereignty.

  • God-Given Authority: The majesty described by H7238 is not self-made but is explicitly a gift from God. The scripture states that "the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar a kingdom, and majesty" Daniel 5:18, establishing that ultimate sovereignty resides with God.
  • The Power of Kingship: The word quantifies the awesome power wielded by a monarch. It was "for the majesty that he gave him" that all people trembled and feared, and the king held the power of life and death Daniel 5:19.
  • Eternal Kingdom's Greatness: The concept is elevated from a temporary, earthly king to the eternal kingdom of God. The final use of the word points to the "kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom" which will be given to the saints Daniel 7:27.

Summary

In summary, H7238 provides a specific term for the overwhelming majesty associated with sovereign power in the book of Daniel. It defines the authority of an earthly king like Nebuchadnezzar while simultaneously emphasizing that this power is a divine grant. Ultimately, the word points forward, contrasting the temporary greatness of human empires with the eternal greatness of the kingdom of God.

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 5 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.

  • רְבוּתָ
  • רְבוּ
  • רְבוּתָ

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.

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

5 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.