Word Study for H7231 (רָבַב) | Strong's Concordance

râbab /raw-bab'/ Ask about this word

Roota primitive root

Meaning(compare רָבִיב); also as denominative from רְבָבָה; properly, to cast together , i.e. increase, especially in number; to multiply by the myriad

KJV usageincrease, be many(-ifold), be more, multiply, ten thousands.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of râbab — 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 râbab, represented by H7231, is a primitive root that signifies increase, particularly in number. It is used to convey concepts of becoming many, multiplying, or reaching the "ten thousands." It appears 17 times across 17 unique verses, illustrating a range of contexts from population growth to the abundance of sin or blessing.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, H7231 is applied to both positive and negative circumstances. It describes the initial multiplication of humanity on the earth Genesis 6:1. More frequently, it is used to express the overwhelming scale of trouble, sin, or opposition. The psalmist repeatedly laments that his enemies are many Psalms 25:19 or have increased Psalms 3:1. Similarly, the prophets warn that Israel's transgressions are many Jeremiah 5:6 and multiplied Isaiah 59:12. In a positive sense, it describes the manifold nature of God's creative works Psalms 104:24 and the desired blessing of flocks multiplying into the ten thousands Psalms 144:13.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide a fuller picture of the concept of multiplication and its consequences:

H7235 râbâh (to increase): This root is closely related and is used in Ecclesiastes 5:11 in direct parallel, stating that when goods increase H7235, those who eat them are also increased H7231.
H6105 ʻâtsam (to be powerful or numerous): This word is often used alongside H7231 to emphasize the strength and number of enemies. In Psalms 69:4, enemies are described as both more H7231 and mighty H6105.
H6588 peshaʻ (transgression): The multiplication of sin is a key theme. Isaiah 59:12 states, "our transgressions H6588 are multiplied H7231 before thee," directly linking the action to what is being increased.
H341 ʼôyêb (enemy): This term is frequently the subject of multiplication. The psalmist cries out about his enemies H341, noting "for they are many" H7231 and hate him with cruel hatred Psalms 25:19.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H7231 is significant, highlighting principles of scale in both human action and divine response.

The Proliferation of Sin: The word is repeatedly used to quantify the extent of human rebellion. This is not about isolated mistakes, but about backslidings H4878 that are many Jeremiah 14:7 and transgressions H6588 that are multiplied Job 35:6, showing how sin can become a pervasive, overwhelming force.
The Scale of Opposition: In the Psalms, the word gives voice to the righteous who feel outnumbered by their foes. The statement that enemies are more than the hairs of one's head Psalms 69:4 illustrates a sense of desperation and total dependence on God for deliverance against impossible odds.
The Scope of Divine Action: The term also describes the vastness of God's work and judgment. His creative works are manifold Psalms 104:24, demonstrating infinite wisdom. Conversely, the consequence of multiplied sin is that the slain of the LORD shall be many Isaiah 66:16, showing that divine judgment corresponds to the scale of the offense.

Summary

In summary, H7231 râbab is a dynamic word that conveys the concept of great increase. While it can refer to the growth of populations or the blessings of abundance, its most frequent theological use is to describe the overwhelming quantity of sin, enemies, and suffering. It serves as a powerful biblical measure, illustrating the vast difference between the manifold works of God and the multiplied transgressions of humanity.

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 verb across 22 occurrences, inflected in 6 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Qal Perfect 3rd Plural common gender 13×
Qal Infinitive Construct 3×
Qal Consecutive Perfect 3rd Plural common gender 2×
Qal Consecutive Perfect 3rd Singular Feminine 2×
Pual Participle Passive Plural Feminine Absolute 1×
Qal Perfect 3rd Singular Feminine 1×

Singular: One.
Plural: More than one.
Feminine: Feminine grammatical gender.
common gender: Either gender — the form does not distinguish.
3rd: Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Perfect: A completed act whose results continue.
Passive: The subject is acted upon.
Infinitive: The verb as a noun — "to do".
Participle: A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.
Qal: The simple, basic stem — plain action in the active voice.
Pual: The passive of the intensive (Piel) stem.
Consecutive Perfect: Perfect with vav — continues a sequence into the future.
Absolute: The independent form of a noun (not bound to another).
Construct: Bound to a following noun — "the X of…".

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 17 verses across 7 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Psalms (7 verses); never once in the other 32.

Genesis

1 Samuel

Job

Psalms

Ecclesiastes

Isaiah

Jeremiah

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, 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.