H7235a H7235a
To be or become many, multiply, increase; (Hifil) to make many, cause to multiply; (adverbially) much, greatly, exceedingly
The Hebrew verb of abundance and increase, anchoring the creation mandate 'be fruitful and multiply' (Gen 1:22, 28) and reverberating through patriarchal promises, population narratives, and wisdom reflections. Its Qal stem describes organic growth — things becoming numerous on their own — while its Hifil causative attributes multiplication to a divine or human agent. Remarkably, the Hifil infinitive absolute was grammaticalized into a pure adverb meaning 'much' or 'exceedingly' (Gen 15:1), a pathway Arabic parallels with kathiran. The Piel extends into child-rearing (Ezek 19:2) and territorial magnification (2 Sam 22:36), revealing that rabah encompasses qualitative greatness alongside quantitative increase.
Senses
1. make many, cause to multiply (Hifil) — Hifil causative, the most frequent sense (100x): to make many, cause to multiply, increase something in number. Arabic akthara and Korean manhi hada capture the causative agency. God's promise 'I will greatly multiply your offspring' (Gen 16:10; 17:2; 22:17) makes this the verb of covenant population blessing par excellence. 100×
AR["أُكثِرُ","أُكَثِّرُ","أُكَثِّرُهُمْ","وَ-أَكْثَرْتِ","وَ-أُكَثِّرُ","وَأَكْثَرْتِ","وَأُكَثِّرُ","وَأُكَثِّرُهُ","وَأُكَثِّرُهُمْ"]·ben["-এবং-তুমি-বাড়িয়েছ","আমি-বৃদ্ধি-করব","আর-বাড়িয়ে-দিলে","আর-বৃদ্ধি-করব","এবং-বৃদ্ধি-করব","ও-বহুগুণে-করব","বাড়াব","বৃদ্ধি-করব"]·DE["Heuschrecke","ich-wird-vermehren","und-ich-wird-vermehren","und-mehren","und-mehren-will-ich","und-vermehren","und-will-mehren","vermehren","will-ich-mehren"]·EN["I-will-multiply","and-I-will-multiply","and-you-multiplied"]·FR["Je---multiplier","et-Je---multiplier","et-multiplier","multiplier"]·heb["ארבה","ו-הרביתי","ו-רבה","ו-תרבי","רבה"]·HI["और-तूने-बढ़ाए","और-बढ़ाया-तूने","और-बधओनग","और-बहुत-करूँगा","और-मैं-बढ़ाऊँगा","और-मैं-बहुत-करूँगा","दिनों-को","बढ़ाऊंगा","बढ़ाऊंगा-मैं","बहुत-करूँगा","मैं-बढ़ाऊँगा","मैं-बहुत-करूँगा","मैन-बधओनग"]·ID["Aku-akan-memperbanyak","Aku-memperbanyak","akan-Kubuat-banyak","aku akan memperbanyak","dan-Aku-akan-melipatgandakan","dan-Aku-akan-memperbanyak","dan-Aku-memperbanyak","dan-engkau-memperbanyak"]·IT["e-io-will-moltiplicare","e-moltiplicare","io-will-moltiplicare","moltiplicare"]·jav["Ingsun-nambahi","Kawula-badhé-nambahi","Kawula-badhé-nganakaken","Kula-badhe-nambahi","Kula-badhé-nambahi","Lan-Kawula-badhé-nganakaken","kula-badhe-nambahi","lan-Ingsun-nambahi","lan-Kula-badhé-kathahaken","lan-Kula-badhé-nambahi","lan-nganakaken","lan-panjenengan-nambahi"]·KO["그리고-내가-많게-하리라","그리고-너는-많게-하였다","그리고-많게-하리라","그리고-많이-했다","그리고-번성하게하겠다","그리고-불리겠다","내가-많게-하리라","내가-불리겠다","많게-하겠다","많게-하리라","불리겠다"]·PT["E-multiplicarei","Multiplicarei","e-multiplicarei","e-multiplicaste","multiplicarei"]·RU["и-умножала","и-умножила-ты","и-умножу","умножу"]·ES["Multiplicaré","Y-multiplicaré","multiplicaré","y-lo-multiplicaré,","y-los-multiplicaré","y-multiplicaré","y-multiplicaste"]·SW["Na-nitaongeza","Na-nitazidisha","na-nitaiongeza","na-nitakuzidisha","na-nitamzidisha","na-nitazidisha","na-ukaongeza","na-ukazidisha","nitaongeza","nitawaongeza","nitazidisha"]·TR["Ve-çoğaltacağım","ve-coagaltin","ve-çoğaltacağım","ve-çoğalttın","çoğaltacağım"]·urd["اور-بڑھاؤں-گا","اور-بڑھاؤں-گا-میں","اور-بڑھایا","اور-تُو-نے-بڑھائی","بڑھاؤں گا","بڑھاؤں-گا","بڑھاؤں-گا-میں","میں-بڑھاؤں-گا"]
2. much, greatly, exceedingly (adverbial) — Adverbial usage via Hifil infinitive absolute (60x): functioning as an intensifier meaning 'much, greatly, exceedingly.' Arabic kathiran and Korean manhi/simhi parallel this grammaticalized shift from verb to adverb. 'Your reward shall be very great' (Gen 15:1) and 'he gathered much' (Exod 16:17) show the construction modifying diverse predicates without any sense of numerical multiplication. 60×
AR["أَكْثَرَ","الحُكْمِ","الغِنَى","كَانَتْ","كَثيراً","كَثيرَةً","كَثِيرًا","كَثِيرٌ","كَثِيرٍ","كَثِيرَةً","كَثِيرَةٌ","هَرْبِّيه","هُوَ-"]·ben["অতিরিক্ত","অত্যন্ত","অনেক","বহু"]·DE["exceedingly","sehr-viel","vermehrte","viel"]·EN["exceedingly","many","more","much","very"]·FR["beaucoup","excessivement","multiplier","très"]·heb["הרבה","הרבות","רבה"]·HI["बहुत","बहुत-है","हर्बेह"]·ID["banyak","lebih-banyak","sangat","sangat-banyak"]·IT["moltiplicare","molto","oltremodo"]·jav["ageng","kathah","langkung-kathah"]·KO["많고","많은","많음","많이","매우","심히"]·PT["muita","muitas","muito","muito-mais","muitos"]·RU["больше","многая","многая,","многие,","многие;","многий","много","многого.","многую"]·ES["mucha","muchas","mucho","muchos"]·SW["harbeּh","mengi","mingi","ni-kubwa","ni-nyingi","nyingi","sana","wengi","zaidi"]·TR["cok","çok","çok-çok"]·urd["بہت","زیادہ"]
Gen 3:16, Gen 15:1, Gen 16:10, Gen 41:49, Exod 16:17, Exod 16:18, Deut 3:5, Josh 13:1, Josh 22:8, 1 Sam 26:21, 2 Sam 1:4, 2 Sam 8:8 (+38 more)
3. be/become many, multiply (Qal) — Qal intransitive (52x): to become many, multiply, increase on one's own. Arabic kathura and Swahili -ongezeka render the spontaneous growth. The creation narrative's 'and they multiplied' (Gen 7:17–18; 8:17) and Israel's demographic explosion in Egypt (Exod 1:20) illustrate populations growing without an expressed causative agent. 52×
AR["العَامِلِ","بِ-كَثْرَةِ","تَكْثُرَ","كَثُروا","كَثُرَت","كَثُرُوا","وَ-تَكَاثَرَتِ","وَ-تَكَاثَرَتْ","وَ-تَكْثُرُ","وَ-كَثُرَ","وَ-كَثُرُوا","وَتَكَاثَرُوا","وَيَتَكَاثَرُونَ","وَيَكْثُرُونَ","يَكثُروا","يَكْثُرُ","يَكْثُرُ-"]·ben["-বৃদ্ধিতে","আর-তারা-বৃদ্ধি-পেল","আর-বৃদ্ধি-পাবে","এবং-বৃদ্ধি-পাবে","এবং-বৃদ্ধি-পেল","ও-বহুগুণে-বাড়ল","ও-বৃদ্ধি-পাবে","বাড়ে","বৃদ্ধি-পায়","বৃদ্ধি-পায়-","বৃদ্ধি-পেল"]·DE["multiplies","und-es-mehrten-sich","und-mehrten-sich","und-sie-mehrten-sich","und-vermehren","und-vermehrte","vermehren","vermehrte","wird-vermehren"]·EN["I-have-redeemed","and-increased","and-multiplied","and-they-will-multiply","and-will-be-many","increase","increased","multiplied","multiplies","multiply","when-increase","will-multiply"]·FR["dans-multiplier","et-multiplia","et-multiplier","et-s'accrut","fera-multiplier","multiplie","multiplier"]·heb["ב-רבות","הרבו","ו-ירב","ו-ירבו","ו-רבה","ו-רבו","ירבה","ירבו","רבה","רבו","תרבה"]·HI["और-बढ़े","और-बढ़ेंगे","और-बध-गया","और-बधा","और-वे-बढ़ेंगे","बढ़ते","बढ़ते-हैं","बढ़ने-में-","बढ़े","बढ़े-","बहुत-हों"]·ID["Ketika-bertambah-banyak","banyak","bertambah","bertambah-banyak","bertambah-banyak-","dan-bertambah-banyak","dan-bertambah-banyaklah","dan-mereka-akan-bertambah-banyak","dan-mereka-bertambah","dan-mereka-menjadi-banyak","maka-akan-bertambah","sangat-banyak"]·IT["e-aumentò","e-moltiplicare","e-moltiplicò","fara-moltiplicare","in-moltiplicare","moltiplicare","multiplies"]·jav["dados-kathah","ing-mundhak","kathah","lan-bakal-kathah","lan-kathah","lan-piyambakipun-kathah","mundhak","nambah","sarta-kathah"]·KO["~에-많아짐","그리고-그들이-많아지리라","그리고-많아졌다","그리고-많아질-것이다","그리고-번성하였다","그리고-불어나리라","많아지게-하라","많아지리라","많아진다","많았다","불어나다","불어났다"]·PT["e-multiplicar-se-ão","e-multiplicaram-se","e-multiplicarão","e-multiplicarão-se","e-multiplicou-se","multiplicam-se","multiplicar-se","multiplicar-se-","multiplicaram-se","multiplicou","multiplicou-se","multipliquem","multipliquem-se","no-multiplicar-se"]·RU["и-умножались","и-умножатся","и-умножились","и-умножился","при-умножении","умножаются","умножились","умножится","умножится-"]·ES["Cuando-aumentan","aumentan","se-multiplicaron","se-multiplique","se-multipliquen","y-aumentaron","y-multiplicarán","y-se-multiplicaron","y-se-multiplicarán","y-se-multiplicó"]·SW["akamzaa","akaongezeka","huongezeka","iliongezeka","kuzidisha","na-wakaongezeka","na-wakawa-wengi","na-wataongezeka","na-yakaongezeka","na-zi-ta-ongezeka","vikazidika","vikazidika-","wakiongezeka","walikuwa-wengi","wanazidi","ziongezeke"]·TR["artar","ve-arttılar","ve-çoğalacak","ve-çoğalacaklar","ve-çoğaldı","ve-çoğaldılar","çoğaldı","çoğaldılar","çoğaldığında","çoğalsın","çoğalır","çoğalır-"]·urd["اور-بڑھی","اور-بڑھیں-گے","اور-بڑھے","بڑھ-جائے","بڑھ-جائے-","بڑھا","بڑھتے-ہیں","بڑھی","بڑھے","بہت-ہوئے","جب-بڑھیں","زیادہ-ہوں-تمہارے"]
4. multiply! (Qal imperative) — Qal imperative (7x): the direct command to multiply, concentrated in the creation mandate and its renewals. Arabic ukthuru and Swahili -ongezekeni convey the jussive force. 'Be fruitful and multiply' (Gen 1:22, 28; 9:1, 7) establishes this as a foundational divine blessing-command, repeated to Noah's family after the Flood. 7×
AR["وَ-اكْثُرُوا","وَ-اكْثُرْ","وَاكْثُرُوا-"]·ben["আর-বহুগুণিত-হও","আর-বহুগুণিত-হও-","আর-বৃদ্ধি-পাও","ও-বহুগুণ-হও"]·DE["und-mehre-dich","und-mehret-euch","und-mehret-euch-","und-sie-sind-zahlreich"]·EN["and-multiply","and-multiply-"]·FR["et-multiplier","et-multiplier-"]·heb["ו-רבה","ו-רבו-"]·HI["और-बढ़ो","और-बधो","और-बधो-","और-बहुगुणित-हो"]·ID["dan-berkembang-biaklah","dan-berkembang-biaklah-","dan-bertambah-banyaklah"]·IT["e-essi-si-moltiplicarono","e-moltiplicare","e-moltiplicare-"]·jav["lan-kathaha","lan-mugi-nambah","lan-ngrembaka-a"]·KO["그리고-많아지라","그리고-번성하라","그리고-불어나라-"]·PT["e-multiplica","e-multiplicai","e-multiplicai-vos","e-multiplicai-vos-"]·RU["и-размножайтесь","и-умножайся","и-умножайтесь-"]·ES["y-multiplica","y-multiplicaos","y-multiplicaos-"]·SW["kumbe","na-mkaongezeke","na-mkaongezeke-","na-muongezeke","na-ongezekeni"]·TR["ve-çoğal","ve-çoğalın","ve-çoğalın-"]·urd["اور-بڑھ","اور-بڑھو"]
5. make great, magnify (Hifil/Piel) — Hifil or Piel meaning to make great or magnify (6x): a qualitative rather than quantitative increase — enlarging territory, magnifying a person, or expanding influence. Arabic azzama/kabbara and Korean keuge hada mark the shift from number to stature. David's praise 'You enlarged my steps' (2 Sam 22:36 / Ps 18:35) and Jabez's prayer (1 Chr 4:10) exemplify this elevated register. 6×
AR["السَّيْفُ","تَرْبَحْ","كَبِّرْ","وَ-وَسَّعتَ","يُعَظِّمُنِي","يُكَبِّرُنِي"]·ben["অধিক","আমাকে-বৃদ্ধি-করে","ও-বৃদ্ধি-করবে","বাড়াও","বৃদ্ধি-করেছ","মহান-করেন-আমাকে"]·DE["gemacht-mich-gross","macht-mich-gross","tun-du-profit","und-vermehren","vermehren","zu-machen-gross"]·EN["and-You-will-enlarge","do-You-profit","increase","made-me-great","makes-me-great","to-make-great"]·FR["et-multiplier","fait-moi-grand","increase","multiplier","à-faire-grand"]·heb["הרב","הרבה","ו-הרבית","ריבית","תרב-ני","תרבני"]·HI["और-बढ़ाएगा","बड़ा-किया-है-मुझे","बढ़ा","बढ़ाया-तूने","बढ़ाया-मुझे","बहुत"]·ID["banyak","dan-Engkau-memperluas","membesarkan-aku","perbanyaklah"]·IT["a-fare-grande","e-moltiplicare","fa-me-grande","increase","moltiplico'"]·jav["Panjenengan-ndadosaken-ageng-kula","Panjenengan-tambahi","kiyatna","lan-nambahi","ngluhuraken-kula","pedhang"]·KO["그-와-넓히신다면","늘려라","늘리셨도다","많은-것을","크게-하시나이다","크게-한다-나를"]·PT["Aumenta","aumentaste","e-alargares","faz-me-grande","me-engrandece","muito"]·RU["Умножь","возвеличила-меня","возвеличило-меня","и-умножишь","много","увеличил"]·ES["aumenta","aumentaste","levantar","me-engrandece","y-ensanchas"]·SW["Nyingi","kujipatia-faida","na-ukipanua","ongeza","umenifanya-mkuu","unanifanya-mkuu"]·TR["büyüttü-beni","ve-genişletirsen","çok-olarak","çoğalt","çoğalttın"]·urd["اور-بڑھائے","بڑھا","بڑھاتا-ہے-مجھے","بڑھایا-تُو-نے","بڑھایا-مجھے","زیادہ"]
6. be great, be far/too much (Qal stative) — Qal stative describing something as great, far, or excessive (5x): the state of being too much or too large in extent. Arabic yakburu and Korean keuda capture the stative quality. 'The way is too far for you' (Deut 14:24), Joseph's portion 'was five times as much' (Gen 43:34), and Elihu's declaration 'God is greater than man' (Job 33:12) all express magnitude rather than process. 5×
AR["طَالَ","وَ-كَثُرَتْ","وَزَادَتْ","يَطُولُ","يَكبُرُ"]·ben["আর-অধিক-হল","ও-বড়","দীর্ঘ-হয়","বড়","বড়-হয়"]·DE["ist-auch-much","ist-gross","und-es-war-greater","und-war-größer","vermehrte"]·EN["and-it-was-greater","and-was-greater","is-great","is-greater","is-too-much"]·FR["est-aussi-beaucoup","est-grand","et-cela-fut-greater","et-était-plus-grand","multiplier"]·heb["ו-רבה","ו-תרב","ירבה"]·HI["और-बढ़ाया-गया","और-बढ़ी","बड़ा-है","बढ़ेगी","लम्बा-होगा"]·ID["dan-lebih-banyaklah","dan-melebihi","jauh","lebih besar","terlalu-jauh"]·IT["e-anche-molto","e-esso-era-maggiore","e-fu-greater","e-grande","moltiplicare"]·jav["kathah-sanget","lan-langkung","lan-langkung-kathah","langkung-ageng","tebih"]·KO["그리고-많았다","그리고-컴다","멀리라","멀면","크시니"]·PT["E-foi-grande","e-foi-maior","for-longo","maior-é"]·RU["будет-долгим","величественнее","длинна-будет","и-превзошла","и-увеличилась"]·ES["es-largo","es-mayor","sea-largo","y-fue-mayor"]·SW["Na-ikazidi","na-zawadi","ni-mkubwa","ni-refu-sana","njia-ni-ndefu"]·TR["büyüktür","uzarsa","ve-fazlaydı","ve-çoğaldı"]·urd["اور-بڑھایا-گیا","اور-زیادہ-ہوئی","بڑا ہے","زیادہ-ہو","لمبا-ہو"]
7. rear, bring up (Piel) — Piel intensive meaning to rear or bring up children (2x): a distinct semantic domain of nurture and child-rearing. Arabic rabba/yurabbi and Korean kiuda ('to raise') align precisely. The lioness metaphor of Ezek 19:2 ('she reared her cubs') and the elegy of Lam 2:22 ('those I nursed and reared') show this tender, parental sense far removed from mere numerical multiplication. 2×
AR["رَبَّتْ","وَرَبَّيْتُ"]·ben["এবং-বড়-করেছিলাম","বড়-করেছিল"]·DE["und-vermehrte","vermehren"]·EN["and-reared","she-reared"]·FR["et-multiplier","multiplier"]·heb["ו-ריביתי","ריבתה"]·HI["और-बढ़ाया","पाली-उसने"]·ID["dan-aku-besarkan","ia-membesarkan"]·IT["e-moltiplicare","moltiplicare"]·jav["lan-kawula-gedhékaken","piyambakipun-nggulawenthah"]·KO["그리고-키운","키웠다"]·PT["criou","e-criei"]·RU["вскормила","и-растила"]·ES["crió","y-engrandecí"]·SW["aliwalea","na-kuwalea"]·TR["büyüttü","ve-büyüttüm"]·urd["اور-بڑھایا-میں-نے","پالا"]
BDB / Lexicon Reference
I. [רָבָה225] vb. be, or become, much, many, great (NH id.; Assyrian rabû, be great, grow; Arabic رَبَا, Aramaic רְבָא; ܪܒܳܐ, ܪܒܺܝ, all grow, increase);— †Qal59 Pf. 3 fs. רָֽבְתָה 1 S 14:30; 2 ms. וְרָבִ֫יתָ consec. Dt 30:16; 3 pl. רָבוּ Ezr 9:6 +, etc.; Impf. 3 ms. יִרְבֶּה Dt 8:13 +, juss. יִ֫רֶב Gn 1:22 + 2 Ch 24:27 Qr (ורב Kt, v. רֹב 1), וַיִּ֫רֶב Ex 1:20; 3 fs. תִּרְבֶּה Dt 7:22; Dn 12:4,…