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"]
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
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,…