H7378 H7378
To strive, contend, quarrel; to plead or litigate a case; as noun: a dispute or lawsuit.
Riv is the Hebrew Bible's central word for conflict that involves words rather than weapons. It ranges from domestic quarreling (Gen 26:20-22, where Isaac's servants dispute over wells) to formal legal proceedings where one party pleads a case before a judge (1 Sam 24:15). The prophets deploy it powerfully in Yahweh's covenant lawsuits — 'Hear, O mountains, the LORD's riv' (Mic 6:2) — where God himself becomes the plaintiff against an unfaithful people. Arabic distinguishes khaasama (quarrel) from raafa'a (litigate), and Korean separates datuda (다투다, dispute) from byeonho (변호, legal defense), confirming the two major semantic poles that run through all 70 occurrences.
1. Qal: quarrel, contend, strive — General interpersonal strife, quarreling, or contention without a formal legal framework. Isaac's herdsmen quarrel with the herdsmen of Gerar over wells (Gen 26:20-22); Israel contends with Moses at the waters (Exod 17:2); Nehemiah contends with the nobles over usury (Neh 13:11, 17, 25). Arabic khaasama (خَاصَمَ, to quarrel) and Korean datuda (다투다, to argue/dispute) consistently mark this as non-juridical conflict. Spanish contendió and disputaron, French contester — all point to interpersonal strife rather than courtroom advocacy. This is the most frequent sense at 42 occurrences. 42×
AR["أُخَاصِمُ","تَخاصَمَ","تُخَاصِمُهَا","تُخَاصِمُونَ","خَاصَمْتَهُ","فَخَاصَمْتُ","لِلْخِصامِ","وَ-تَخاصَموا","وَ-خاصَمَ","وَ-خاصَمْتُ","وَ-خَاصَمَ","يُخاصِم","يُخاصِمْ","يُخَاصِمُ"]·ben["-আমি-বিবাদ-করব","-বিতর্কে","আর-আমি-বিবাদ-করলাম","আর-ঝগড়া-করল","আর-তর্ক-করলাম","এবং-ঝগড়া-করল","তর্ক-করুক","তিনি-বিবাদ-করবেন","তোমরা-তর্ক-করবে","পরীক্ষা-করেছিলেন-তাকে","বিবাদ-করব","বিবাদ-করবেন-তার-সাথে","বিবাদ-করে","যুদ্ধ-করব","যুদ্ধ-করবে"]·DE["du-contended-mit-ihn","quarrel","streiten","stritt","und-contended","und-stritt","und-stritten","wird-er-contend","zu-viel"]·EN["I-will-contend","You-contend","and-I-contended","and-contended","and-quarreled","bring-charges","quarrel","to-contend","will-contend","will-he-contend","would-he-contend","you-contend","you-contended-with-him"]·FR["[ואריב]","[ואריבה]","contester","et-contesta","et-quarreled","plaider","quarrel","tu-contesta-avec-lui","à-plaider"]·heb["אריב","ו-אריב","ו-אריבה-ה","ו-ירב","ו-יריבו","יריב","יריבון","ל-ריב","תריבהו","תריבון","תריבנה"]·HI["और-झगड़े","और-मैंने-झगड़ा-किया","और-मैंने-डांटा","और-लड़ा","झगड़ूंगा","झगड़े","झगड़े-के-लिए","झगड़ेगा","तब-मैंने-झगड़ा","तुम-विवाद-करोगे","लड़ता-है-तू-उससे","लड़ूँगा","लड़ूंगा-मैं","लड़ेंगे","वह-लड़ेगा","विवाद-किया-उससे-तूने"]·ID["Aku-akan-berbantah","Aku-akan-mendakwa","Dia-berperkara","Engkau-bersaing-dengannya","Engkau-melawannya","Ia-menuntut","berbantah","bertengkar","dan-aku-menegur","dan-berbantahlah","dan-bertengkar","kalian-berperkara","menuntut","untuk-bertengkar"]·IT["contendere","contenderà","contese","e-contended","e-contendere","e-quarreled","per-contendere","quarrel","tu-contended-con-lui"]·jav["Kawula-badhe-paben","Kawula-badhe-padudon","Lan-kula-padu","Lan-pasulayan","Panjenengan-menggah-kaliyan-piyambakipun","Panjenengan-ngadili","Panjenenganipun-badhé-padu","Panjenenganipun-perang","badhé-padu","kanggé-pasulayan","lan-kula-padu","lan-sami-padu","padu","panjenengan-bebantahan","tiyang-padu"]·KO["그리고-내가-다투었다","그리고-다투었다","그리고-다투었다-내가","꾸짓지","내가-다투리라","너희가-다투겠느냐","다투겠느냐","다투고","다투면","다투셨다","다투셨도다","다투지","다툼-에"]·PT["E-contendeu","E-contendi","E-disputaram","a-contendeste","contenda","contenderei","contendereis","contenderem","contenderia","contenderá","contendeste-com-ele","e-contendi","e-disputaram","para-contenda"]·RU["будет-прекословить","будет-спорить","буду-спорить","буду-судиться","и-оспорил-я","и-поспорил-я","и-спорили","и-ссорился","испытывал-его","на-тяжбу","обвиняет","поссорятся","спорите","споришь-с-ней"]·ES["Y-contendió","Y-disputaron","Y-reprendí","a-contender","contenderá","contenderé","contenderéis","contendería","contendiste-con-ella","lo-contendiste","riñan","y-disputaron","y-reprendí"]·SW["Na-nikagombana","Na-nikawashtaki","Na-wakagombana","Na-wakashindana","ashindane","atashindana","kwa-ugomvi","mtasema","na-nikashindana-na","na-wakashindana","nitashindana","ukagombana-naye","ulishindana-nayo","wala-hataweka","watabishana"]·TR["Ve-kavga-ettiler","dava-açacağım","dava-açsın","kavga-edecegim","kavga-ederlerse","kavga-edersin-onunla","kavgaya","mucadele-edecegim","mucadele-edecek","ve-azarladım","ve-kavga-ettiler","ve-çekişti","çekişecek","çekişir","çekişirsiniz","çekiştin-onunla"]·urd["اور-جھگڑا","اور-جھگڑا-میں-نے","اور-جھگڑے","اور-میں-نے-جھگڑا","بحث-کرو-گے","تو-نے-جھگڑا-کیا-اس-سے","جھگڑنے-کو","جھگڑوں-گا","جھگڑیں","جھگڑے","جھگڑے-گا","لڑے-گا","مقابلہ-کیا-اُس-سے","مقدمہ-کروں-گا","وہ جھگڑتا"]
Gen 26:20, Gen 26:21, Gen 26:22, Gen 31:36, Exod 17:2, Exod 17:2, Exod 21:18, Num 20:3, Num 20:13, Deut 33:8, Judg 6:31, Judg 8:1 (+30 more)
▼ 4 more senses below
Senses
2. Qal: plead, defend, litigate — Juridical pleading, advocacy, or formal litigation — defending a case or championing a cause in a legal or quasi-legal setting. When Gideon's father says 'Let Baal plead for himself' (Judg 6:31-32), the verb carries forensic force. David appeals to God: 'Plead my cause' (Ps 35:1; 1 Sam 24:15). The prophetic lawsuit (riv pattern) — 'The LORD has a case against his people' (Mic 6:1-2) — represents the fullest development. Arabic raafa'a (رَافَعَ, to bring a case) and Korean byeonho (변호, legal defense) distinguish this from mere quarreling. German streiten can cover both, but the passage contexts are unmistakably forensic. 22×
AR["أُخَاصِمُ","حاكِموا","حاكِمْ","حَامُوا-عَنِ","خاصَمَ","خَاصِمْ","رَافَعْتَ","عَنْ-","لِلْمُحَاكَمَةِ","وَيُخاصِمُ","يُخاصِمُ","يُخاصِمْ","يُخَاصِمُ"]·ben["-যিনি-তাঁর-লোকদের-পক্ষে-বিচার-করেন","এবং-যুক্তি-দেবেন","তর্ক-করবেন","তর্ক-করুক","তিনি-বিবাদ-করবেন","তিনি-সমর্থন-করবেন","বাদ-প্রতিবাদ-করো","বিচার-করো","বিবাদ-করতে","বিবাদ-করব","বিবাদ-করি-আমি","বিবাদ-করো","যুক্তি-দিয়েছেন","লড়বেন","লড়াই-কর","লড়েছেন-আপনি","সমর্থন-করো","সে-তর্ক-করবে","সে-তর্ক-করুক"]·DE["contends","lass-contend","lass-ihn-contend","plead","pleaded","streiten","stritt","und-moege-er-plead","zu-viel"]·EN["Contend","He-pleads","I-plead","You-pleaded","am-pleading","and-may-he-plead","contend","contends","he-will-plead","let-contend","let-him-contend","plead","pleaded","to-contend","who-pleads","will-plead"]·FR["contends","contester","et-peut-il-plead","nombreux","plaider","pleaded","pour-grand","que-contend","que-lui-contend"]·heb["אריב","ו-יריב","ירב","יריב","ל-ריב","רב","רבת","ריב","ריבה","ריבו"]·HI["और-लड़ेगा","के-लिए-मुकदमे","जो-झगड़ता-है","तूने-लड़े","मुकदमा-कर","मुकदमा-लड़ो","मुकद्दमा-करो","लड़नेवाला-हूँ","लड़ा","लड़े","लड़ेगा","वह-मुकदमा-करेगा","वाद-करता-हूं"]·ID["Dia-membela","Engkau-membela","Ia-akan-memperjuangkan","Perjuangkanlah","Tuntutlah","akan-membela","aku-berbantah","belalah","berperkara","biarlah-membela","dan-biarlah-membela","membela","perjuangkanlah","tuntutlah","yang-membela"]·IT["a-molto","contendere","contends","difendi","e-possa-egli-supplica","lasciare-contend","lasciare-lui-contend","supplicò"]·jav["Aduan","Bélanana","Kula-ngaturaken-prakawis","Panjenengan-mbela","Panjenengan-mbélani","badhe-ngadili","badhé-mbela","badhé-mbélani","badé-mbela","ingkang-perkawis","kangge-ngukum","lan-mugi-mbela","mbela","nglayangaken-prakawis","sami-prakara","sampun-mbela"]·KO["그리고-변호하시기를","내가-호소하리라","다투는-자는","다투는-자이다","다투라","다투리라-그가","다투시는-자","당신-이-변호하셨네","변론하라","변론하실-때","변호하소서","손송하시리니-","송사하시리라-","심판하려고","싸우셨다","쟁론하라"]·PT["Contenda","Contendei","Defende","Defendei","Defendeste","contenda","contende","contendei","contender","contenderá","defenda","defende","e-defenda","para-contender","pleiteando","pleiteará","pleiteo","pleiteou"]·RU["Веди-","Пусть-спорит","Ты-вёл","веди-тяжбу","вступится-в","вступится-в-спор","заступился","заступитесь-за","защитник","и-вступится","к-суду","произведёт","пусть-спорит","рассудит","спорит","спорь","спорю","судитесь"]·ES["Contended","Defiende","Has-defendido","abogad","contended","contienda","contiende","defenderá","defienda","defiende","para-contender","pleitea","pleiteando","pleiteo","que-aboga-por","que-contienda","y-defenderá"]·SW["Baali-ajitetee","Mshindaneni","Umetetea","ajitetee","ameitetea","anayetetea","atamtetea","atatetea","itetea","kuhukumu","mshindaneni","na-atete","ninabishana","ninashughulikia","tetea","teteni","utetee"]·TR["Savundun","dava-açın","dava-et","kavga-edecek","savun","savunacak","savunacaksınız","savundu","savunun","savunur","savunuyorum","ve-savunsun","ve-çünkü","yargılamaya","çekişeceğim"]·urd["اور-بحث-کرے-گا","بحث-کروں-گا","جھگڑتا-ہے","لڑ","لڑا-تُو-نے","لڑو","لڑوں-گا","لڑی","لڑے","لڑے-گا","مقدمہ-لڑ","مقدمہ-کرو","مقدمے-کے-لیے","یقیناً-لڑے-گا"]
Judg 6:31, Judg 6:31, Judg 6:32, 1 Sam 24:15, 1 Sam 25:39, Ps 43:1, Ps 74:22, Ps 119:154, Prov 22:23, Prov 23:11, Isa 1:17, Isa 51:22 (+10 more)
3. Hifil: adversary, opponent — The Hifil participial form used substantively to mean 'adversary' or 'opponent' — the one who contends against. In 1 Sam 2:10 the LORD's adversaries shall be shattered; in Hos 4:4 'let no one contend' (participle as agent noun). Arabic mukhaasimuu (مُخَاصِمُو, opponents) and Korean datuneun jadeul (다투는 자들, those who contend) mark the shift from verbal action to agent noun. Swahili adui (enemy) and wapinzani (opponents) further confirm the adversarial personal reference. 3×
AR["(مُخَاصِمُوهُ)","[مخاصموه]","كَمُخاصِمي"]·ben["(তাঁর-বিরোধীরা)","[তাঁর-বিরোধীরা]","যারা-বিবাদ-করে-যেমন-"]·DE["[ketiv-sein-adversary]","stritt"]·EN["His-adversaries","[ketiv-his-adversary]","as-those-contending-with"]·FR["Son-adversaries","[ketiv-son-adversary]","plaider"]·heb["כ-מריבי","מריבו","מריביו"]·HI["[विरोधी]","झगड़नेवालों-जैसे","विरोधी"]·ID["[ketiv]","lawan-lawan-Nya","seperti-orang-yang-menuntut"]·IT["His-avversari","[ketiv-suo-adversary]","contendere"]·jav["(K)","kados-kang-padu","mengsah-mengsahipun"]·KO["그-의-다투는자","그-의-다투는자들","처럼-다투는-자들"]·PT["(contendores-dele)","[contendores-dele]","como-contendentes-com"]·RU["как-ссорящиеся-с-","противники-Его"]·ES["(sus-adversarios)","[sus-adversarios]","como-los-que-contienden-con"]·SW["adui-zake","kama-wanaoshindana-na","wapinzani-wake"]·TR["(hasımları)","[hasımları]","dava-açanlar-gibi"]·urd["(اُس-کے-مخالفین)","[اُس-کے-مخالف]","جیسے-جھگڑنے-والے"]
4. Nominal: dispute, lawsuit — The noun riv (same root form) used substantively to mean a dispute, quarrel, or lawsuit as an abstract entity. Job 31:13 — 'if I have rejected the cause (riv) of my servant'; Prov 25:9 — 'argue your case (riv) with your neighbor.' Arabic khusuuma (خُصومَة, litigation) and Korean songsa (송사, lawsuit) identify this as a nominal rather than verbal use. Only two occurrences are clustered here, but the distinction from the verbal senses is clear: riv is the thing being adjudicated, not the act of adjudicating. 2×
AR["بِ-خُصومَتِهِما","خاصِمْ"]·ben["তাদের-বিবাদে","বিতর্ক-করো"]·DE["stritt"]·EN["argue","in-their-dispute"]·FR["dans-leur-plaider-eux","plaider"]·heb["ב-ריבם","ריב"]·HI["झगड़े-में-उनके","लड़"]·ID["dalam-perselisihan mereka","perdebatkanlah"]·IT["contendere","in-contendere-loro"]·jav["ing-padu-nipun","prakawis"]·KO["그들의-송사-에서","다투라"]·PT["contende","em-sua-contenda"]·RU["в-тяжбе-их","веди"]·ES["contiende","en-su-litigio"]·SW["jadili","katika-ugomvi-wao"]·TR["davasında","savun"]·urd["ان کی شکایت میں","لڑ"]
5. sense 5 — A single puzzling occurrence at 1 Sam 15:5 where the translations diverge sharply from the expected meaning of riv. English renders 'and he lay in wait,' Spanish 'y puso emboscada,' and the domain shifts from JUSTICE to VIOLENCE_CONFLICT. This likely reflects a textual or parsing issue — the verb vayyarev here may actually be from a different root (rav/arav, to lie in ambush) rather than riv (to contend). The clustering algorithm isolated it precisely because the multilingual translation signatures diverge completely from the contention/litigation pattern. 1×
AR["وَ-كَمَنَ"]·ben["এবং-ওঁত-পাতলেন"]·DE["und-er-lag-in-wait"]·EN["and-he-lay-in-wait"]·FR["et-il-s'étendit-dans-attends"]·heb["ו-ארב"]·HI["और-उस्ने-घअत-लगयि"]·ID["dan-mengintai"]·IT["e-egli-giacque-in-aspetta"]·jav["lan-piyambakipun-ngadhang"]·KO["그리고-매복했다"]·PT["e-emboscou"]·RU["и-устроил-засаду"]·ES["y-puso-emboscada"]·SW["na-akashuka"]·TR["ve-pusu-kurdu"]·urd["اور-گھات-لگایا"]
Related Senses
H4421 1. war, battle, armed conflict (319×)H0341 1. enemy, adversary, foe (284×)H3898a 1. Nifal: to fight, wage war (167×)H2026 1. kill, slay (active) (146×)H2451 1. wisdom, discernment (146×)H5483b 1. horse (the animal) (138×)H4941 1. justice, righteousness (134×)H4941 2. judgment, judicial decision (119×)H4941 3. ordinances, statutes (plural) (110×)H0006 1. to perish, be destroyed (105×)H8199 1. to judge, adjudicate (98×)H7843 1. Hifil: destroy, annihilate (83×)G2919 1. judge, pass judgment (76×)H2491a 1. slain, fatally pierced (74×)H6862c 1. adversary, enemy, foe (69×)H8045 1. destroy, exterminate (69×)H8199 2. judge (person, office-holder) (61×)G0615 1. kill, put to death (60×)H6571b 1. horseman, cavalryman (52×)H8077a 1. desolation, waste (abstract state) (52×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† רִיב [NöZMG xxxvii (1883), 530, 534 Ges§ 73b] vb. strive, contend (cf. Arabic رَابَ (ى) agitate (the mind), رَيْبٌ disquiet; cf. also Syriac ܪܳܒ cry, shout, Aph. also quarrel noisily, ܪܰܘܒܳܐ shouting, clamour (v. Nöl.c.); on Sab. n.pr. ריב = Arabic رياب v. DHMib. 14);—Qal Pf. 3 ms. רָב Ju 11:25 1 S 25:39; 2 ms. רַבְתָּ La 3:58, רִיבוֹתָ Jb 33:13, etc.; Impf. 3 ms. יָרִיב Ju 6:31 +, juss. יָרֵב…