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Bible Dictionaries
Multiply, Increase
Vine's Expository Dictionary of OT Words
or A. Verb.
Râbâh (רָבָה, Strong's #7235), “to multiply, become numerous, become great.” This verb also occurs in Akkadian, Arabic, Amorite, and biblical Aramaic. Biblical Hebrew attests it about 220 times and in all periods. This word should be compared to gadal and rabab.
Basically this word connotes numerical increase. It can refer to the process of increasing numerically: God told the sea and air creatures to “be fruitful, and multiply” (Gen. 1:22—the first occurrence). In Gen. 38:12 the word refers to the end result in the sense that a great many of something existed: “And in process of time the daughter of Shuah Judah’s wife died [literally, “and the days became multiplied”].…” When used with “days,” the word may also signify “long life”: “… I shall multiply my days as the sand” (Job 29:18: cf. Prov. 4:10). Râbâh sometimes refers to increasing in wealth, although in such cases the material is clearly specified (cf. Deut. 8:13: “… and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied”).
This verb can be used of being quantitatively large. In Gen. 7:17 the waters are said to have “increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lifted up above the earth.” So here the verb means “to increase in quantity.” A similar use occurs in Gen. 15:1, where God tells Abram: “I am … thy exceeding great reward.” The first instance speaks of the process of increasing and the latter of the end product (something that is larger).
In a special nuance this verb signifies the process of growing up: “Their young ones are in good liking, they grow up [in the open field]” (Job 39:4). Râbâh can also be used of the end product: “I have caused thee to multiply as the bud of the field, and thou hast increased and waxen great, and thou art come to excellent ornaments: thy breasts are fashioned, and thine hair is grown …” (Ezek. 16:7). A somewhat different nuance occurs in Ezek. 19:2, where the verb speaks of a parent’s care for an offspring: “… She nourished her whelps.” Râbâh is sometimes used with another verb to signify its increase in occurrence or frequency. In some passages it signifies that a process is continuing: “The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work …” (Exod. 36:5), literally, “the people continue to bring.” It can also signify a great number of times with the sense of “repeatedly.” The sinner is urged to return to God, “for he will abundantly pardon” (Isa. 55:7). This sense appears clearly in Amos 4:4: “Come to Beth-eland transgress; at Gilgal multiply transgression.…”
B. Nouns.
'Arbeh (אַרְבֶּה, Strong's #697), “locust.” This noun, which occurs 24 times, refers to a kind of swarming “locust”: “Stretch out thine hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, that they may come up upon the land of Egypt, and eat every herb of the land …” (Exod. 10:12).
Several other nouns related to this verb appear infrequently. M'arbeh, which appears once means “abundance” (Isa. 33:23). Marbit, which is found 5 times, refers to a “greater number” (1 Sam. 2:33) or the “greater half” (2 Chron. 9:6). Tarbut has a single appearance to mean “increase” (Num. 32:14). Tarbit, which occurs 6 times, can mean “interest, increment, usury” (Lev. 25:36).
These files are public domain.
Vines, W. E., M. A. Entry for 'Multiply, Increase'. Vine's Expository Dictionary of OT Words. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/vot/m/multiply-increase.html. 1940.
