Lexical Summary rebah: Multitude, abundance, increase Original Word: רְבָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance make a great man, grow (Aramaic) corresponding to rabah -- make a great man, grow. see HEBREW rabah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to rabah Definition to grow great NASB Translation became large (1), become great (2), grew large (1), grown (1), promoted (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs רְבָה verb grow great (ᵑ7 Syriac; see Biblical Hebrew I. רבה); — Pe`al Perfect3masculine singular ׳ר Daniel 4:8 +; 3 feminine singular רְבָת Daniel 4:19; 2masculine singular רְבַיְתָ Kt ( > רְבַת Qr K§ 47, Beisp. 1)a)) Daniel 4:19; — grow tall and large, of tree Daniel 4:8; Daniel 4:17; grow long, of hair Daniel 4:30; figurative grow great, of king Daniel 4:19, increase, of greatness Daniel 4:19. Pa`el make great: Perfect3masculine singular רַבִּי Daniel 2:48 with ל accusative of person Topical Lexicon Overview The Aramaic term רְבָה (Strong’s Hebrew 7236) appears six times in the Book of Daniel, always within the Aramaic section (Daniel 2–7). In every case it speaks of something that becomes large, great or multiplied. The word functions as a narrative thread highlighting how human or divinely granted greatness can expand—and how God remains sovereign over that expansion. Occurrences in Daniel 1. Daniel 2:48 – Nebuchadnezzar “made Daniel ruler over the entire province of Babylon and chief prefect over all its wise men.” The promotion displays a sudden enlargement of influence for a faithful servant of God. Theological Themes • Divine Sovereignty over Human Greatness רְבָה consistently points to greatness that is granted rather than self-generated (Daniel 2:48; 4:22). Whether bestowed on Daniel or on Nebuchadnezzar, expansion is sourced in God’s providence. The rise of the king’s greatness (4:11, 22) is matched by an immediate warning: “sovereignty has been removed from you” (4:31). רְבָה thus becomes a cautionary marker showing that unbridled pride invites divine discipline. Nebuchadnezzar’s fall (4:33) and subsequent restoration (4:36, using a different verb) reveal that increase is never final apart from submission to God. The term’s limited use within the book accentuates this pattern of rise, fall and renewed stewardship. Historical Context and Application Babylon stood as the superpower of the sixth century BC. In that setting, רְבָה captures the era’s obsession with empire-building. Daniel intentionally sets Israel’s exilic remnant next to Babylonian excess to affirm that Yahweh alone grants or removes greatness. Contemporary readers can apply the same truth to modern forms of power—political, economic or personal. Ministry Insights 1. Leadership: Any enlargement of ministry, influence or resources mirrors Daniel 2:48—an entrusted stewardship requiring integrity and dependence on God. Christological and Eschatological Foreshadowing While רְבָה describes Babylon’s glory, the New Testament reveals a greater kingdom that also “grows” (Matthew 13:31–32). The contrast between transient imperial greatness and the everlasting dominion of the Son of Man (Daniel 7:14) underscores the superiority of Christ’s eternal reign. Key Takeaways • Greatness is a divine grant, not a human right. Forms and Transliterations רְבַ֖ית רְבָ֖ה רְבָ֥ה רְבָת֙ רַבִּ֗י רבה רבי רבית רבת rab·bî rabBi rabbî rə·ḇāh rə·ḇāṯ rə·ḇayṯ rəḇāh rəḇāṯ rəḇayṯ reVah reVait reVatLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Daniel 2:48 HEB: מַלְכָּ֜א לְדָנִיֵּ֣אל רַבִּ֗י וּמַתְּנָ֨ן רַבְרְבָ֤ן NAS: Then the king promoted Daniel and gave KJV: Daniel a great man, and gave INT: the king Daniel promoted gifts great Daniel 4:11 Daniel 4:20 Daniel 4:22 Daniel 4:22 Daniel 4:33 6 Occurrences |
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