Lexical Summary ribbo: myriads Original Word: רִבּוֹ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance ten thousand times ten thousand (Aramaic) corresponding to ribbow -- X ten thousand times ten thousand. see HEBREW ribbow NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to ribbo Definition myriad NASB Translation myriads (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs רִבּוֺ (K§ 65, 4) noun feminine myriad (ᵑ7 Syriac); — absolute ׳ר + plural רבון Kt (read רִבְּיָן Kl.c.), רִבְבָן Qr Daniel 7:10 a myriad myriads. Topical Lexicon RIBBŌ (Strong’s Hebrew 7240)Primary Sense and Usage The term denotes an immense, innumerable multitude—“ten thousand” used rhetorically to convey a host beyond the power of precise calculation. Its two occurrences form part of Daniel’s throne-room vision, underscoring the overwhelming scale of the angelic retinue surrounding the Ancient of Days. Canonical Context Daniel 7:10 portrays the heavenly court: “A river of fire was flowing, coming out from His presence. Thousands upon thousands attended Him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was convened, and the books were opened.” In the immediate context, ribbō intensifies the majesty of God’s tribunal just before judgment is pronounced on the oppressive earthly powers symbolized by the beasts of Daniel 7. The setting establishes a sharp contrast between finite empires and the limitless sovereignty of God. Theological Significance 1. Divine Sovereignty: The vast number accentuates the absolute authority of the Ancient of Days. The innumerable assembly acknowledges that the Creator commands not merely isolated servants but an army whose size defies human computation. Historical and Cultural Background Ancient Near Eastern courts expressed power by the number of attendants. Daniel, exiled within successive imperial bureaucracies, intentionally contrasts the pomp of Babylon and Persia with the far greater grandeur of heaven. The numerical idiom “ten thousand times ten thousand” mirrors hyperbolic expressions in Akkadian royal inscriptions, yet Scripture reorients such language to exalt the God of Israel rather than human monarchs. Intertextual Parallels Psalm 68:17: “The chariots of God are tens of thousands—thousands of thousands; the Lord is in His sanctuary as He was at Sinai in holiness.” Revelation 5:11: “Then I looked and heard the voices of many angels numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands.” Hebrews 12:22: “You have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to myriads of angels.” These passages echo Daniel’s vision, collectively portraying an incalculable angelic throng that surrounds God’s throne in worship and judgment, bridging Old and New Testaments and reinforcing the continuity of divine revelation. Devotional and Ministry Implications By highlighting the unparalleled magnitude of God’s entourage, ribbō magnifies both His majesty and the surety of His righteous reign, offering the people of God enduring comfort and motivation for faithful service. Forms and Transliterations וְרִבּ֥וֹ ורבו רִבְבָ֖ן רבבן riḇ·ḇān riḇḇān rivVan veribBo wə·rib·bōw wəribbōwLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Daniel 7:10 HEB: ק) יְשַׁמְּשׁוּנֵּ֔הּ וְרִבּ֥וֹ [רַבְּוָן כ] NAS: were attending Him, And myriads upon myriads KJV: ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand INT: Thousands were attending and myriads and myriads before Daniel 7:10 2 Occurrences |
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