Lexical Summary
rob: Abundance, multitude, greatness, plenty
Original Word:רֹב
Part of Speech:Noun Masculine
Transliteration:rob
Pronunciation:robe
Phonetic Spelling:(robe)
KJV: abundance(-antly), all, X common (sort), excellent, great(-ly, -ness, number), huge, be increased, long, many, more in number, most, much, multitude, plenty(-ifully), X very (age)
NASB:abundance, many, great, greatness, multitude, much, abundant
Word Origin:[fromH7231 (רָבַב - many)]
1. abundance (in any respect)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
abundance, all, common sort, excellent, greatly huge, be increased
Fromrabab; abundance (in any respect) -- abundance(- antly), all, X common (sort), excellent, great(-ly, -ness, number), huge, be increased, long, many, more in number, most, much, multitude, plenty(-ifully), X very (age).
see HEBREWrabab
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
rababDefinitionmultitude, abundance, greatness
NASB Translationabundance (29), abundant (6), abundantly (2), age* (1), all (1), ample (1), common sort* (1), excellent (1), extensively (1), extent (1), great (13), great number (1), great numbers (1), great quantities (1), great quantity (1), greatly (1), greatness (12), grossness (1), harsh (1), immense (1), increased (1), large (1), large amount (1), large number (1), large numbers (1), large quantities (2), length (1), magnitude (1), many (25), mass (1), mighty (1), more (2), much (7), multiplied (1), multiply (1), multitude (11), number (3), numerous (5), plentiful (4), plenty (1), quantities (1), so many (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
151Job 11:2 ; — absolute
Genesis 16:10 +,
1 Chronicles 4:38; 2Chronicles 31:10 +
Job 33:19 Qr (Kt ); construct
Exodus 15:7 + (
Job 37:23 Baer Gi),
Job 23:6 +;
2 Kings 19:23 and plural construct
Hosea 8:12 see below;
multitude (c. 125 t.): of personHosea 10:13;Proverbs 14:28;Proverbs 20:6;Esther 10:3 +; of thingsIsaiah 1:11;Isaiah 47:12;Ezekiel 27:18;Leviticus 27:16;Proverbs 10:19;Job 11:2 +; =great quantity, abundanceGenesis 27:28;Hosea 9:7 + often (2 Kings 19:23 Qr [=Isaiah 37:24 Kt ], > Kt ; 2 Chronicles 24:27 Kt > Qr ), + (of time)Job 32:8 (Gi;Job 32:7 van d. H., Baer),Ecclesiastes 11:1; =whole number (of bones)Job 4:14;Job 33:19 (Qr; Kt ); especiallyin respect of, for, multitude, in simile, like sand, stars, etc.,Joshua 11:4 (JE),1 Samuel 13:5;2 Samuel 17:11 10t.; =abundantly, with verb (= )Genesis 30:30 (J),Genesis 48:16 (E),1 Kings 1:19,25;1 Kings 10:10; usually lateNehemiah 9:25;Job 26:3;Zechariah 14:14;1 Chronicles 4:30; 2Chronicles 9:9 (""1 Kings 10:10) + 23 t. Chronicles; as predicate with1 Chronicles 22:14; =in great numbers, 2 Chronicles 30:5,24; nearly = adjective (c.substantive; = ) 2 Chronicles 9:1 (""1 Kings 10:2),1 Kings 16:8; 1Ki 24:24; 1Ki 30:13;from multitude of,Deuteronomy 7:7;Deuteronomy 28:47 14t.; absolutefrom (for)mult.1 Kings 7:47;Genesis 16:10;Genesis 32:13 (J),1 Kings 3:8;1 Kings 8:5 2Chronicles 5:6.
greatness (c. 26 t.):1 Samuel 1:16,Nehemiah 13:22;Psalm 5:8;Psalm 69:14, comparePsalm 106:45,Isaiah 63:1;Job 23:6;Job 30:18;Psalm 33:16, etc.; read probably also (for )Isaiah 63:7;Psalm 145:7; =length of journey (compare verbJoshua 9:13)Isaiah 57:10;Hosea 8:12 Qr =greatnesses [great things], ornumerous things of my law, but form dubious read perhaps (sub ), so We (compare ); Gr and others ; > Kt , see . —Leviticus 25:16;Deuteronomy 7:7;Hosea 4:7 see √
Topical Lexicon
Rob – רֹב (Strong’s 7230)Core Sense and Scope
Rob describes abundance, magnitude, multiplicity, or greatness in every sphere of life—people, possessions, years, emotions, words, mercy, iniquity, and more. About 147 occurrences stretch from Genesis to Malachi, making the term a thread that ties the narrative of covenant promise, national history, worship, wisdom, and prophecy into a single testimony of the God who both grants and governs abundance.
Occurrences at a Glance
Pentateuch – c. 28
Historical Books – c. 25
Poetic & Wisdom Books – c. 42
Major & Minor Prophets – c. 52
The distribution highlights how Israel’s experience of “much” or “many” constantly demanded theological reflection and moral response.
Covenant Promise: An Abundant People
•Genesis 32:12 – “I will surely make you prosper, and I will make your offspring like the sand of the sea, too numerous to count.”
•Deuteronomy 7:17 – Israel is warned not to fear the “multitude of those nations,” because the same God who promises abundance also subdues it.
Here rob anchors the patriarchal promise of innumerable descendants and underscores that nationhood itself is a grace-gift.
National Life: Population, Army, and Harvest
•Joshua 11:4 portrays Canaanite forces as “a multitude, like the sand on the seashore,” showing that numerical strength can intimidate, yet cannot nullify divine purpose.
•2 Chronicles 17:5 records that Jehoshaphat “had great riches and honor,” reminding readers that prosperity flows from covenant faithfulness (see2 Chronicles 17:3–5).
•Deuteronomy 28:47 warns that if abundance is met with ingratitude, bondage will follow. Rob therefore functions both as blessing and barometer.
Worship: Abundant Mercy and Praise
•Psalm 5:7 – “But I will enter Your house by the abundance of Your loving devotion; in reverence I will bow down toward Your holy temple.”
•Psalm 51:1 appeals to “the greatness of Your compassion” for cleansing.
•Psalm 130:7 – “For with the LORD is loving devotion, and with Him is abundant redemption.”
The Psalms turn rob into a liturgical trumpet, calling God’s people to celebrate measureless grace.
Wisdom Literature: Many Words, Much Sin
•Proverbs 10:19 – “When words are many, sin is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.”
•Proverbs 14:28 – “A large population is a king’s glory, but a lack of subjects is a prince’s ruin.”
•Ecclesiastes 5:10 warns that “whoever loves abundance is never satisfied with gain.”
Rob here exposes the double-edged sword of “more”—it can serve wisdom or foster folly.
Prophetic Oracles: Abundance that Corrupts
•Isaiah 47:9 predicts disaster “in spite of your many sorceries.”
•Ezekiel 28:16 – “By the vastness of your commerce you were filled with violence, and you sinned.”
•Hosea 10:1 laments Israel’s “abundant fruit,” which only multiplied altars to idols.
When plenty breeds pride, rob becomes the vocabulary of indictment.
Compassion in Judgment
Even in discipline the prophets lean on rob to magnify divine mercy.Lamentations 3:32 affirms, “Though He causes grief, He will show compassion according to the abundance of His loving devotion.” Justice never travels without the larger entourage of steadfast love.
Eschatological Outlook
Isaiah foresees a Messiah whose government and peace will endlessly increase (Isaiah 9:7, same root). Rob thus stretches into the New Covenant, anticipating the “innumerable multitude” ofRevelation 7:9 and the “surpassing riches of His grace” proclaimed inEphesians 2:7.
Ministry Application
1. Evangelism and Discipleship – God still pledges “abundant redemption”; no sinner is outside the reach of His “great mercy.”
2. Stewardship – Material rob demands thankful service (Deuteronomy 28:47) and generous giving (1 Chronicles 29:16).
3. Prayer and Worship – Let gatherings echo the psalmists, entering His presence “by the abundance of His loving devotion.”
4. Counseling – Point the weary toLamentations 3:32; divine compassion is always larger than human grief.
5. Preaching – Balance warnings likeProverbs 10:19 with promises likePsalm 37:11, showing that true abundance is found in God Himself.
Summary
Rob is Scripture’s shorthand for “more than enough,” whether that “more” is blessings to enjoy, words to restrain, sins to repent of, or mercies to rest in. From the sand-like seed of Abraham to the boundless mercies in Christ, the word directs every reader to the God whose resources, purposes, and grace know no limit.
Forms and Transliterations
בְּרָב־ בְּרֹ֖ב בְּרֹ֣ב בְּרֹ֤ב בְּרֹ֥ב בְּרֹ֧ב בְרֹ֤ב בְרֹ֥ב ברב ברב־ הֲרֹ֣ב הרב וְרָב־ וְרֹ֖ב וְרֹ֣ב וְרֹ֥ב וְרֹב־ וּֽבַבָּקָ֡ר וּבְרֹ֖ב וּבְרֹ֣ב וּבְרֹ֥ב וּכְרֹ֥ב וּמֵרֹ֣ב וּמֵרֹ֥ב ובבקר וברב וכרב ומרב ורב ורב־ יִ֧רֶ֞ב ירב כְּרֹ֣ב כְּרֹ֥ב כרב לְרֹ֣ב לָ֠רֹב לָר֔וֹב לָרֹ֑ב לָרֹ֔ב לָרֹ֖ב לָרֹ֛ב לָרֹ֜ב לָרֹ֣ב לָרֹ֥ב לָרֹֽב׃ לָרֹב֒ לָרֹב֙ לָרֽוֹב׃ לרב לרב׃ לרוב לרוב׃ מֵ֭רֹב מֵֽרֻבְּכֶ֞ם מֵרֹ֖ב מֵרֹ֛ב מֵרֹ֣ב מֵרֹ֤ב מֵרֹ֥ב מֵרֹֽב׃ מֵרֹב֙ מרב מרב׃ מרבכם רָב־ רֹ֣ב רֹ֥ב רֹב־ רב רב־ bə·rāḇ- bə·rōḇ ḇə·rōḇ bərāḇ- beRo bərōḇ ḇərōḇ berov hă·rōḇ haRo hărōḇ kə·rōḇ keRo kərōḇ lā·rō·wḇ lā·rōḇ laRo lārōḇ laRov lārōwḇ lə·rōḇ leRo lərōḇ mê·rōḇ mê·rub·bə·ḵem meRo mêrōḇ merubbeChem mêrubbəḵem rāḇ- ro rōḇ rōḇ- rov ū·ḇab·bā·qār ū·ḇə·rōḇ ū·ḵə·rōḇ ū·mê·rōḇ ūḇabbāqār ūḇərōḇ ucheRo ūḵərōḇ umeRo ūmêrōḇ uvabbaKar uveRo veRo verov wə·rāḇ- wə·rōḇ wə·rōḇ- wərāḇ- wərōḇ wərōḇ- yi·reḇ yireḇ yiRev
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