אַרְבַּעְתַּיִם (ar.ba.ta.yim)
ar.ba.ta.yim
fourfold
H:AdvQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:Adv
Word Overview
The word arbatayim is a rare Hebrew adjective meaning "fourfold." It appears as a grammatical variant of the number four, emphasizing multiplication or intensity rather than simple counting. In the Bible, this form occurs only once, in 2 Samuel 12:6, where it describes the penalty demanded by the poor man’s neighbor.
Its single usage highlights a specific legal concept: restitution that is four times the original value. The text uses this term to show the severity of the crime committed by the rich man who stole a lamb. This contrasts with standard penalties, marking this instance as particularly harsh and just in the narrative context.
Because it is so rare, arbatayim does not have a broad range of meanings. It serves as a precise numerical marker for quadruple compensation. Translators typically render it as "fourfold" to preserve this exact multiplier, ensuring the reader understands the specific weight of the demanded payment in that historical legal setting.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word arbatayim appears only once in Scripture, carrying the precise weight of "fourfold." In 2 Samuel 12:6, it marks the restitution demanded for a stolen lamb. This specific multiplier signals that justice requires more than simple replacement; it demands a response proportional to the severity of the wrong. The narrative uses this exact term to highlight the gravity of the rich man’s cruelty toward the poor.
For your daily life, this rare word reminds us that God sees the full extent of our actions. When we cause harm, restoration often requires more than just saying sorry. It asks for genuine effort to make things right. This concept encourages integrity in how we treat others, knowing that our choices carry real weight and consequence.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- fourfold1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- אַרְבַּעְתָּ֑יִם1×
Key Verses
-
II Samuel 12:6
He must restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing and because he had no pity!”
This verse uses the term to specify the exact penalty for theft, emphasizing the seriousness of David's sin through Nathan's parable.