יָרִיב (ya.riv)
ya.riv
Jarib
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Yariv, meaning "he contends" or "he pleads," appears in Scripture as a personal identifier for three distinct individuals across different eras of Israel’s history. The earliest bearer is a son of Simeon, listed among Jacob’s descendants who traveled to Egypt (Genesis 46:10), and he appears again in the genealogies of Chronicles (1 Chronicles 4:24). This usage anchors the name in the tribal identity of the wilderness period.
Centuries later, the name resurfaces during the post-exilic restoration. One Yariv is recorded as a chief leader who returned with Ezra from Babylon (Ezra 8:16), signaling his role in the community’s rebuilding efforts. Another man with this name, a priest and son of Jozadak, is mentioned in Ezra 10:18 as one who divorced his foreign wife in response to Ezra’s reforms. In each instance, the meaning "he contends" likely reflects a family tradition or a hope for divine advocacy.
The recurrence of Yariv from the patriarchal era through the return from exile highlights how names preserved memory across generations. While the root verb r-b- implies legal contention or pleading, its use here as a proper name suggests a personal characteristic or a prayerful aspiration rather than a description of conflict. The sources do not elaborate on the theological weight of the name beyond its literal definition and historical context.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Yariv carries the sense of one who pleads or contends. In Scripture, this word appears as a personal identifier for three distinct men. It connects the tribal lineage of Simeon with the later restoration of Israel after exile. This shows how names preserve memory and identity across generations.
For your faith, this reminds us that God values each person’s role in His story. Whether in the wilderness or in rebuilding a community, individuals named Yariv contributed to God’s purposes. Their lives show that ordinary people can play significant parts in divine plans.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ for/ Jarib1×
- and/ Jarib1×
- Jarib1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- יָרִ֖יב1×
- וּ/לְ/יָרִ֜יב1×
- וְ/יָרִ֖יב1×
Key Verses
-
I Chronicles 4:24
The sons of Simeon: Nemuel, Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, Shaul;
This verse anchors the name in the tribal identity of Simeon during the wilderness period.
-
Ezra 8:16
Then I sent for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, for Elnathan, for Jarib, for Elnathan, for Nathan, for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men; also for Joiarib and for Elnathan, who were teachers.
Here Yariv is a chief leader who returned with Ezra, showing his role in the community’s rebuilding efforts.
-
Ezra 10:18
Among the sons of the priests there were found who had married foreign women: of the sons of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and his brothers: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah.
This priest named Yariv divorced his foreign wife, demonstrating obedience to Ezra’s reforms.