רִבּוֹ (rib.bo)
rib.bo
ten thousand
H:NQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 6 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N
Word Overview
The noun ribbo represents a specific numerical unit meaning ten thousand, or a myriad. In the Hebrew Bible, it functions as a standard term for large-scale counting, particularly when enumerating populations, military forces, or material wealth. It is not merely a vague symbol of infinity but a precise magnitude used to convey significant scale in historical records.
This word appears in six verses, with a notable concentration in the books of I Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah. These texts often employ ribbo when listing census data or resources for temple restoration, grounding the abstract concept of "many" in concrete administrative detail. The Aramaic equivalent is ribo (H7240), which carries the same meaning in later biblical texts.
Translators typically render ribbo as "ten thousand" to preserve its exact numerical value, avoiding the ambiguity that might arise from words like "multitude." By using this specific term, the biblical authors emphasize the substantial size of groups or assets, providing readers with a clear sense of the magnitude involved in these historical accounts.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word ribbo stands for ten thousand, a specific unit used in the Hebrew Bible to measure large groups or valuable resources. It appears frequently in historical records like Chronicles and Ezra, where it quantifies the gold, silver, and people involved in rebuilding the temple. This precision reminds us that God cares about the concrete details of our lives, not just abstract ideas.
When we see this number in Scripture, it highlights the scale of God’s provision and the collective effort of His people. Whether counting talents of metal or members of an assembly, the text shows that every contribution matters in the larger work of restoration. We can find comfort knowing that our small acts of faith are part of a grander story that God oversees with care.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 6 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- ten thousand5×
- tens of thousands1×
- ten thousands1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- רִבּ֔וֹא2×
- רִבּוֹ֒1×
- רִבֹּא֖וֹת1×
- רִבֹּ֣אות1×
- רִבּ֜וֹ1×
- רִבּ֛וֹ1×
Key Verses
-
I Chronicles 29:7
and they gave for the service of God’s house of gold five thousand talents and ten thousand darics, of silver ten thousand talents, of bronze eighteen thousand talents, and of iron one hundred thousand talents.
This verse uses the word to specify the exact amount of gold darics given for the temple service, showing precise generosity.
-
Ezra 2:64
The whole assembly together was forty-two thousand three hundred sixty,
Here it helps count the total number of people returning from exile, marking a significant moment of restoration for Israel.
-
Daniel 11:12
The multitude will be carried off, and his heart will be exalted. He will cast down tens of thousands, but he won’t prevail.
The term describes the scale of defeat for an enemy leader, illustrating how God limits human pride and power.