רֶ֫בַע (re.va)
re.va
Reba
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun reba simply means "four." In biblical usage, it functions as a numeral to indicate the number four, whether counting objects, people, or units of measurement.
This specific entry appears only twice in Scripture, both times in the context of the Midianite war described in Numbers 31:8 and Joshua 13:21. Here, Reba is identified as one of the five kings of Midian who was killed alongside Balaam. The name itself likely reflects this numerical root, serving as a personal identifier rather than carrying a complex theological metaphor.
While many Hebrew names derive from verbs or divine titles, Reba stands out for its straightforward numerical origin. Its brevity and clarity make it a simple marker in the historical record of Israel’s conflicts during the wilderness period.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Reba appears in Scripture as a simple marker of history rather than a theological concept. It identifies one of the five kings of Midian defeated during Israel’s wilderness journey. While we do not have personal stories about this individual, his name reminds us that God keeps detailed records of every person involved in His plans.
Seeing names like Reba listed alongside major events helps ground our faith in real history. It shows that the spiritual battles Israel faced were fought by actual people in specific places. This connection between the divine and the human encourages us to trust that God is present in the concrete details of our own lives, even when we feel small or unnoticed.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Reba2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- רֶ֔בַע2×
Key Verses
-
Numbers 31:8
They killed the kings of Midian with the rest of their slain: Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, the five kings of Midian. They also killed Balaam the son of Beor with the sword.
This verse lists Reba as one of the five Midianite kings killed by Israel, marking the completion of God’s judgment against the nation that led Israel into idolatry.
-
Joshua 13:21
all the cities of the plain, and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, whom Moses struck with the chiefs of Midian, Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, the princes of Sihon, who lived in the land.
Here Reba is recalled in the context of land distribution, linking his defeat to Moses’ earlier victory and confirming the fulfillment of God’s promise regarding the territory.