רִבֵּעַ (rib.be.a)
rib.be.a
fourth
H:AQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:A
Word Overview
The Hebrew adjective ribbea simply means "fourth" in a sequence. It appears only four times in the Old Testament, always serving as a precise ordinal marker rather than carrying deep symbolic weight. In these instances, it functions like any other number word, distinguishing one item from another in a list or order.
The sources indicate its usage is strictly descriptive and concrete. For example, it identifies the fourth part of something, such as the fourth part of the camp or the fourth generation. It does not imply mystery or special significance beyond its numerical value. Translators render it straightforwardly as "fourth," reflecting its plain, factual nature in the biblical text.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word ribbea simply means 'fourth.' It appears only four times in the Old Testament, always serving as a precise ordinal marker rather than carrying deep symbolic weight. In these instances, it functions like any other number word, distinguishing one item from another in a list or order.
For example, it identifies the fourth part of something, such as the fourth part of the camp or the fourth generation. It does not imply mystery or special significance beyond its numerical value. Translators render it straightforwardly as 'fourth,' reflecting its plain, factual nature in the biblical text.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a fourth generation4×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- רִבֵּעִֽים\׃2×
- רִבֵּעִ֖ים2×
Key Verses
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Exodus 20:5
you shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them, for I, Yahweh your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and on the fourth generation of those who hate me,
This verse uses ribbea to mark the fourth generation in a sequence of consequences for those who hate God.
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Exodus 34:7
keeping loving kindness for thousands, forgiving iniquity and disobedience and sin; and who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, and on the children’s children, on the third and on the fourth generation.”
Here the word appears again in the context of God's justice, specifying the fourth generation as part of a pattern.
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Numbers 14:18
‘Yahweh is slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, forgiving iniquity and disobedience; and he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and on the fourth generation.’
Moses quotes this phrase, using ribbea to describe the extent of divine visitation on subsequent generations.
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Deuteronomy 5:9
You shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them, for I, Yahweh your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and on the third and on the fourth generation of those who hate me
The fourth generation is mentioned here as part of the warning against idolatry and its long-term effects.