תַּרְבִּית (tar.bit)
tar.bit
increment
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun tarbit refers to an increase or growth added to a principal amount, specifically in financial contexts. It describes the extra value generated by a loan, which translators typically render as interest or usury. In the Hebrew Bible, this concept is not merely about profit but represents a measurable gain derived from lending money.
This term appears in two key passages: Leviticus 25:36 and Proverbs 28:8. In Leviticus, it is forbidden when lending to a fellow Israelite, emphasizing community care over financial exploitation. Proverbs contrasts the person who accumulates wealth through tarbit with one who shows mercy, highlighting the moral weight of how surplus is handled.
The word shares a root with verbs meaning "to increase" or "to multiply," grounding its meaning in natural growth. However, when applied to loans, it becomes a technical term for the cost of borrowing. This distinction helps readers understand why biblical law treats such gains differently depending on who receives them, reflecting broader themes of justice and stewardship.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word tarbit describes an increase added to a principal amount, specifically in financial contexts. It refers to the extra value generated by a loan, often translated as interest or usury. In the Hebrew Bible, this concept is not merely about profit but represents a measurable gain derived from lending money.
This term appears in two key passages: Leviticus and Proverbs. In Leviticus 25:36, it is forbidden when lending to a fellow Israelite, emphasizing community care over financial exploitation. Proverbs contrasts the person who accumulates wealth through tarbit with one who shows mercy, highlighting the moral weight of how surplus is handled.
The word shares a root with verbs meaning "to increase" or "to multiply," grounding its meaning in natural growth. However, when applied to loans, it becomes a technical term for the cost of borrowing. This distinction helps readers understand why biblical law treats such gains differently depending on who receives them, reflecting broader themes of justice and stewardship.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ usury1×
- and/ profit1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/תַרְבִּ֔ית1×
- וְ/תַרְבִּ֑ית1×
Key Verses
-
Leviticus 25:36
Take no interest from him or profit; but fear your God, that your brother may live among you.
This verse explicitly forbids charging tarbit to a fellow Israelite, prioritizing community survival over financial gain.
-
Proverbs 28:8
He who increases his wealth by excessive interest gathers it for one who has pity on the poor.
Here the term describes wealth accumulated through excessive interest, which is ultimately gathered by someone who shows pity to the poor.