What does פָּרָה · רָבָה mean in the Bible?
פָּרָה · רָבָה is a Hebrew phrase meaning "be fruitful and multiply".
Hebrew · H6509, H7235
פָּרָה וְרָבָה
To bear fruit (literally or figuratively) · to increase (in whatever respect)
Reading a lexicon entry
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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant
פָּרָהH6509to bear fruit (literally or figuratively)
Pronunciationpārāh
Denotes productive growth from within; used of both biological fertility and covenant blessing's multiplication through generations.
Open lexicon entry →רָבָהH7235to increase (in whatever respect)
Pronunciationrābāh
Expansion from quantity to authority and dominance; used of God's covenant blessing multiplying nations and power.
Open lexicon entry →What does פָּרָה וְרָבָה (parah ve-rabah) mean in the Bible?
פָּרָה · רָבָה is a Hebrew phrase meaning "be fruitful and multiply".
Full entry for פָּרָה וְרָבָה (H6509, H7235) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How many biblical occurrences are listed for H6509, H7235?
H6509, H7235 is connected to 264 lexical occurrence verses in the lexicon data.
Evidence Summary
Hebrew phrase. be fruitful and multiply
Source Gloss
be fruitful and multiply
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups1Aligned forms15
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense15×
Participle activeDeut 29:17 · Ezek 19:10 · Gen 49:22 · Isa 17:6 · Isa 32:12 · Ps 128:37×
Sequential imperfectGen 1:22 · Gen 1:28 · Gen 9:1 · Gen 9:7 · Gen 35:115×
ImperfectExod 23:30 · Isa 11:12×
PerfectExod 1:71×
Word Origins
פָּרָה וְרָבָה is a primitive root - no further derivation.