Hebrew · H7378, G2919 · unreviewed

רִיב

Properly, to toss , i.e. grapple ; mostly figuratively, to wrangle , i.e. hold a controversy ; (by implication) to defend · by implication, to try, condemn, punish

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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant

רִיב H7378 properly, to toss , i.e. grapple ; mostly figuratively, to wrangle , i.e. hold a controversy ; (by implication) to defend

Pronunciation riv

Escalation from physical grappling to legal/verbal dispute; often frames God's covenant lawsuit against Israel's unfaithfulness

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κρίνω G2919 by implication, to try, condemn, punish

Pronunciation krínō

Core judicial term encompassing mental assessment, decision-making, and God's final condemnation; ranges from opinion to verdict.

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What does רִיב (riv) mean in the Bible?

רִיב · κρίνω is a Hebrew word meaning "to plead a legal case or defend a cause".

Full entry for רִיב (H7378, G2919) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

to plead a legal case or defend a cause

Grammatical Forms

How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.

Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 35×

Imperfect Isa 50:8 · Isa 51:22 · Jer 50:34 · Job 13:19 · Job 23:6 · Judg 6:31 · Mic 7:9 · Prov 22:23 · Prov 23:11 · Ps 103:9 · Isa 49:25 · Isa 57:16 · Jer 2:9 · Jer 12:1 · Jer 2:29 16×

Perfect 1Sam 25:39 · Judg 11:25 · Gen 26:22 · Num 20:13 · Job 33:13 · Lam 3:58 6×

Sequential imperfect Hos 2:4 · Isa 1:17 · Mic 6:1 · Prov 25:9 5×

Jussive Hos 4:4 · Judg 6:31 · Judg 6:32 · Prov 3:30 5×

Participle active Isa 45:9 · Jer 51:36 2×

Infinitive absolute Jer 50:34 1×

Hebrew Verb Forms

How this verb appears across 35 occurrences in the Hebrew OT (OSHB Leningrad Codex).

Aspect / Form

Imperfect 21 Perfect 6 Imperative 5 Participle 2 Infinitive absolute 1

Stem

Qal 35

Mood

Indicative/jussive 11 Indicative 6 Imperative 5 Jussive 5 Indicative/cohortative 5

OT Occurrences

Aspect in Hebrew reflects grammatical form, not tense. "Perfect" (Perfective) typically denotes completed action; "Imperfect" (Imperfective) denotes incomplete or ongoing action. Stem modifies the action type (Qal=simple, Niphal=passive, Piel=intensive, etc.).

Morphology: OSHB WLC (Open Scriptures, CC BY 4.0) · STEPBible TEHMC (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0)

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

1 Corinthians 4 — Stewards of Christ, Fools for Christ, and a Father’s Admonition 1 Corinthians 5 — Purge the Evil, Keep the Feast, and Guard the Holiness of the Church Acts 17 — The Gospel Reasoned from Scripture and Proclaimed to the Nations Acts 24 — Paul Before Felix: Resurrection Hope, Clear Conscience, and Coming Judgment John 16 — The Spirit’s Convicting Witness, the Disciples’ Sorrow Turned to Joy, and Christ’s Victory over the World John 3 — New Birth, Lifted-Up Son, and the Love of God for the World John 5 — The Son Who Gives Life, Judges, and Is Witnessed by the Father John 7 — The Feast, the Divided Crowd, and the Living Water of Jesus John 8 — The Light of the World, True Freedom, and the I AM Before Abraham Luke 6 — The Lord of the Sabbath Forms a Kingdom People Matthew 19 — Marriage from Creation, Children Received, Riches Renounced, and the Reward of Following Christ Matthew 7 — Kingdom Discernment, the Narrow Way, and the Wise Builder Romans 14 — Receiving One Another, Honoring the Lord, and Pursuing Peace in Matters of Conscience Romans 2 — God’s Righteous Judgment and the Exposure of Religious Presumption

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources

MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain

Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0

Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

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