רַב
rav
chief
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
Supported# The Hebrew Word רַב (rav): Chief and Authority The Hebrew word *rav* (H7227B) refers to a person of high rank or authority—specifically, a chief. With 29 occurrences throughout the biblical text, this term designates individuals who hold prominent leadership positions. The word functions as a title or descriptor for those exercising command or administrative power within a community or institution. The frequency of *rav* across 29 biblical passages suggests it was a consistent term for describing hierarchical authority structures in ancient Israel. Rather than being restricted to a single context, the word appears to have been used flexibly to identify various types of leaders—whether military commanders, household overseers, or officials within the temple or court system. This versatility indicates that Hebrew speakers employed *rav* as a general term for anyone holding a chief position, regardless of the specific domain in which they exercised authority. The significance of this word lies in its reflection of how ancient biblical society conceptualized leadership and rank. By having a dedicated term for "chief," the Hebrew language provided a clear linguistic marker for distinguishing those in positions of command from the general population. This word choice reveals that formal hierarchy and the recognition of chief figures were basic organizational features of the communities described in the biblical text.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
29 total occurrences across the text
In accordance with the law, the drinking was not compulsory; for so the king had instructed all the officials of his house, that they should do according to every man’s pleasure.
Jeremiah 39:9Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive into Babylon the residue of the people who remained in the city, the deserters also who fell away to him, and the residue of the people who remained.
Jeremiah 39:10But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left of the poor of the people, who had nothing, in the land of Judah, and gave them vineyards and fields at the same time.
Jeremiah 39:11Now Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon commanded Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard concerning Jeremiah, saying,
Jeremiah 39:13So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard sent, with Nebushazban, Rabsaris, and Nergal Sharezer, Rabmag, and all the chief officers of the king of Babylon;
Jeremiah 39:13So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard sent, with Nebushazban, Rabsaris, and Nergal Sharezer, Rabmag, and all the chief officers of the king of Babylon;
Jeremiah 40:1The word which came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, after Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had let him go from Ramah, when he had taken him being bound in chains among all the captives of Jerusalem and Judah, who were carried away captive to Babylon.
Jeremiah 40:2The captain of the guard took Jeremiah, and said to him, “Yahweh your God pronounced this evil on this place;
Jeremiah 40:5Now while he had not yet gone back, “Go back then,” he said, “to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has made governor over the cities of Judah, and dwell with him among the people; or go wherever it seems right to you to go.” So the captain of the guard gave him food and a present, and let him go.
Jeremiah 41:1Now in the seventh month, Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the royal offspring and one of the chief officers of the king, and ten men with him, came to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and there they ate bread together in Mizpah.
Jeremiah 41:10Then Ishmael carried away captive all of the people who were left in Mizpah, even the king’s daughters, and all the people who remained in Mizpah, whom Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had committed to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam. Ishmael the son of Nethaniah carried them away captive, and departed to go over to the children of Ammon.
Jeremiah 43:6the men, and the women, and the children, and the king’s daughters, and every person who Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had left with Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan; and Jeremiah the prophet, and Baruch the son of Neriah;
Jeremiah 52:12Now in the fifth month, in the tenth day of the month, which was the nineteenth year of king Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, who stood before the king of Babylon, came into Jerusalem.
Jeremiah 52:14All the army of the Chaldeans, who were with the captain of the guard, broke down all the walls of Jerusalem all around.
Jeremiah 52:15Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive of the poorest of the people, and the residue of the people who were left in the city, and those who fell away, who fell to the king of Babylon, and the residue of the multitude.
Jeremiah 52:16But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left of the poorest of the land to be vineyard keepers and farmers.
Jeremiah 52:19The captain of the guard took away the cups, the fire pans, the basins, the pots, the lamp stands, the spoons, and the bowls; that which was of gold, in gold, and that which was of silver, in silver.
Jeremiah 52:24The captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the threshold:
Jeremiah 52:26Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took them, and brought them to the king of Babylon to Riblah.
Jeremiah 52:30in the twenty-third year of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive of the Jews seven hundred forty-five people: all the people were four thousand six hundred.
Daniel 1:3The king spoke to Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring in some of the children of Israel, even of the royal offspring and of the nobles;
Jonah 1:6So the ship master came to him, and said to him, “What do you mean, sleeper? Arise, call on your God! Maybe your God will notice us, so that we won’t perish.”
2 Kings 25:8Now in the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month, which was the nineteenth year of king Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem.
2 Kings 25:10All the army of the Chaldeans, who were with the captain of the guard, broke down the walls around Jerusalem.
2 Kings 25:11Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive the residue of the people who were left in the city, and those who fell away, who fell to the king of Babylon, and the residue of the multitude.
2 Kings 25:12But the captain of the guard left some of the poorest of the land to work the vineyards and fields.
2 Kings 25:15The captain of the guard took away the fire pans, the basins, that which was of gold, in gold, and that which was of silver, in silver.
2 Kings 25:18The captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the threshold;
2 Kings 25:20Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took them, and brought them to the king of Babylon to Riblah.