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In other Semitic languages the meaning of the word is generally represented by roots with
the radicals
, and such a root exists in biblical Hebrew as a synonym of
!
These
two synonyms differ, however, inasmuch as
does not refer to numerical increase
(except perhaps in Gen. 48:19). The Bible attests
about 120 times and in every
period.
This verb can signify the increasing of size and age as with the maturing process of
human life: “And the child grew, and was weaned …” (Gen. 21:8). The word also depicts
the “growing up” of animals (2 Sam. 12:3) and plants (Isa. 44:14) and the maturing of
animal horns (Dan. 8:9) and other growing things. In the intensive stem
indicates
that this rearing has occurred: “… I have nourished and brought up children …” (Isa.
1:2). This stem may also imply permission: “… [He] shall let the locks of the hair of his
head grow” (Num. 6:5).
5
can represent the status of “being great or wealthy.” Abraham’s servant
reported: “And the Lord hath blessed my master greatly; and he is become great …”
(Gen. 24:35)—here the word represents the conclusion of a process. In the intensive stem
the verb sets forth a fact, as when God said: “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I
will bless thee, and make thy name great …” (Gen. 12:2—the first biblical occurrence of
the verb).
This word is sometimes used with the meaning “to be great, to evidence oneself as
great”: “And now, I beseech thee, let the power of my Lord be great, according as thou
hast spoken …” (Num. 14:17). Moses is praying that God will demonstrate that He is
truly great, even as He has said, and do so not by destroying His people. Such an act
(destroying Israel) would make onlookers conclude that God was not able to accomplish
what He had promised. If, however, He would bring Israel into Palestine, this would
exhibit His greatness before the nations. This same sense appears in 2 Sam. 7:22, except
with the added overtone of “magnified,” “praised as great”: “Wherefore thou art great, O
Lord God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God besides thee, according to
all that we have heard with our ears.”
Another emphasis of
is “to be great, powerful, important, or valuable.” This
nuance arises when the word is applied to kings. Pharaoh said to Joseph: “Thou shalt be
over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the
throne will I be greater [more powerful and honored] than thou” (Gen. 41:40). The
Messiah “shall stand and feed in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of
the Lord his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the
earth” (Mic. 5:4); He will be powerful to the ends of the earth. The nuance “to be
valuable” appears in 1 Sam. 26:24 when David said to Saul: “And, behold, as thy life was
much set by this day in mine eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of the Lord,
and let him deliver me out of all tribulation.” In this statement the second use of the verb
is in the intensive stem. Perhaps the force of this could be expressed if one were to
translate: “So may my life be very highly valued.…”
In the reflexive stem
may signify “to magnify oneself.” God says: “Thus will I
magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations
…” (Ezek. 38:23). The context shows that He will bring judgment. In this way He
“magnifies Himself,” or shows Himself to be great and powerful. On the other hand, a