# \*rbw: 'to grow, increase; to rear'

> Proto-Semitic *rbw, 'to grow, increase; to rear': reflexes in 11 language(s).

A page of the Linear A Lexicon's research wiki, in [Wiki](<https://linear-a.ai/wiki/index.md>) › [Kaphtor Semitic Roots](<https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/index.md>) › [R](<https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/r/index.md>). Updated 2026-10-26.

## Root

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Reconstruction | \*rbw |
| Meaning | 'to grow, increase; to rear' |
| Basis | project |

## Reflexes

| Language | Form | Sources | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Epigraphic South Arabian | Sab yrbwn (Biella 476) | Biella 476 | gloss withheld |
| Akkadian | rabû A (CAD R 37) | CAD R 37 | gloss withheld |
| Hebrew | rābâ; pi. (HALOT 1176); rbyh (DNWSI 1054) | HALOT 1176; DNWSI 1054 | gloss withheld |
| Judaic Aramaic | rǝbā (HALOT 1176) | HALOT 1176 | gloss withheld |
| Syrian Aramaic | rbā 'grow, increase; bring up' (Payne Smith 525) | Payne Smith 525 |  |
| Arabic | rabā 'it increased'; 'he grew up'; rabbaytuhu 'I reared him, fostered him, or brought him up' (Lane 1023) | Lane 1023 |  |
| Pre-Islamic North Arabian | Safaitic rbb, yrbb (Al-Jallad–Jaworska 114); mrby (Al-Jallad 2026, 120) | Al-Jallad–Jaworska 114; Al-Jallad 2026 120 | gloss withheld |
| Emar | tar-bi-ia-ti /tarbīyātu/ (Pentiuc 2001, 179) | Pentiuc 2001 179 | gloss withheld |
| Punic | Neo-Punic trbt šqlt (Krahmalkov 498) | Krahmalkov 498 | gloss withheld |
| Ugaritic | trbyt (DULAT 864) | DULAT 864 | gloss withheld |
| Aramaic | rby (DNWSI 1052); rbʔ (DNWSI 1051); rby (DNWSI 1054) | DNWSI 1052; DNWSI 1051; DNWSI 1054 | gloss withheld |

A form keeps its source's gloss only when the source is public domain or openly licensed.

## Notes

HALOT 1176 sets Hebrew rbh with JArm. rǝbā, Akkadian rabû and Arabic rabā (rbw). Akkadian rabû also carries 2477 \*rabb- 'big'. The noun 'foster father' is 3617.

## Linked from

- [R](<https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/r/index.md>)

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Page: https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/r/3632_to_grow_increase_to_rear/
Licence: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Cite as: di Mino, Tom. 2026. Linear A Lexicon. Plasma AI. https://linear-a.ai/. Data: kaphtor, commit add28e94.