A deeper look at the Biblical stories
Oftentimes, רַב (rav) is a measure and has to do with numerical quantity or length. In the Torah the cloud of God’s presence stood over the tabernacle for יָמִים רַבִּים (yomim rabim) “many days” (Num 9:19). At other times the word רַב (rav) signifies authority. In ancient Hebrew רַב בַּיִת (rav bayt) was used for head servant and רַב הַחֹבֵל (rav hachovel) for captain of a ship. King Nebuchadnezzar promoted Daniel and made him, in Aramaic, a רַבִּי (rabbi) “ruler, officer or chief” in Dan 2:48.
