Bible Word Study
רָבִיד
râbîyd · a collar (as spread around the neck)
רָבִיד
a collar (as spread around the neck)
Definition
רָבִיד (râbîyd) refers to a type of collar or necklace, specifically a wide, ornamental band worn around the neck. In its two biblical occurrences, it signifies a high-status item of jewelry. In Genesis 41:42, Pharaoh places his own 'râbîyd' on Joseph as a symbol of authority and honor, elevating him to second-in-command of Egypt. In Ezekiel 16:11, God describes adorning Jerusalem with a 'râbîyd' as part of a lavish, symbolic act of beautification and covenant love.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only twice in the Old Testament, both times in contexts of bestowing honor and high status. In Genesis 41:42, it is a royal insignia of office given by Pharaoh. In Ezekiel 16:11, it is part of a metaphorical description of God's generous adornment of His people. The usage consistently depicts the collar as a valuable, prestigious object given by a superior to a recipient.
Etymology
Derived from the root רָבַד (râbad, H7234), meaning 'to spread out' or 'to lie down.' The noun form רָבִיד thus conveys the sense of something spread or extended around the neck, fitting its description as a wide collar or chain.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as a symbol of divine favor, covenant relationship, and exaltation. Joseph's collar (Genesis 41:42) represents God's providential elevation of the faithful from prison to palace, a theme of reversal and sovereignty. In Ezekiel 16:11, the collar is part of God's gracious adornment of unfaithful Jerusalem, highlighting His initiating, covenantal love and the honor He bestows upon His people, which they did not earn. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the imagery of God as a king who confers dignity and authority. In the ancient Near East, collars or necklaces of this type were not merely decorative but served as official insignia of high office and royal favor. Pharaoh's act of giving his own collar to Joseph was a public, ceremonial transfer of authority, recognizable to all as a mark of vice-regal power. The wide, likely beaded or gold collar differed from a simple chain, denoting immense wealth and status. עֲנָק (ʿănāq, H6060) — a necklace or ornament, generally for adornment without the specific connotation of official authority. צָוָאר (ṣāwāʾr, H6677) — the neck itself, not a piece of jewelry. רָבִיד carries a more specific sense of a ceremonial band or chain of office.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]