Rob (H7230) means abundance, multitude, greatness, sufficiency. It derives from the root rabab (H7231, 'to be or become many/great'). It appears approximately 150 times in the Old Testament. It can describe abundance of material goods, a multitude of people, greatness of power, or the weight of suffering and sin. The related adjective rab (H7227) means 'many, great, much.'
Rob appears in some of the most beloved theological statements about God's character. The phrase rob chesed — 'great/abundant lovingkindness' (Psalm 5:7; 69:13; Numbers 14:18) — describes the inexhaustible, overflowing nature of God's covenant love. This is not a minimal, rationed kindness but an abundance of mercy.
The contrast between rob (abundance) and meod (very, exceedingly) runs through the Psalms: God is 'great in power' (rab koach), 'abounding in steadfast love' (rab chesed). When Israel faced the enormity of their sin, Moses appealed to the rob of God's mercy: 'Pardon the iniquity of this people according to the greatness of your lovingkindness' (Numbers 14:19). The abundance of God's grace exceeds the multitude of human sin.