Abarim Publications' online Biblical Hebrew Dictionary
אבב
The root אבב ('bb) isn't used as verb in the Bible, so we don't know what it might have meant. But apparently, it existed in Assyrian with the meaning of to be fresh or bright. In Biblical Hebrew the following derivatives remain:
- The masculine noun אב ('eb) probably meaning freshness or fresh green. It occurs a mere two times in the Bible: in Job 8:12 and Song of Solomon 6:11. Note that this word is spelled the same as אב ('ab), meaning father.
- The masculine noun אביב ('abib) meaning barley, and specifically barley when it's still in the ear and not properly processed into grain or flour (Exodus 9:31, Leviticus 2:14). Prior to the exile, the first month of the Hebrew agricultural calendar (the month of the exile and Passover, coinciding with April) was called Abib (Exodus 13:4, 23:15, 34:18, Deuteronomy 16:1). After the exile this month was called ניסן (nisan; Nehemiah 2:1, Esther 3:7).