שָׁבַח (b. h.) [to grow, spread,] to improve, grow in value. B. Bath. 135ᵇ שֶׁבַח ששָׁבְחוּ וכ׳ an improvement which the estate obtained of itself, i.e. a natural increase in value by growth. Ib. 143ᵇ שבחו נכסים מחמת נכסים the estate improved through outlays made from the estate; שבחו … מחמת עצמן the estate improved owing to their (the heirs’) own expense of labor or money; a. e.
Hif. - הִשְׁבִּיחַ 1) to improve, ameliorate. B. Mets. 14ᵇ גזל … והִשְׁבִּיחָהּ if one took unlawful possession of a field and sold it to another person who made improvements in it. B. Bath. 124ᵇ שבח שהִשְׁבִּיתוּ יורשין וכ׳ an improvement which the heirs made after their father’s death. Ib. IX, 3 השביחו לאמצע, v. אֶמְצַע. Ib. הִשְׁבִּיחָה לעצמה the increase of value which she produced goes to her own profit; a. fr. —2) (neut. verb) to improve, grow in value. Maas. Sh. II, 1; a. e. —3) to get bright, v. infra.
Pi. - שִׁבֵּחַ 1) [ [to amplify,] to praise. Erub. 19ᵃ ולא עוד אלא שמְשַׁבֵּחַ and not only (does he submit to God’s judgment in silence), but he even praises. Succ. 27ᵇ, v. עַצְלָן. Sot. VII, 8 ושִׁבְּחוּהוּ חכמים and the scholars praised him for it. Mekh. Bo, s. 12 הודו ושִׁבְּחוּ וכ׳ they offered thanks and praise that the emeny did not see (their dead) &c. Ib. צריך לשַׁבֵּחַ must offer praise; a. fr.—Part. pass. מְשׁוּבָּח; f. מְשׁוּבַּחת; pl. מְשׁוּבָּחִין; מְשׁוּבָּחוֹת a) improved, valuable; b) praiseworthy. Y. Yoma VI, 43ᶜ top מש׳ בגופו a sacrifice superior as to its body (stouter), מש׳ במראיו better looking. Cant. R. to I, 1 המש׳ שבשירים the most precious of songs. Num. R. s. 163 (ref. to Num. XIII, 22) שהפסולת שלה משובחת מן המש׳ (not משובח), v. פְּסוֹלֶת; a. fr.— to quiet, tame.—Part. pass. as ab. Yalk. Num. 729 כחו … ומה מש׳ how great is the strength of this lion, and how tame he is!
Hithpa. - הִשְׁתַּבֵּחַ 1) to spread, (of light) get bright. Midr. Till. to Ps. XXII ואחר כך היא מִשְׁתַּבַּחַת והולכת ed. Bub. (oth. ed. מַשְׁבַּחַת Hif.) and at last it grows bright and brighter; Cant. R. to VI, 10 מרטבת (corr. acc.). —2) to be improved. Gen. R. s. 34 כל זמן שהוא כותשה היא משתבחת the more he beats it (the flax), the better it grows; ib. s. 32; ib. s. 55 משת׳ והולכת; Midr. Till. to Ps. XI מַשְׁבַּחַת והולכת (Hif.; ed. Bub. משבח והולך, read: מַשְׁבִּיחַ, or משובח); Yalk. Gen. 95 משובחת; Yalk. Ps. 654 משב׳; a. e. —3) to praise one’s self. Bekh. 45ᵇ הקב"ה מִשְׁתַּבֵּחַ בבעלי קומה the Lord prides himself on conquering men of high stature. Ex. R. s. 9 אותו רשע משתבח ואומר וכ׳ that wicked man (Pharaoh) prides himself and says, that he is a god; a. e. —4) to be praised. Ex. R. s. 41 הקב"ה יִשְׁתַּבַּח שמו ויתעלה זכרו the Holy One, blessed be he, praised be his name, and exalted his memory; a. fr.
