Word Study for H1023 (בֵּית הַמֶּרְחָק)

Bêyth ham-Merchâq /bayth ham-mer-khawk'/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom בַּיִת and מֶרְחָק with the article interposed

Meaninghouse of the breadth; Beth-ham-Merchak, a place in Palestine

KJV usageplace that was far off.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of Bêyth ham-Merchâq — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew phrase Bêyth ham-Merchâq, represented by H1023, literally means house of the breadth or place that was far off. It is a compound term derived from the words for house, H1004 bayith, and distance, H4801 merchâq. This specific place name appears only 1 time in 1 unique verse in the entire Bible.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The single biblical mention of H1023 occurs during a critical moment in King David's life. As he and his loyal followers fled Jerusalem, the narrative states that "the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was far off" 2 Samuel 15:17. This location served as a designated stopping point or outpost, marking the initial stage of the king's departure from the city. The act of tarrying there signifies a pause to gather before continuing into exile.

Related Words & Concepts

The words that form and surround H1023 provide deeper context:

H1004 bayith (house): This is the first part of the name, meaning a house, family, place, or temple. It denotes a specific location or dwelling.
H4801 merchâq (far off): The second component of the name, meaning remoteness or a distant place. It emphasizes the concept of distance and separation.
H4428 melek (king): This word identifies the central figure in the event, David, whose royal authority is being challenged, forcing his departure 2 Samuel 15:17.
H3318 yâtsâʼ (to go out): Describes the action of the king and people as they "went forth," highlighting their departure from a place of security 2 Samuel 15:17.
H5975 ʻâmad (stand): Translated as "tarried" in the verse, this word means to stand, abide, or remain, indicating the temporary halt at this specific location.

Theological Significance

The theological and narrative weight of H1023 is derived entirely from its unique context:

A Place of Transition: Beth-ham-Merchak represents a literal and symbolic waypoint. It is not a final destination but a point of passage between the known world of the palace and the uncertainty of exile.
Marking a Boundary: The name itself, "place that was far off," functions as a boundary marker. By stopping here, King David and his followers are officially outside the immediate vicinity of the city, beginning their journey into a different phase of their lives 2 Samuel 15:17.
A Moment of Collective Pause: The verse specifies that "the king" and "all the people" with him paused at this spot. It highlights a moment of collective resolve and preparation before facing the trials ahead.

Summary

In summary, H1023 Bêyth ham-Merchâq is a unique geographical term whose significance is entirely bound to a single event. While its components, H1004 bayith and H4801 merchâq, appear elsewhere, their combination here pinpoints a poignant moment of transition and departure in the life of King David. It serves as a scriptural example of how a place name can define a critical narrative juncture, embodying the very concepts of distance and separation.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 2 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

מֶּרְחָק
בֵּית

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

1 verse, all in 2 Samuel — and none of the other 38 Old Testament books.

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.