or רְחוֹב; from רָחַב; a width, i.e. (concretely) avenue or area; broad place (way), street. See also בֵּית רְחוֹב.
Transliteration:rᵉchôb
Pronunciation:rekh-obe'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word רְחֹב (rᵉchôb) `{{H7339}}` originates from the verbal root רָחַב (rachab) `{{H7337}}`, meaning "to be wide, broad, spacious." As a noun, רְחֹב concretely refers to a "width," "broad place," "avenue," "public square," or "street." It consistently denotes an expansive, unconfined area, often within an urban setting, designed for public access and interaction. Its semantic range primarily encompasses physical spaces that are open and accessible to a community, contrasting with narrow or confined passages.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term רְחֹב (rᵉchôb) `{{H7339}}` appears frequently throughout the Hebrew Bible, often in its plural form, רְחֹבוֹת (rᵉchôbôt), referring to the "streets" or "plazas" of a city. Its usage provides insight into the social, religious, and political life of ancient Israel.
1. **Public Gathering Places:** The rᵉchôb serves as a primary location for communal assembly. For instance, in [[Nehemiah 8:1]], Ezra reads the Law to the people gathered "in the open square (רְחֹב) before the Water Gate," highlighting its function as a central point for spiritual instruction and covenant renewal. Similarly, [[2 Chronicles 32:6]] mentions Hezekiah gathering the people "in the open square of the city gate" to encourage them.
2. **Sites of Commerce and Daily Life:** rᵉchôb denotes the typical thoroughfares where daily activities occur. [[1 Kings 20:34]] speaks of King Ahab being granted "streets (רְחֹבֹת)" in Damascus, implying trading quarters or residential areas.
3. **Scenes of Lament and Desolation:** In times of judgment or national distress, the rᵉchôb becomes a visible stage for mourning and devastation. [[Isaiah 15:3]] describes people wailing "in its streets (רְחֹבֹתֶיהָ)" during Moab's desolation. [[Lamentations 2:11]] poignantly pictures children and infants fainting "in the streets (בִּרְחֹבוֹת)" of Jerusalem, emphasizing the widespread suffering. Likewise, [[Jeremiah 9:21]] portrays death entering through windows and cutting off children "in the streets (בַּחוּץ)" (though here חוּץ is used, the concept is similar to rᵉchôb for public space).
4. **Places of Public Proclamation:** Wisdom is personified as crying aloud "in the open squares (בָּרְחֹבֹת)" in [[Proverbs 1:20]], indicating the public and accessible nature of divine truth. Conversely, false teachers or wicked individuals are also found "in the streets (בַּחוּץ)" or "in the broad ways (בָּרְחֹבֹת)" as in [[Proverbs 7:12]], illustrating where temptation and sin often manifest.
5. **Urban Description:** The term is used descriptively to delineate parts of a city, such as "the street of the city" in [[2 Samuel 21:12]] or "the broad places of the city" in [[Zechariah 8:5]], which speaks of children playing there, symbolizing peace and prosperity.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary linguistic connection for רְחֹב (rᵉchôb) `{{H7339}}` is its verbal root רָחַב (rachab) `{{H7337}}`, "to be wide, broad, spacious." This root also yields other significant nouns:
* רֹחַב (rochab) `{{H7341}}`: "breadth, width," referring to the abstract dimension.
* רְחָבָה (rᵉchabah) `{{H7342}}`: "broad place, spaciousness," often used metaphorically for deliverance, freedom, or relief from distress (e.g., [[Psalm 18:19]] where God brings one into a "broad place"). While rᵉchôb is typically a concrete noun for a physical street, rᵉchabah can carry a more abstract or metaphorical sense of an unconstrained state.
Concepts related to rᵉchôb include:
* **Public Sphere:** It defines the public domain of a city, contrasting with private dwellings.
* **Community:** As a gathering place, it is central to communal life, social interaction, and civic functions.
* **Accessibility:** The open nature of a rᵉchôb implies accessibility for all, whether for good (wisdom, law) or ill (sin, judgment).
* **Urbanization:** Its consistent appearance underscores the significance of cities and urban planning in ancient Israelite society.
### Theological Significance
While רְחֹב (rᵉchôb) `{{H7339}}` primarily denotes a physical space, its biblical usage imbues it with profound theological significance:
1. **The Stage for Divine Revelation and Instruction:** The rᵉchôb serves as a public platform where God's word is proclaimed. The reading of the Law in the rᵉchôb in [[Nehemiah 8:1]] underscores that divine instruction is not meant for an elite few but for the entire community, openly and accessibly. Similarly, Wisdom's cry in the rᵉchôb [[Proverbs 1:20]] signifies that God's truth is universally available and its rejection is without excuse.
2. **Witness to Divine Judgment and Blessing:** The condition of the rᵉchôb often reflects the spiritual state of the people and the consequences of their actions. When streets are filled with mourning, famine, or death [[Lamentations 2:11]], it is a tangible sign of divine judgment for sin and covenant infidelity. Conversely, the vision of children playing in the rᵉchôb of Jerusalem in [[Zechariah 8:5]] symbolizes a future era of peace, security, and divine blessing. The rᵉchôb thus becomes a silent witness to God's active involvement in the history of His people.
3. **Human Responsibility and Interaction:** The rᵉchôb is where human beings live out their lives in public, where justice is sought, where social norms are displayed, and where sin can manifest openly. It highlights the communal aspect of both righteousness and wickedness. The call to "seek for justice... in its broad places (בִּרְחֹבֹתֶיהָ)" in [[Jeremiah 5:1]] emphasizes the public nature of moral accountability.
### Summary
The Hebrew term רְחֹב (rᵉchôb) `{{H7339}}`, derived from the root meaning "to be wide," refers to a "broad place," "public square," or "street" within a city. It is a fundamental descriptor of urban public space in the Hebrew Bible, frequently appearing in the plural. Contextual analysis reveals rᵉchôb as a central hub for community life, including gatherings for worship and instruction [[Nehemiah 8:1]], commerce, and daily social interaction. Theologically, the rᵉchôb functions as a significant arena for divine activity and human response. It is where God's wisdom is publicly proclaimed [[Proverbs 1:20]], where the consequences of sin and judgment are visibly manifested through lamentation and desolation [[Lamentations 2:11]], and where the blessings of peace and prosperity are realized [[Zechariah 8:5]]. Thus, the rᵉchôb is more than a mere physical location; it is a symbolic stage reflecting the spiritual health and destiny of the community in its relationship with God.
TRV