from רָחַב; width (literally or figuratively); breadth, broad, largeness, thickness, wideness.
Transliteration:rôchab
Pronunciation:ro'-khab
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word rôchab (`{{H7341}}`) is derived from the verbal root rachab (`{{H7337}}`), meaning "to be or grow wide, large, or spacious." As a noun, rôchab denotes the quality, state, or dimension of "width," "breadth," "largeness," or "wideness." Its semantic range extends from concrete, measurable dimensions to abstract, figurative concepts. Literally, it describes the physical extent of objects, structures, or geographical areas. Figuratively, rôchab can refer to:
* **Capacity and Comprehension:** Indicating the vastness of understanding, wisdom, or intellectual grasp.
* **Freedom and Deliverance:** Representing a state of spaciousness, security, and release from constraint or distress, often contrasted with "narrowness" or "trouble."
* **Extent and Scope:** Describing the overall reach or expanse of something, such as a territory or influence.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
Rôchab appears frequently throughout the Hebrew Bible, with its usage illuminating both its literal and metaphorical breadth.
* **Literal Dimensions:** The most common application of rôchab is in specifying physical measurements. It is extensively used in the detailed architectural descriptions of the Tabernacle and Temple, particularly in [[1 Kings 6]] and [[Ezekiel 40-43]], where it defines the "breadth" of rooms, gates, and courts (e.g., [[1 Kings 6:2]], [[Ezekiel 40:6]]). It also describes the dimensions of city walls (e.g., [[Nehemiah 3:8]], [[Nehemiah 3:13]]) and even the unusual breadth of Og's bed ([[Deuteronomy 3:11]]). In [[Revelation 21:16]], the New Jerusalem is described as having equal length, breadth, and height, emphasizing its perfect symmetry and vastness.
* **Figurative Wisdom and Understanding:** A profound metaphorical use is found in [[1 Kings 4:29]] (Hebrew 5:9), where God gives Solomon "largeness of heart" (rôchab lebab). This phrase signifies not merely emotional capacity, but an expansive, comprehensive understanding, profound wisdom, and intellectual breadth that surpassed all others.
* **Metaphor for Deliverance and Security:** Rôchab frequently symbolizes a state of freedom, security, and prosperity, often in contrast to "distress" or "narrowness." In [[Psalm 18:19]] (and its parallel in [[2 Samuel 22:20]]), the psalmist declares, "He brought me forth into a broad place" (rôchab), signifying God's deliverance from his enemies and a secure, unconstrained existence. Similarly, [[Isaiah 33:21]] speaks of "rivers and streams of broad places" as a metaphor for the security and abundance found in Zion under God's protection.
* **Extent and Dominion:** The term can also denote the vast extent of a territory or influence, as seen in [[Job 38:18]], where God challenges Job concerning the "breadth of the earth," highlighting His own boundless knowledge. [[Isaiah 8:8]] uses rôchab to describe the invading Assyrian army's wings filling the "breadth of your land," indicating their overwhelming presence and conquest.
### Related Words & Concepts
The study of rôchab is enriched by examining its linguistic and conceptual relatives:
* **Verbal Root:** The direct progenitor is rachab (`{{H7337}}`), "to be wide, spacious, extensive." This verb forms the semantic foundation for the noun rôchab.
* **Adjective:** rachab (`{{H7342}}`) serves as the adjectival form, meaning "wide, broad, spacious." It describes what possesses rôchab.
* **Antonyms:** The most significant conceptual antonyms are tsar (`{{H6862}}`), meaning "narrow, tight, restricted," and tsarah (`{{H6869}}`), "distress, trouble, anguish." The biblical contrast between a "broad place" (rôchab) and a "narrow place" (tsar) powerfully conveys the difference between God's deliverance and the experience of affliction.
* **New Testament Parallel:** In the Greek New Testament, the term platos (πλάτος, `{{G4116}}`) directly corresponds to "breadth" or "width." A notable usage is in [[Ephesians 3:18]], where Paul speaks of comprehending "what is the breadth and length and height and depth" of Christ's love, echoing the Old Testament's use of spatial dimensions to convey the immeasurable and boundless nature of divine attributes.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of rôchab is multifaceted and deeply resonant:
* **Divine Deliverance and Providence:** The imagery of God leading one into a "broad place" ([[Psalm 18:19]]) is a profound theological statement about His saving power. It signifies liberation from oppression, the provision of security, and the granting of an unconstrained life where there was once confinement. This speaks to God's expansive grace and His ability to create space and freedom for His people, even in the midst of adversity.
* **God's Boundless Wisdom and Knowledge:** Solomon's "largeness of heart" ([[1 Kings 4:29]]) is a divine gift, illustrating that true wisdom is not narrow or limited but capacious, encompassing a vast understanding of God's creation and His ways. This indirectly reflects God's own infinite knowledge and comprehensive understanding of all things.
* **The Vastness of God's Creation and Dwelling:** The literal dimensions of the earth ([[Job 38:18]]) and the detailed measurements of the Temple, and supremely, the New Jerusalem ([[Revelation 21:16]]), point to the immensity and perfect order of God's creative work and the boundless dwelling place He prepares for His redeemed people. The "breadth" here signifies completeness, sufficiency, and the limitless nature of divine provision.
* **Contrast with Human Limitation and Distress:** By contrasting rôchab with concepts of narrowness and distress, the biblical text highlights the human condition of limitation and the need for divine intervention. God's act of creating "breadth" underscores His power to transcend human constraints and bring about flourishing.
### Summary
The Hebrew word rôchab (`{{H7341}}`), derived from rachab (`{{H7337}}`), fundamentally denotes "width" or "breadth." While frequently employed in a literal sense for physical dimensions of structures and land, its profound theological depth emerges in its figurative applications. Rôchab describes the expansive wisdom and understanding divinely bestowed upon individuals, such as Solomon's "largeness of heart" ([[1 Kings 4:29]]). More significantly, it serves as a powerful metaphor for divine deliverance and security, portraying God as the one who brings His people into a "broad place" ([[Psalm 18:19]]), liberating them from the "narrowness" of distress and affliction. This concept underscores God's boundless capacity to provide freedom, security, and prosperity. From the precise measurements of sacred spaces to the vastness of the New Jerusalem, rôchab consistently points to immensity, sufficiency, and the expansive nature of God's blessings and His eternal dwelling with humanity.
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