Original Word: אָרַךְ
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: arak
Pronunciation: ah-RAHK
Phonetic Spelling: (aw-rak')
KJV: defer, draw out, lengthen, (be, become, make, pro-)long, + (out-, over-)live, tarry (long)
NASB: prolong, long, prolonged, lengthen, lingered, live, continue
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to be (causative, make) long (literally or figuratively)

defer, tarry long

A primitive root; to be (causative, make) long (literally or figuratively) -- defer, draw out, lengthen, (be, become, make, pro-)long, + (out-, over-)live, tarry (long).

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to be long
NASB Translation
continue (1), delay (1), endure* (1), endures (1), lengthen (3), lengthened (1), lingered (2), live (2), long (5), long* (3), makes him slow (1), prolong (8), prolonged (4), prolongs (1), stick (1), survived* (2).

[אָרַךְ, אָרֵךְ] verb be long, almost always of time (Assyrian arâku COT^Gloss, Aramaic אֲרַךְ, ) —

Qal Perfect אָֽרְכוּ Genesis 26:8; Imperfect יַאַרְכוּ Ezekiel 12:22; 3feminine plural וַתֶּאֱרַכְנָה Ezekiel 31:5 (strike out B Co) — be long, subject הַיָמִים (i.e. a long time passed Genesis 26:8 (J); compare Assyrian urriku ûmî, days grew long, Creation Tablet^a see COT Genesis 1:1); of delayed fulfillment of prophecy Ezekiel 12:22; subject מּאֹרֹת Ezekiel 31:5 (but compare above)

Hiph`il Perfect הֶאֱרִיךְ Proverbs 19:11; וְהַאֲרַכְתָּ֫ Deuteronomy 22:7, etc.; Imperfect יַאֲרִיךְ Deuteronomy 17:20 +; יַאֲרִיכוּ Deuteronomy 25:15; יַאֲרִכוּן Exodus 20:12 compare Deuteronomy 5:16; Deuteronomy 6:2; תַּאֲרִיכֻן Deuteronomy 4:26; Deuteronomy 30:18, etc.; Imperative feminine singular הַאֲרִיכִי Isaiah 54:2: Infinitive construct הַאֲרִיךְ Numbers 9:19,22; Participle מַאֲרִיךְ Ecclesiastes 7:15; Ecclesiastes 8:12; —

1 transitive prolong, (a) object יָמִים (i.e. live long) Deuteronomy 4:26,40; Deuteronomy 5:30; Deuteronomy 11:9; Deuteronomy 17:20; Deuteronomy 22:7; Deuteronomy 30:18; Deuteronomy 32:47; Joshua 24:31= Judges 2:7 (with אַחֲרֵי = survive), Proverbs 28:16; Isaiah 53:10; Ecclesiastes 8:13; also (late) without ימים Ecclesiastes 7:15; Ecclesiastes 8:12; (b) id. 1 Kings 3:14 ׳י subject וְהַאֲרַכְתִּי אֶתיָֿמֶיךָ I will prolong thy days; (c) postpone anger Isaiah 48:9 compare Proverbs 19:11 (i.e. shew oneself slow to anger); see also Job 6:11 אַאֲרִיךְ נַפְשִׁי i.e. be patient; (d) literal (but in figure) make long furrows (with ל) Psalm 129:3; tentcords Isaiah 54:2; tongue Isaiah 57:4 (stretch out in mockery).

2 intransitive grow long, continue long (i.e. display length or continuance), subject יָמִים Exodus 20:12 = Deuteronomy 5:16; Deuteronomy 6:2; Deuteronomy 25:15; tarry long Numbers 9:19,22 (subject הֶעָנָן), last (continue) long, (subject כֵּן Proverbs 28:2; be long (literally) of staves of ark 1 Kings 8:8; 2Chronicles 5:9.

I. ארך (√ of following; Biblical Hebrew [ אָרַךְ, אָרֵךְ]).

Semantic Range and Core Motif

אָרַךְ consistently points to the idea of drawing something out so that it lasts longer than expected—life, rule, time in the land, even the delay of judgment. The verb always implies that the “lengthening” comes under the sovereign timing of God; it is never portrayed as mere chance.

Covenantal Promises of Prolonged Days

From the Decalogue onward, obedience and reverence toward the LORD are linked with prolongation of life.
• Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16 – honoring father and mother is “so that your days may be prolonged in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.”
• Deuteronomy 6:2; 11:9 – fearing God and keeping His statutes assures that “your days may be long.”
• Deuteronomy 22:7; 25:15 – even daily practices such as humane treatment of animals and honest weights carry the same promise.

Here אָרַךְ functions as a covenantal metric: longevity proves the faithfulness of God’s word and the reality of divine blessing.

Warnings of Failed Prolongation

The same root is used negatively when Israel contemns the covenant. “You will not prolong your days in it” (Deuteronomy 4:26; 30:18). Judgment shortens what obedience would have lengthened, showing that God controls both extension and curtailment of time.

Royal and National Longevity

Deuteronomy 17:20 applies אָרַךְ to kingship: the king who submits to Torah “and his sons will reign many days in the midst of Israel.” The Chronicler echoes the theme when Solomon prays for a “prolonged” reign (cf. Psalm 72’s ideal). National stability flows from covenant fidelity at the highest levels of leadership.

Historical Narrative Illustrations

Joshua 24:31 and Judges 2:7 record that Israel served the LORD “all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua,” literally “who prolonged their days.” The phrase highlights an era of covenant faithfulness that outlived one generation yet eventually expired, reinforcing the transience of mere human leadership.

Ethical and Familial Implications

The promise attached to honoring parents becomes a paradigm for family discipleship. By invoking אָרַךְ, Scripture ties social order to life-extension. Paul cites the same commandment in Ephesians 6:2-3, showing continuity of principle in redemptive history.

Wisdom Literature Perspective

Ecclesiastes wrestles with the apparent anomaly that “the wicked may prolong their days in spite of evil” (Ecclesiastes 7:15; 8:12-13). Yet Qoheleth insists that such lengthening is illusory; divine justice will not ultimately be deferred. Proverbs complements this tension by reiterating that wisdom “will add to you many days and years of life and peace” (Proverbs 3:2, conceptually parallel).

The Delay of Judgment

In prophetic contexts, God sometimes “lengthens” the period before judgment, giving space for repentance. Isaiah 48:9 (conceptual) shares the motif, though using a cognate form: “For My name’s sake I will delay My wrath.” The verb אָרַךְ thus becomes a window into divine patience—judgment postponed is still certain.

Typological and Messianic Hints

While the verb itself is temporal, it points beyond time: ultimate “prolongation” is found in the resurrection life of the Messiah (compare Isaiah 53:10, “He will prolong His days,” using a different but related root). In Christ, the promise of lengthened days climaxes in unending life.

Pastoral and Ministry Applications

1. Discipleship – Teaching obedience not as a legalistic means to longevity but as the ordained path of blessing.
2. Counseling – Encouraging believers that God alone determines the span of life; therefore anxiety yields to trust.
3. Preaching – Using the contrast between prolonged blessing and truncated judgment to call for covenant fidelity.
4. Missions – Highlighting the patience of God who “lengthens” the day of grace so that more may believe.

Representative Old Testament References

Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 4:26; 5:16; 6:2; 11:9; 17:20; 22:7; 25:15; 30:18; Joshua 24:31; Judges 2:7; 1 Samuel 25:6; Job 11:17; Proverbs 28:16; Ecclesiastes 7:15; 8:12-13; Isaiah 48:9.

In every passage אָרַךְ underscores that time itself is a divine gift to be stewarded, not presumed upon.

אַאֲרִ֣יךְ אַאֲרִ֥יךְ אָֽרְכוּ־ אאריך ארכו־ בְּהַאֲרִ֨יךְ בהאריך הֶ֝אֱרִ֗יכוּ הֶאֱרִ֣יךְ הֶאֱרִ֤יכוּ הַאֲרִ֙יכִי֙ האריך האריכו האריכי וְהַאֲרַכְתֶּ֣ם וְהַאֲרַכְתָּ֖ וְהַאַרַכְתִּ֖י וַֽיַּאֲרִיכוּ֮ וַֽיַּאֲרִכוּ֮ וַתֶּאֱרַ֧כְנָה וּבְהַאֲרִ֧יךְ וּמַאֲרִ֣יךְ ובהאריך והארכת והארכתי והארכתם ויאריכו ויארכו ומאריך ותארכנה יַֽאַרְכוּ֙ יַאֲרִ֣יךְ יַאֲרִ֣יכוּ יַאֲרִ֥יךְ יַאֲרִ֨יךְ יַאֲרִֽיךְ׃ יַאֲרִיכֻ֣ן יַאֲרִכ֣וּן יַאֲרִכֻ֥ן יאריך יאריך׃ יאריכו יאריכן יארכו יארכון יארכן מַאֲרִ֖יךְ מאריך תַּאֲרִ֣יכוּ תַּאֲרִ֤יךְ תַּאֲרִ֤יכוּ תַאֲרִיכֻ֤ן תאריך תאריכו תאריכן ’a’ărîḵ ’a·’ă·rîḵ ’ā·rə·ḵū- ’ārəḵū- aaRich arechu bə·ha·’ă·rîḵ bəha’ărîḵ behaaRich ha’ărîḵî ha·’ă·rî·ḵî haaRichi he’ĕrîḵ he’ĕrîḵū he·’ĕ·rî·ḵū he·’ĕ·rîḵ heeRich heeRichu ma’ărîḵ ma·’ă·rîḵ maaRich ta’ărîḵ ta’ărîḵū ṯa’ărîḵun ta·’ă·rî·ḵū ṯa·’ă·rî·ḵun ta·’ă·rîḵ taaRich taaRichu taariChun ū·ḇə·ha·’ă·rîḵ ū·ma·’ă·rîḵ ūḇəha’ărîḵ ūma’ărîḵ umaaRich uvehaaRich vaiyaariChu vatteeRachnah vehaarachTa vehaarachTem vehaarachTi wat·te·’ĕ·raḵ·nāh watte’ĕraḵnāh way·ya·’ă·ri·ḵū way·ya·’ă·rî·ḵū wayya’ăriḵū wayya’ărîḵū wə·ha·’ă·raḵ·tā wə·ha·’ă·raḵ·tem wə·ha·’a·raḵ·tî wəha’ăraḵtā wəha’ăraḵtem wəha’araḵtî ya’ărîḵ ya’ărîḵū ya’ăriḵun ya’ăriḵūn ya’ărîḵun ya’arḵū ya·’ă·rî·ḵū ya·’ă·ri·ḵun ya·’ă·ri·ḵūn ya·’ă·rî·ḵun ya·’ă·rîḵ ya·’ar·ḵū yaarChu yaaRich yaaRichu yaariChunInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts