Original Word: רָחַב
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: rachab
Pronunciation: rah-khab'
Phonetic Spelling: (raw-khab')
Definition: To be wide, to be spacious, to enlarge
Meaning: to broaden

make room, make open wide

A primitive root; to broaden (intransitive or transitive, literal or figurative) -- be an en-(make) large(-ing), make room, make (open) wide.

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to be or grow wide or large
NASB Translation
enlarge (6), enlarged (2), enlarges (3), extend (1), extends (1), large (1), made your wide (1), made room (1), makes room (1), open your wide (1), open wide (1), opened their wide (1), rejoice (1), relieved (1), roomy (1), speaks boldly (1), wider (1).

רָחַב [? also רָחֹב, so Lag^{BN 31}; compare also Id^{ib. 52 f.}]

verb be, or grow, wide, large (Late Hebrew in derived species (rare) and derivatives; Arabic , Ethiopic Sabean in epithet of deity Fell^{ZMG liv (1900), 249}, and proper name CIS^{iv, no. 1, 3 etc}.; Assyrian in rêbitu, open place; Aramaic רְחַב in derivatives ); —

Qal Perfect3masculine singular מִּי ׳ר 1 Samuel 2:1, + עַל against (i.e. to devour, in figure; compare

Hiph`il); consecutive לְבָבֵךְ ׳וּפָחַד וְר Isaiah 60:5 be widened, enlarged, relieved, and expanded with joy (compare Hiph`il 2); 3 feminine singular וְרָֽחֲבָה וְנָָֽסְבָה Ezekiel 41:7 probably error, Co רָחְבָּהּ וְנוֺסָפָה, Toy וְהָרֹחַב נוֺסַף, Krae וְיָָֽסְפוּ רָֽחֲבוּ [וְ?].

Niph`al Participle as adjective נִרְחָב Isaiah 30:23 a broad, roomy, pasture.

Hiph`il Perfect3masculine singular הִרְחִיב Genesis 26:22; Habakkuk 2:5, הִרְחִ֑ב Isaiah 30:33; 2masculine singular הִרְחַבְתָּ Psalm 4:2, etc.; Imperfect3masculine singular יַרְחִיב Deuteronomy 12:20 +, etc.; Imperative masculine singular הַרְחֶבֿ Psalm 81:11 (compare also Psalm 25:17 below); feminine singular הַרְחִיבִי Isaiah 54:2, הַרְחִבִי Micah 1:16; Infinitive construct הַרְחִיב Amos 1:13; Participle מַרְחִיב Deuteronomy 33:20; —

1 make large, with accusative baldness Micah 1:16 (sign of mourning), fun. pile Isaiah 30:33 (accusative omitted; + הֶעְמִיק); make wide, accusative couch Isaiah 57:8 (figurative).

2 enlarge limit of territory (גְּבוּל) Amos 1:13; Exodus 34:24 (J), Deuteronomy 12:20; Deuteronomy 19:8, so גָּ֑ד ׳מַר Deuteronomy 33:20, compare מְקוֺם אָהֳלֵךְ ׳הַר Isaiah 54:2 (figurative); also absolute + ל person, לָנוּ ׳י ׳הִר Genesis 26:22 (J), and (figurative of deliverance), לִי ׳בַּצָּר הִר Psalm 4:2; לוֺ ׳מַתַּן אָדָם יַר Proverbs 18:16 a man's gift makes room for him, gives access to patron; of ׳י's enlarging the heart (לִבִּי) Psalm 119:32 (compare

Qal); ׳צָרוֺת לְבָבִי הִרְחִיכוּ מ Psalm 25:17 read probably (with most) Imperative ׳הַרְחֵ(י)ב ומ (Bae הִרְהִיבוּ, alarm, compare Songs 6:5); with accusative צַעֲדִי my step, stride Psalm 18:37 = 2 Samuel 22:37 (i.e. givest me firm footing and vigorous step, compare צַעַד

2); enlarge mouth, open it wide, with עַל person against Isaiah 57:4; Psalm 35:21 (compare

Qal); without עַל, as a young bird to receive food, figurative, Psalm 81:11; ׳הִר שְׁאוֺל נַפְשָׁהּ Isaiah 5:14 ("" מָּֽעֲרָה פִיהָ; נֶפֶשׁ 5c), compare Habakkuk 2:5.

Word Origin: A primitive root

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G455 (ἀνοίγω, anoigo): To open, to open up
• G1839 (ἐξανοίγω, exanoigo): To open wide, to open fully
• G2149 (εὐρύχωρος, euruchoros): Broad, spacious
• G4115 (πλατύνω, platuno): To make broad, to enlarge

These Greek terms reflect similar concepts of opening, broadening, and enlarging, paralleling the Hebrew רָחַב in their respective contexts within the New Testament.

Usage: The verb רָחַב (rachab) is used in the Hebrew Bible to convey the idea of broadening or enlarging. It can refer to physical spaces being widened or metaphorically to the expansion of influence, prosperity, or deliverance.

Context: רָחַב (rachab) is a Hebrew verb that primarily means "to broaden" or "to enlarge." It is a primitive root that appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament. The term is often used to describe the physical expansion of spaces, such as land or territory, as well as metaphorical broadening, such as the increase of influence or prosperity.

In the Berean Standard Bible, רָחַב is used in passages that highlight God's provision and deliverance, often in the context of making a way or providing relief. For example, in Psalm 18:36, the psalmist declares, "You broaden the path beneath me so that my ankles do not give way." Here, the broadening of the path symbolizes divine support and stability.

The concept of broadening is also associated with the idea of freedom and deliverance. In 2 Samuel 22:37, the text states, "You broaden the path beneath me, so that my feet do not slip," emphasizing God's role in providing a secure and expansive path for His followers.

רָחַב is used in various forms throughout the Old Testament, including participles and causative forms, to describe both literal and figurative expansion. This broadening can be seen as a blessing from God, often linked to His covenant promises and the prosperity of His people.

הִרְחִ֑ב הִרְחִ֑יבוּ הִרְחִ֤יבָה הִרְחִ֧יב הִרְחִ֨יב הִרְחַ֣בְתָּ הִרְחַ֤בְתְּ הַרְחִ֣יבִי ׀ הַרְחִ֤בִי הַרְחִ֥יב הַרְחֶב־ הרחב הרחב־ הרחבי הרחבת הרחיב הרחיבה הרחיבו הרחיבי וְֽרָחֲבָ֡ה וְהִרְחַבְתִּ֖י וְרָחַ֖ב וַיַּרְחִ֥יבוּ והרחבתי וירחיבו ורחב ורחבה יַרְחִ֞יב יַרְחִ֣יב יַרְחִיב֩ ירחיב מַרְחִ֣יב מרחיב נִרְחָֽב׃ נרחב׃ רָ֤חַב רחב תַּרְחִ֣יב תַּרְחִ֥יב תַּרְחִ֥יבוּ תַרְחִ֣יב תרחיב תרחיבו har·ḥeḇ- har·ḥi·ḇî har·ḥî·ḇî har·ḥîḇ harchev harChiv harChivi harḥeḇ- harḥîḇ harḥiḇî harḥîḇî hir·ḥaḇ·tā hir·ḥaḇt hir·ḥî·ḇāh hir·ḥî·ḇū hir·ḥiḇ hir·ḥîḇ hirChavt hirChavta hirChiv hirChivah hirChivu hirḥaḇt hirḥaḇtā hirḥiḇ hirḥîḇ hirḥîḇāh hirḥîḇū mar·ḥîḇ marChiv marḥîḇ nir·ḥāḇ nirChav nirḥāḇ rā·ḥaḇ Rachav rāḥaḇ tar·ḥî·ḇū tar·ḥîḇ ṯar·ḥîḇ tarChiv tarChivu tarḥîḇ ṯarḥîḇ tarḥîḇū vaiyarChivu vehirchavTi veraChav verachaVah way·yar·ḥî·ḇū wayyarḥîḇū wə·hir·ḥaḇ·tî wə·rā·ḥă·ḇāh wə·rā·ḥaḇ wəhirḥaḇtî wərāḥaḇ wərāḥăḇāh yar·ḥîḇ yarChiv yarḥîḇInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts