Original Word: רָחַק
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: rachaq
Pronunciation: rah-khak'
Phonetic Spelling: (raw-khak')
KJV: (a-, be, cast, drive, get, go, keep (self), put, remove, be too, (wander), withdraw) far (away, off), loose, X refrain, very, (be) a good way (off)
NASB: far, extended, removed my far, went far, abandon, away, distance
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to widen (in any direction), i.e. (intransitively) recede or (transitively) remove (literally or figuratively, of place or relation)

cast, drive, get, go, keep self, put, remove

A primitive root; to widen (in any direction), i.e. (intransitively) recede or (transitively) remove (literally or figuratively, of place or relation) -- (a-, be, cast, drive, get, go, keep (self), put, remove, be too, (wander), withdraw) far (away, off), loose, X refrain, very, (be) a good way (off).

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to be or become far or distant
NASB Translation
abandon (1), away (1), distance (1), extended (2), fail (1), far (25), far has he removed (1), far away (1), go far (1), go...far (1), gone some distance (1), good distance (1), keep and far (1), keep your far (1), keep far (1), put it far away (1), put away (1), put...far (1), remove (1), remove it far (1), remove the army far (1), remove their far (1), remove them far (1), remove you far (1), remove...far (1), removed and far (1), removed my far (2), removed them far (1), removed...far (1), shun (1), stand aloof (1), went far (2).

רָחַק verb be, or become, far, distant (Late Hebrew = Biblical Hebrew; Assyrian especially adjective rû‡u, far; compare Arabic choice wine (i.e. from a distance) Frä¹⁵⁸; Ethiopic be far, Sabean רחק CIS^{iv, nos. 95, 98}; Aramaic רְחֵיק, רְחַק, and (often in derived species and derivatives) ); —

Qal Perfect3masculine singular ׳ר Isaiah 59:9; Lamentations 1:16, etc.; Imperfect3masculine singular יִרְחַק Deuteronomy 12:21 +, etc.; Imperative feminine singular רַחֲקִי Isaiah 54:14, masculine plural רַחֲקוּ Ezekiel 11:15 < Perfect רָֽחֲקוּ Ra Hi Sm Co Toy Krae; Infinitive construct רְחֹק Psalm 103:12; Ecclesiastes 3:5, לְרָֽחֳקָה Ezekiel 8:6; — be far, distant: with מִן person, of place Deuteronomy 12:21; Deuteronomy 14:24, of person, = neglect, abandon, Proverbs 19:7, especially in Psalms, of ׳י, Psalm 22:12; Psalm 22:20 (מִן person omitted), Psalm 35:22; Psalm 38:22; Psalm 71:12; of utter absence, or non-existence Lamentations 1:16, compare Isaiah 49:19 (absolute), subject justice Isaiah 59:9 (opposed to הִשִּׂיג), compare Isaiah 59:11 ("" אַיִן), subject blessing Psalm 109:17; subject עֲצַת רְשָׁעִים Job 21:16,18; with מֵעַל person (׳י), of Israel (figurative) Jeremiah 2:5, compare Ezekiel 44:10; = far from (land of) ׳י Ezekiel 11:15 (see above; Krae insert אֶרֶץ); with מֵעַל location Ezekiel 8:6 (of ׳י), מִן local (east from west) Psalm 103:12; with מִן of thing (figurative): תּוֺרָֽתְךָ Psalm 119:150 (opposed to קרב); מִיֶּשַׁע Job 5:14, מֵעשֶׁק Isaiah 54:14, compare Proverbs 22:5; = wholly abstain from Exodus 23:7 (E), so (מִן infinitive) Ecclesiastes 3:5; absolute of ׳יs righteousness, with reference to time Isaiah 46:13 ("" אחר; opposed to קרב). — יִרְחַקחֹֿק Micah 7:11 boundary shall become distant, i.e. territory be enlarged (? corrupt, compare We Now); ירחק חֶבֶל הַכֶּסֶף Kt Ecclesiastes 12:6 be removed ? Qr יֵרָתֵק be joined ? ᵐ5 ἀνατραπῇ, ᵑ9 rumpatur, compare ᵑ6, read probably יִנָּתֵק Pfannk Thes Ew De Siegf Buhl^Lex.

Pi`el Perfect3masculine singular רִחַק Isaiah 6:12, of ׳י, send far away, accusative of person; of people, ׳לִבּוֺ ר Isaiah 29:13, with מִן of ׳י; 2 masculine singular רִחַקְתָּ Isaiah 26:15 thou hast far extended (with accusative) all the ends (boundaries) of the land; Imperfect3masculine plural יְרַחֲקוּ אֶתוְֿנוּתָם Ezekiel 43:9.

Hiph`il Perfect3masculine singular הִרְחִיק Job 19:13; Psalm 103:12, 1singular suffix הִרְחַקְתִּים Ezekiel 11:16, etc.; Imperfect3masculine singular suffix יַרְחִיקֶנָּה Proverbs 22:15, 2masculine singular תַּרְחִיק Job 22:23, etc.; Imperative masculine singular הַרְחֵק Proverbs 4:24 2t., הַרְחַ֑ק Job 13:21, suffix הַרְחִיקֵהוּ Job 11:14; Infinitive absolute הַרְחֵק Genesis 21:16 +, construct הַרְחִיק Jeremiah 27:10, suffix הַרְחִיקָם Joel 4:6; —

1 direct causation make, or exhibit, distance, be gone far, subject person: Genesis 44:4 (J), with מִן local Joshua 8:4 (JE), Judges 18:22; followed by infinitive construct לָלֶכֶת ׳הַרְחֵק לֹא תַר Exodus 8:24 (J), compare Psalm 55:8, Infinitive absolute as adverb = at a distance Genesis 21:16 (E), with מִן local Exodus 33:7 (E), Joshua 3:16 (J E; ׳הַר מְאֹד מִן, Qr; > Kt ב for מן).

2 indirect causation remove, put far away, with accusative of person + מֵעַל of land Jeremiah 27:10, compare Joel 4:6, + מֵעַל person Job 19:13 and (accusative הַצְּפוֺנִי) Joel 2:20, + מִן person Psalm 88:9; Psalm 88:19; + בַּגּוֺיִם Ezekiel 11:16; with accusative כַּף + מֵעַל person Job 13:21, with accusative דֶּרֶךְ + id. Proverbs 5:8; with accusative of sin + מִן person Proverbs 4:24; Job 11:14 (מִן person omitted); Proverbs 22:15; Proverbs 30:8; Psalm 103:12; + מִן local Job 22:23.

Overview of Scriptural Usage

The verb רָחַק occurs about fifty-eight times across the Hebrew Scriptures, describing literal distance, deliberate separation, or relational estrangement. The contexts range from domestic scenes (Genesis 21:16) to royal intercession (1 Kings 8:41) and prophetic indictment (Isaiah 59:9). In every setting the word highlights the tension between nearness and remoteness, a tension resolved only by divine initiative.

Physical Distance in Narrative Contexts

1. Separation for safety: Hagar “sat down at a distance” so as not to watch the death of Ishmael (Genesis 21:16).
2. Watchful waiting: Miriam “stood at a distance” to see what would happen to Moses (Exodus 2:4).
3. Tactical withdrawal: “The Danites had gone some distance from the house of Micah” when he overtook them (Judges 18:22).
4. Royal instruction: Elijah kept fifty sons of the prophets “standing at a distance” while the Jordan was parted (2 Kings 2:7).

These scenes underline ordinary human limits; people can only observe, unable to alter events unless God intervenes.

Relational and Spiritual Distance

Psalms and Job employ רָחַק to lament alienation:
• “My friends and companions stand aloof from my plague” (Psalm 38:11).
• “He has removed my brothers far from me” (Job 19:13).

The verb therefore expresses emotional isolation and broken fellowship, realities that foreshadow humanity’s wider estrangement from God.

Covenant Infidelity and Exile

Prophets link national unfaithfulness with being driven far away:
• “They followed worthless idols and became worthless; they walked after them and went far from Me” (Jeremiah 2:5).
• “Your brothers… say of you, ‘Stay far from the LORD; this land has been given to us’” (Ezekiel 11:15).

The exile is not merely geographical; it is a moral distancing brought on by covenant violation.

Divine Nearness versus Distance in Lament and Praise

Lamenters plead for the LORD’s proximity:
• “Be not far from me, for trouble is near” (Psalm 22:11).
• “O God, be not far from me” (Psalm 71:12).

Yet God pledges the opposite: “I bring My righteousness near; it is not far off” (Isaiah 46:13). Scripture presents the LORD as the only One who can close the gap human sin creates.

Wisdom Literature and Moral Exhortation

Proverbs uses רָחַק as a safeguard:
• “Keep your way far from her” (Proverbs 5:8) warns against adultery.
• Discipline “drives folly far from” a child (Proverbs 22:15).

Here distance is protective, urging believers to put moral space between themselves and temptation.

Cultic and Ceremonial Implications

Temple architecture and ritual preserve sacred space, but Solomon prays for foreigners “who come from a distant land” (1 Kings 8:41) acknowledging that even the remotest worshiper can draw near by faith. Conversely, Isaiah 6:12 anticipates a time when the land will be “utterly forsaken,” a spiritual desolation made visible in geographic emptiness.

Prophetic Vision and Eschatological Hope

Isaiah 13:5 speaks of armies “coming from a distant land” as instruments of judgment, while Micah 4:3 promises that nations will “beat their swords into plowshares,” implying reconciliation for those once far off. Ultimately Psalm 103:12 seals the hope: “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”

Soteriological Perspective

By removing sin, the LORD removes distance. Old Testament usage prepares for the gospel proclamation that those “who once were far away have been brought near” (concept echoed in Ephesians 2:13). רָחַק shows that reconciliation is a divine act; sinners cannot bridge the separation on their own.

Practical Ministry Applications

• Pastoral Care: Encourage lament that frankly admits feelings of God’s remoteness while directing hearts to His promises of nearness (Psalm 22:19).
• Discipleship: Teach believers to maintain holy distance from sin and relational closeness to God’s people (Proverbs 5:8; Job 19:13).
• Mission: Solomon’s prayer (1 Kings 8:41) invites outreach to those geographically or culturally distant, trusting God to draw them near.
• Counseling: Use Psalm 103:12 to assure repentant individuals that forgiveness is not partial but spatially absolute.

Representative References

Genesis 21:16; Genesis 44:4

Exodus 2:4; Exodus 23:7

Deuteronomy 12:30

Judges 18:22; Judges 20:32

1 Kings 8:41

2 Kings 2:7, 15

Job 19:13

Psalm 22:11, 19; Psalm 38:11; Psalm 71:12; Psalm 103:12

Proverbs 5:8; Proverbs 22:15; Proverbs 27:10

Isaiah 46:13; Isaiah 59:9

Jeremiah 2:5

Lamentations 1:16

Ezekiel 11:15

Daniel 9:7

Micah 4:3

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