רַ֫חַב (ra.chav)
ra.chav
breadth
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun rachav refers to physical width or a broad expanse. In Scripture, it describes the spatial dimension that makes something wide, such as the breadth of a sea or the span of land. Its meaning is straightforward and concrete, focusing on measurable distance from side to side rather than abstract concepts.
This word appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible, both times in the book of Job. In Job 40:22, it describes the shadow cast by cedars stretching over the river, emphasizing the sheer scale and coverage of the Leviathan’s habitat. The second occurrence is in Job 41:31, where it refers to the broadness of the sea itself. These rare uses highlight its application to large, natural expanses.
While similar words exist for length or height, rachav specifically captures the idea of being wide open. Translators often render it as "breadth" or "wide," depending on the context. Its limited usage suggests it was reserved for significant, visible widths in the ancient landscape, anchoring the imagery of Job’s descriptions in tangible geography.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word rachav describes a tangible expanse, a physical breadth that invites us to look beyond our immediate surroundings. In Job, this term highlights the vastness of creation, reminding us that God’s world is not confined to narrow paths or tight spaces. When Scripture speaks of width, it points to an openness that reflects divine grandeur and provision.
For your faith, this imagery offers comfort. Just as the earth has breadth, so too does God’s care extend beyond the limits of our daily struggles. The biblical writers used this concrete term to ground spiritual truths in observable reality, showing that the Creator who designed wide horizons also holds space for us within it.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a broad place1×
- [the] broad spaces of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- רַחֲבֵי\־1×
- רַ֭חַב1×
Key Verses
-
Job 36:16
Yes, he would have allured you out of distress, into a wide place, where there is no restriction. That which is set on your table would be full of fatness.
This verse uses the concept of breadth to describe a place of freedom and abundance, contrasting the distress with a wide, unrestricted environment provided by God.
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Job 38:18
Have you comprehended the earth in its width? Declare, if you know it all.
Here, the question about comprehending the earth's width challenges human limitation, emphasizing that the scope of creation exceeds our understanding and control.