רֹ֫חַב (ro.chav)
ro.chav
width
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 40 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun rochav denotes physical width or breadth, appearing frequently in the detailed instructions for building the Tabernacle and Solomon’s Temple. In Exodus 25:10, it specifies that the Ark of the Covenant was to be two and a half cubits wide, while 1 Kings 6:2 uses the word to describe the twenty-cubit width of the temple’s main hall. These passages highlight its primary function as a precise measurement term in architectural contexts.
Beyond literal dimensions, rochav carries a metaphorical sense of expansiveness or largeness. A notable example occurs in 1 Kings 4:29, where God gives Solomon wisdom and understanding so great that his mind is described as having "breadth" like the sand on the seashore. This figurative usage suggests an open, capacious capacity for knowledge rather than a narrow or limited intellect.
The word derives from the root rachab, meaning "to be wide," which also produces the adjective rachav ("wide") and the verb racha (to spread out). This connection links physical space with abstract concepts of freedom or openness. Translators typically render rochav as "breadth" or "width," preserving the sense of measured extension in both concrete structures and human qualities.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word rochav points to physical breadth, appearing often in the detailed instructions for building the Tabernacle and Solomon’s Temple. It reminds us that God cares about precise measurements and order in worship. When Exodus describes the Ark or the altar with specific widths, it shows that holiness involves careful attention to detail. This structure was not random; it was designed to create a place where heaven and earth met.
Beyond architecture, rochav also describes the vastness of Solomon’s wisdom, which was as wide as the sand on the seashore. This suggests that true understanding comes from God and expands our capacity to see His world clearly. It invites us to seek a mind that is open and capacious, rather than narrow or limited.
In our daily lives, this word encourages us to appreciate both the concrete details of our responsibilities and the expansive nature of divine grace. We can trust that God provides the space for us to grow in knowledge and faith, just as He provided precise dimensions for His dwelling place.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 40 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- breadth/ its23×
- [the] breadth of7×
- and/ [the] breadth5×
- and/ [the] breadth of3×
- breadth2×
- and/ breadth/ its2×
- in/ breadth1×
- and/ to/ breadth/ its1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- רָחְבּ֔/וֹ6×
- רֹֽחַב\־3×
- רֹ֖חַב3×
- רָחְבָּ֔/הּ3×
- רָחְבּ֑/וֹ3×
- וְ/רֹ֙חַב֙3×
- רֹ֗חַב2×
- רָחְבָּֽ/הּ\׃2×
- רָחְבּ֖/וֹ2×
- רָחְבּ/וֹ֙2×
- וְ/רֹ֖חַב2×
- רֹ֣חַב1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 6:15
This is how you shall make it. The length of the ship shall be three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits.
This occurrence establishes the scale of Noah's Ark, showing how rochav defines the physical boundaries necessary for survival during the flood.
-
Exodus 25:10
“They shall make an ark of acacia wood. Its length shall be two and a half cubits, its width a cubit and a half, and a cubit and a half its height.
Here the word specifies the exact width of the Ark of the Covenant, highlighting its role in defining sacred space with precision.
-
Genesis 13:17
Arise, walk through the land in its length and in its width; for I will give it to you.”
God uses rochav to describe the expansive territory promised to Abraham, linking physical breadth to the scope of His covenant blessing.