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מֶרְחָק

𐤌𐤓𐤇𐤒

merchâq

H4801 noun

SILEX Entry

Root רחק to be far, to go far away, to become distant

Definition

Distance or remoteness, whether in spatial, temporal, or figurative sense. Primarily denotes a far-off place or a state of being at a distance. In some usages, it refers concretely to a distant location (especially from the perspective of the speaker), but it can also function adverbially to describe action or speech originating from or occurring at a far remove. In poetic and prophetic texts, it may connote a sense of alienation or unreachable separation.

Semantic Range

distance, remoteness, far place, distant region, a far-off state or condition, alienation, action or word occurring from afar, spatial separation, emotional or relational remoteness

Root / Etymology

From the root רָחַק (ר-ח-ק), meaning 'to be or become distant, to move far away.' The noun מֶרְחָק is formed with the mem-prefix, indicating the place or state of the root action ('a place of distance' or 'remoteness').

Historical & Contextual Notes

The term מֶרְחָק appears primarily in poetic and prophetic literature, often to emphasize great physical or emotional distance. In narrative contexts, it can specify a literal location far from the speaker or a central area. The phrase בֵּית הַמֶּרְחָק, ('house of distance, distant house'), occurs in Ezekiel to describe a faraway place or possibly an outlying region. Later translation traditions sometimes render the term simply as 'afar' or 'far country,' but these can obscure its potential abstract and metaphorical uses related to exile, separation, or estrangement. Unlike the common רָחוֹק ('far'), which is often used adjectivally, מֶרְחָק is substantival and can additionally be used adverbially by extension. Its use can be contrasted with קָרוֹב ('near'), highlighting strong oppositional imagery in prophetic and wisdom texts (e.g., God being either at a distance or near). Meaning remains relatively stable from early to later biblical periods, but later traditions sometimes employ it in theological or moralized senses not present in Hebrew Bible contexts.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

; from רָחַק; remoteness, i.e. (concretely) a distant place; often (adverbially) from afar; (a-, dwell in, very) far (country, off). See also בֵּית הַמֶּרְחָק.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

רחק (r-ḥ-q) — to be far, to become distant, to move away

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1023 בֵּית הַמֶּרְחָק the distance
H7350 רָחוֹק in a distant place
H7352 רַחִיק distant ones
H7368 רָחַק I will cause to be distant
H7369 רָחֵק your distant ones

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4801-05 מִ/מֶּרְחָ֣ק mimerechaq HR/Ncmsa from afar from a distance 8
H4801-03 מֶרְחָ֖ק merechaq HNcmsa far remoteness 4
H4801-02 מַרְחַקִּֽים marechaqim HNcmpa far away far-off places 2
H4801-06 וּ/בַ/מֶּרְחַקִּ֖ים uvamerechaqim HC/Rd/Ncmpa and-in-distant-places and in the far-off regions 1
H4801-01 הַ/מֶּרְחָ֑ק hamerechaq HTd/Ncmsa far away the far-off place 1
H4801-04 מֶרְחַקֵּי merechaqey HNcmpc distant places far-off regions of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

17 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4801-04 Isaiah 8:9 מֶרְחַקֵּי merechaqey HNcmpc distant places far-off regions of
H4801-05 Isaiah 10:3 מִ/מֶּרְחָ֣ק mimerechaq HR/Ncmsa from afar from a distance
H4801-03 Isaiah 13:5 מֶרְחָ֖ק merechaq HNcmsa far remoteness
H4801-05 Isaiah 17:13 מִ/מֶּרְחָ֑ק mimerechaq HR/Ncmsa far away from a distance
H4801-05 Isaiah 30:27 מִ/מֶּרְחָ֔ק mimerechaq HR/Ncmsa from afar from a distance
H4801-02 Isaiah 33:17 מַרְחַקִּֽים marechaqim HNcmpa far away far-off places
H4801-03 Isaiah 46:11 מֶרְחָ֖ק merechaq HNcmsa far remoteness
H4801-01 Jeremiah 4:16 הַ/מֶּרְחָ֑ק hamerechaq HTd/Ncmsa far away the far-off place
H4801-05 Jeremiah 5:15 מִ/מֶּרְחָ֛ק mimerechaq HR/Ncmsa from afar from a distance
H4801-03 Jeremiah 6:20 מֶרְחָ֑ק merechaq HNcmsa of distance remoteness
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