בֵּית הַמֶּרְחָק

𐤁𐤉𐤕 𐤄𐤌𐤓𐤇𐤒

Bêyth ham-Merchâq

H1023 noun

SILEX Entry

Root בנה, רחק to build, to be distant, to be far off

Definition

Proper noun, designating a specific location; 'Bêyth ham-Merchâq' means 'House of the Distance' or 'House of Distance.' Refers to a place characterized by its remoteness or being situated at a great distance from another reference point. The meaning is literal and geographical, not metaphorical or symbolic.

Semantic Range

house of distance, distant place, settlement or locality at a remove; proper noun denoting a specific ancient location

Root / Etymology

Compound of the noun בַּיִת (house) and the noun מֶרְחָק (distance), with the definite article prefixed to מֶרְחָק, forming a toponym. The root of בַּיִת is בנה (to build, construct, establish), while מֶרְחָק derives from רחק (to be distant, far off).

Historical & Contextual Notes

'Bêyth ham-Merchâq' appears only in Jeremiah 31:6, designating a locality whose exact location remains unidentified. The compound structure, with the definite article joined to the second noun, is conventional for Hebrew toponyms. The term is descriptive, referencing a settlement or site at the outer limits or a removed distance, possibly from a central or significant reference point, such as Samaria or Jerusalem. English translations have sometimes rendered the phrase as 'the far-off country' or 'the remote place,' but these may obscure the literal sense and its function as a proper noun. The construction does not indicate later theological or cultural identities beyond geographical designation. The element 'Beth-' frequently marks place-names in ancient Israelite geography, denoting a site or settlement rather than a building. No additional layers of meaning are implied beyond its geographic sense in context.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from בַּיִת and מֶרְחָק with the article interposed; house of the breadth; Beth-ham-Merchak, a place in Palestine; place that was far off.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

בנה (b-n-h) — to build, construct, establish (family)

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1004 בַּיִת in the houses
H1005 בַּיִת the built-house
H1006 בַּיִת the house
H1007 בֵּית אָוֶן house-of
H1008 בֵּית־אֵל in house of

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H1023-01 בֵּ֥ית beyt HNcmsc house house-of 1
H1023-02 הַ/מֶּרְחָֽק hamerechaq HTd/Ncmsa of the far the distance 1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H1023-01 2 Samuel 15:17 בֵּ֥ית beyt HNcmsc house house-of
H1023-02 2 Samuel 15:17 הַ/מֶּרְחָֽק hamerechaq HTd/Ncmsa of the far the distance