בֵּית הַמֶּרְחָק
𐤁𐤉𐤕 𐤄𐤌𐤓𐤇𐤒
Bêyth ham-Merchâq
H1023 noun
SILEX Entry
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
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot 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 |