בֵּית רְחוֹב

𐤁𐤉𐤕 𐤓𐤇𐤅𐤁

Bêyth Rᵉchôwb

H1050 noun

SILEX Entry

Root בּית, רְחֹב to build, to house, to designate an open area or plaza, to be wide or broad

Definition

A proper noun indicating a specific locality, 'Beth-Rechob,' meaning 'house of Rechob' or 'house by the broad place/open square.' Refers primarily to a settlement or town, typically identified with a region north of Israelite territory in narrative accounts. The term can denote a town located near the region of Lebo-hamath, often considered part of Aramean territory during the monarchic period. The term is not descriptive of a type of settlement but serves as a toponym.

Semantic Range

(as toponym) house of the broad place, house of the square, Beth-Rechob (name of a settlement), possibly referring to a city or administrative center distinguished by a central plaza or wide street

Root / Etymology

Derived from the noun בַּיִת (bayit, 'house') and רְחוֹב (rechov, 'broad place, open square, street'). Combined, the phrase בֵּית רְחוֹב (Bêyth Rᵉchôwb) literally means 'house of the broad place' or 'house of the square.' The construction בֵּית X is a standard format for Hebrew place names, often signifying 'place of X' or 'house dedicated to X.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

Beth-Rechob appears as a city or region north of Israelite holdings, referenced in contexts relating to military and political alliances (e.g., Judges 18:28; 2 Samuel 10:6, 8). It is presented as an Aramean entity during the United Monarchy, potentially indicating a city-state rather than an Israelite settlement. English translations have rendered the term as a proper noun rather than attempting to translate its etymology. The use of בֵּית in toponyms can sometimes indicate a sanctuary or principal structure, but in the case of Beth-Rechob, it designates a town. Related terms include other בֵּית-prefixed place names, which may mean 'house' in a familial, religious, or geographic sense depending on context. The meaning of רְחוֹב ('broad place, square, street') in this context likely emphasizes a central open area, typical of ancient settlements' communal or administrative centers. In post-biblical contexts, the word רְחוֹב becomes standard for 'street' or 'plaza,' but its use in personal and place names is preserved from earlier periods.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from בַּיִת and רְחֹב; house of (the) street; Beth-Rechob, a place in Palestine; Beth-rehob.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

בנה (b-n-h) — 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

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H1050-03 רְח֑וֹב rechov HNp Rehob Beth‑Rechob 2
H1050-01 בֵּית beyt HNp house of house-of 1
H1050-02 לְ/בֵית leveyt HR/Np to Beth to a built-house 1

Occurrences in Scripture

4 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H1050-02 Judges 18:28 לְ/בֵית leveyt HR/Np to Beth to a built-house
H1050-03 Judges 18:28 רְח֑וֹב rechov HNp Rehob Beth‑Rechob
H1050-01 2 Samuel 10:6 בֵּית beyt HNp house of house-of
H1050-03 2 Samuel 10:6 רְח֜וֹב rechov HNp Rehob Beth‑Rechob