רְחֹב
𐤓𐤇𐤁
Rechov
H7340 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A proper name denoting multiple locations and individuals in the Hebrew Bible: (1) a city located in the Aramean (Syrian) region, often distinguished as 'Rechob of Aram'; (2) a Levitical town allotted to the tribe of Asher located in the northern part of ancient Israel; (3) the name of the father of Hadadezer, king of Zobah (an Aramean kingdom); (4) in post-exilic lists, a personal name among those returning from exile. The word itself derives from a term meaning 'broad place' or 'open square,' but as a proper name, it is used without a transparent descriptive significance in these contexts.
Semantic Range
proper name; city in Aram (Syria); Levitical city in Asher; personal name (father of Hadadezer); broad place or open square (as a common noun, though this sense is not primary here); name used by both Arameans and Israelites; toponym and anthroponym
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root רָחָב (רחב), meaning 'to be wide, spacious.' The noun רְחֹב originally signified 'broad place' or 'open area,' typically a wide street or plaza. As a proper name, its etymological sense is retained but not necessarily descriptive of the place or person so named.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The city named רְחֹב is mentioned among territorial descriptions relating to the northern boundary of ancient Israel, often associated with regions under Aramean control (notably in Num 13:21 and 2 Sam 10:6). In Joshua 19:28 and 21:31, a city of this name is assigned to the tribe of Asher and designated a Levitical town, possibly reflecting different locations of the same or similar name (the proliferation of toponyms built on the root 'broad/wide'). The personal name appears in genealogical and narrative contexts (e.g., 2 Sam 8:3, Ezra 2:43), showing flexibility between use as a place name and a personal name. While ancient and modern English translations often uniformly render רְחֹב as 'Rehob,' this sometimes obscures whether an Aramean, Israelite, or other setting is intended. The semantic overlap with the common noun רְחוֹב ('open square,' 'plaza') is etymological; as a name, it does not itself designate a generic plaza, but rather functions as a toponym or anthroponym.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or רְחוֹב; the same as רְחֹב; Rechob, the name of a place in Syria, also of a Syrian and an Israelite; Rehob.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
רחב (r-ḥ-b) — to be wide, to be spacious, breadth
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4800 | מֶרְחָב | in the spacious expanse |
| H7337 | רָחַב | cause to widen |
| H7338 | רַחַב | Rahab |
| H7339 | רְחֹב | in the broad-place |
| H7341 | רֹחַב | in the breadth |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7340-01 |
רְחֹ֖ב | rechov | HNp |
Rehob | Wide-Place | 7 |
H7340-02 |
וּ/רְחֹ֖ב | urechov | HC/Np |
and Rehob | and Rechob | 3 |
Occurrences in Scripture
10 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7340-01 |
Numbers 13:21 | רְחֹ֖ב | rechov | HNp |
Rehob | Wide-Place |
H7340-02 |
Joshua 19:28 | וּ/רְחֹ֖ב | urechov | HC/Np |
and Rehob | and Rechob |
H7340-02 |
Joshua 19:30 | וּ/רְחֹ֑ב | urechov | HC/Np |
and Rehob | and Rechob |
H7340-01 |
Joshua 21:31 | רְחֹ֖ב | rechov | HNp |
Rehob | Wide-Place |
H7340-01 |
Judges 1:31 | רְחֹֽב | rechov | HNp |
Rehob | Wide-Place |
H7340-01 |
2 Samuel 8:3 | רְחֹ֖ב | rechov | HNp |
Rehob | Wide-Place |
H7340-01 |
2 Samuel 8:12 | רְחֹ֖ב | rechov | HNp |
Rehob | Wide-Place |
H7340-02 |
2 Samuel 10:8 | וּ/רְחוֹב֙ | urechov | HC/Np |
and Rehob | and Rechob |
H7340-01 |
Nehemiah 10:12 | רְח֖וֹב | rechov | HNp |
Rehob | Wide-Place |
H7340-01 |
1 Chronicles 6:60 | רְחֹ֖ב | rechov | HNp |
Rehob | Wide-Place |