Lexicon merchab: Broad place, open space, spaciousness Original Word: מֶרְחָב Strong's Exhaustive Concordance breadth, large place room From rachab; enlargement, either literally (an open space, usually in a good sense), or figuratively (liberty) -- breadth, large place (room). see HEBREW rachab NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom rachab Definition a broad or roomy place NASB Translation broad place (2), large field (1), large place (2), throughout (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs מֶרְחָב noun [masculine] broad, roomy, place; — absolute ׳מ, of pasture Hosea 4:16 (in simile); figurative of freedom from distress and anxiety 2 Samuel 22:20 = Psalm 18:20; Psalm 31:9; Psalm 118:5 (ᵑ0 construct in מֶרְחַבְיָה spacious place of Yah, i.e. extraordinarily spacious, < מֶרְחָב יָהּ, יָהּ being subject of verb); plural construct מֶרְחֲבֵיאֶֿרֶץ Habakkuk 1:6 expanses of the earth. רחה (√ of following; meaning unknown; Late Hebrew = Biblical Hebrew; Arabic Topical Lexicon Word Origin: Derived from the root רָחַב (rachab), which means "to be or grow wide, large."Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct one-to-one correspondence in the Greek Septuagint for every occurrence of מֶרְחָב, similar concepts of enlargement or spaciousness can be found in Greek terms such as πλατύς (platys • broad, wide) and ἐλευθερία (eleutheria • freedom, liberty), which capture the essence of being brought into a broad or open space, often used metaphorically for deliverance or freedom. Usage: The word מֶרְחָב is used in the Hebrew Bible to describe physical spaces that are broad or expansive, as well as metaphorically to signify a state of freedom or deliverance from constraint or oppression. Context: מֶרְחָב (merchab) appears in several contexts within the Hebrew Scriptures, often highlighting the contrast between confinement and liberation. For instance, in 2 Samuel 22:20, David speaks of God bringing him into a "spacious place" (merchab) as a metaphor for deliverance from his enemies: "He brought me out into the open; He rescued me because He delighted in me." Similarly, in Psalm 18:19, the psalmist echoes this sentiment, emphasizing God's role in providing relief and freedom. The term is also used in Psalm 31:8, where the psalmist praises God for not handing him over to the enemy and setting his feet in a "spacious place." These instances reflect the theological theme of God's deliverance and provision of freedom, both physically and spiritually, for His people. The concept of מֶרְחָב is thus closely associated with divine intervention and the resulting peace and security. Forms and Transliterations בַּמֶּרְחָֽב׃ בַמֶּרְחָ֣ב במרחב במרחב׃ לְמֶרְחֲבֵי־ לַמֶּרְחָ֑ב לַמֶּרְחָ֖ב למרחב למרחבי־ bam·mer·ḥāḇ ḇam·mer·ḥāḇ bammerChav bammerḥāḇ ḇammerḥāḇ lam·mer·ḥāḇ lammerChav lammerḥāḇ lə·mer·ḥă·ḇê- lemerchavei ləmerḥăḇê- vammerChavLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 2 Samuel 22:20 HEB: וַיֹּצֵ֥א לַמֶּרְחָ֖ב אֹתִ֑י יְחַלְּצֵ֖נִי NAS: He also brought me forth into a broad place; He rescued KJV: He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered INT: brought A broad rescued because Psalm 18:19 Psalm 31:8 Psalm 118:5 Hosea 4:16 Habakkuk 1:6 6 Occurrences |
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handmill (compare WetzstSiebe, ZPV xiv (1891), 4); Aramaic רִיחְיָא, 
; LagBN 157 BaNB 9, 21). 
