Lexical Summary rechob: Street, broad place, open square Original Word: רְחֹב Strong's Exhaustive Concordance broad place way, street Or rchowb {rekh-obe'}; from rachab; a width, i.e. (concretely) avenue or area -- broad place (way), street. See also Beyth Rchowb. see HEBREW rachab see HEBREW Beyth Rchowb NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom rachab Definition a broad open place, plaza NASB Translation open square (7), open squares (1), plaza (1), plazas (1), square (14), squares (4), street (1), streets (13), town squares (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs I. רְחוֺב noun feminineDaniel 9:25 [not masculine Zechariah 8:5 AlbrZAW xvi (1896), 51 compare Ges§ 145 p, t, u] broad open place, plaza (LagBN 178 BaNB 142); — ׳ר absolute Genesis 19:2 +, construct Judges 19:17 +, רְחֹב Judges 19:15; 2 Samuel 21:12; suffix רְחֹבָהּ Deuteronomy 13:17; Psalm 55:12; plural absolute רְחֹבוֺת Amos 5:16 +, construct id. Zechariah 8:4 + (see also רְחֹבוֺת proper name, below); suffix רְחֹבֹתֶיהָ Isaiah 15:3 +, etc.; — broad open place in city (usually near gate, Nehemiah 8:1,3,16 (twice in verse); 2Chronicles 32:6; Job 29:7; "" חוּץ Jeremiah 5:1 8t., דֶּרֶךְ Proverbs 26:13, שְׁוָקִים Songs 3:2), for various private and public uses Genesis 19:2 (J), Judges 19:15,17,20; Deuteronomy 13:17; 2 Samuel 21:12; Jeremiah 5:1; Ezekiel 16:24,31; Nehemiah 8:16 (twice in verse); Isaiah 59:14; Psalm 55:12; Job 29:7, essential part of city Daniel 9:25; for lamentations Amos 5:16; Isaiah 15:3; Jeremiah 48:38, הָעִיר אֲשֶׁר לִפְנֵי שַׁעַר הַמֶּלֶךְ ׳ר Esther 4:6 (compare Esther 4:1f.), compare Jeremiah 9:20; Jeremiah 49:26; Jeremiah 50:30; Lamentations 2:11,12; Psalm 144:14, assemblies 2Chronicles 29:4; 32:6; Ezra 10:9 (׳בֵּית הָא ׳ר), Nehemiah 8:1,3, proclamations Esther 6:9,11, speeches Proverbs 1:20; social life Zechariah 8:4,5 (twice in verse); Lamentations 4:18; Proverbs 5:16; Proverbs 7:12, compare Proverbs 22:13; Proverbs 26:13, Songs 3:3; ׳ר in Nahum 2:5 is apparently outside city (compare Assyrian rêbit Ninâ, etc.). Topical Lexicon Definition and Scope רְחֹב (rechob) denotes an open, spacious area—most commonly the broad street, plaza, square, or widened place inside or just outside a city gate. In rural contexts it can refer to an expanse where one enjoys freedom of movement. The approximately forty-three Old Testament occurrences show the term functioning as both literal geography and rich theological symbol. Geographical and Architectural Setting Ancient Near-Eastern towns were walled for security, leaving few open spaces. The plaza at the gate (for example, 2 Chronicles 32:6) and the principal marketplace normally served multiple purposes: trade, proclamation, judgment, and worship. A second square often lay near the sanctuary (Ezra 10:9; Nehemiah 8:1), allowing large gatherings when the inner courts were too small. Smaller villages reproduced the pattern on a reduced scale (Judges 19:15). Civic and Communal Functions 1. Hospitality and Daily Life. Lot urged the heavenly visitors, “Turn aside to your servant’s house; spend the night and wash your feet. Then you can rise early and go on your way.” They answered, “No, we will spend the night in the square” (Genesis 19:2). Spending the night in the open square could be acceptable in a hospitable city; the angels’ choice highlighted Sodom’s moral bankruptcy. Religious and Liturgical Gatherings Hezekiah restored temple worship by assembling officials “in the square of the east” (2 Chronicles 29:4), demonstrating that revival begins with public acknowledgment of sin and submission to God’s word. Centuries later, fasting Israelites assembled “in sackcloth and with dust on their heads” at the same locale (Nehemiah 9:1). The square thus became a place where the community confronted covenant obligations together. Legal and Judicial Proceedings Job reminisced, “When I went out to the gate of the city and took my seat in the square, the young men saw me and withdrew” (Job 29:7-8). Civic justice operated publicly so that verdicts were transparent. Courts, elders, and kings pronounced decisions where all could bear witness (compare Proverbs 31:23). Expressions of Deliverance and Worship The Psalter transforms the physical breadth of the square into a metaphor for spiritual liberation. “He brought me out into a broad place; He rescued me because He delighted in me” (Psalm 18:19). David recalls confinement by enemies and the Lord’s gracious enlargement (Psalm 31:8; 118:5). Thus רְחֹב embodies the believer’s transition from oppression to God-given freedom. Scenes of Sin and Judgment Because public squares mirror society, they also display its corruption. Prophetic and Eschatological Vision Zechariah cherished a restored Jerusalem in which “Old men and old women will again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with a staff in hand because of great age. And the streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls playing there” (Zechariah 8:4-5). The square, once polluted and empty, becomes the theater of covenant blessing, multi-generational peace, and messianic hope. Practical Ministry Applications 1. Public Proclamation. Whether in ancient plazas or present-day forums, God’s word is intended for open hearing. The example of Nehemiah 8 validates outdoor preaching and mass reading of Scripture. Christological and Ecclesiological Connections Jesus Christ often ministered in the open—the village square of Capernaum (Mark 1:33) or the courts of the Temple—echoing the Old Testament pattern. The early church followed suit; Peter proclaimed the resurrection in the public precincts of Jerusalem (Acts 3:11-26). As the Body of Christ, the church is called to inhabit the world’s “broad places,” declaring liberty to captives. Ultimately Revelation envisions the New Jerusalem’s main street lined with the tree of life (Revelation 22:2), a final, redeemed רְחֹב where the nations find healing. Forms and Transliterations בִּרְח֣וֹב בִּרְחֹ֣ב בִּרְחֹֽבֹתֶֽיהָ׃ בִּרְחֹב֖וֹת בִּרְחֹב֣וֹת בִּרְחֹבֹתֵ֑ינוּ בִּרְחֹבֹתֵֽינוּ׃ בִּרְחֹבֹתֶ֑יהָ בִּרְחוֹב֙ בִרְחוֹבוֹתֶ֔יהָ בָּ֝רְח֗וֹב בָּ֝רְחֹב֗וֹת בָּרְח֖וֹב בָּרְחֹב֑וֹת בָֽרְחוֹב֙ בָרְח֖וֹב ברחב ברחבות ברחבתיה ברחבתיה׃ ברחבתינו ברחבתינו׃ ברחוב ברחובותיה הָ֣רְח֔וֹב הָרְח֜וֹב הָרְחֹבֽוֹת׃ הרחבות׃ הרחוב וּבִרְח֖וֹב וּבִרְחֹבֹתֶ֖יהָ וּבִרְחֹבֹתֶ֛יהָ וּבִרְחוֹב֙ וּבָ֣רְחֹב֔וֹת וּרְחֹב֤וֹת וברחבות וברחבתיה וברחוב ורחבות לִרְח֥וֹב לרחוב מֵ֝רְחֹבָ֗הּ מֵרְחֹ֣ב מֵרְחֹבֽוֹת׃ מרחב מרחבה מרחבות׃ רְ֝חֹב֗וֹת רְח֑וֹב רְח֣וֹב רְחֹב֣וֹת רְחֹבָהּ֒ רְחֽוֹב׃ רְחוֹב֙ רחבה רחבות רחוב רחוב׃ bā·rə·ḥō·ḇō·wṯ bā·rə·ḥō·wḇ ḇā·rə·ḥō·wḇ bareChov barechoVot bārəḥōḇōwṯ bārəḥōwḇ ḇārəḥōwḇ bir·ḥō·ḇō·ṯe·hā bir·ḥō·ḇō·ṯê·nū bir·ḥō·ḇō·wṯ ḇir·ḥō·w·ḇō·w·ṯe·hā bir·ḥō·wḇ bir·ḥōḇ birCho birChooTeiha birchoTeiha birchoTeinu birChov birchoVot birḥōḇ birḥōḇōṯehā birḥōḇōṯênū birḥōḇōwṯ birḥōwḇ ḇirḥōwḇōwṯehā hā·rə·ḥō·ḇō·wṯ hā·rə·ḥō·wḇ hareChov harechoVot hārəḥōḇōwṯ hārəḥōwḇ lir·ḥō·wḇ lirChov lirḥōwḇ mê·rə·ḥō·ḇāh mê·rə·ḥō·ḇō·wṯ mê·rə·ḥōḇ mereCho merechoVah merechoVot mêrəḥōḇ mêrəḥōḇāh mêrəḥōḇōwṯ rə·ḥō·ḇāh rə·ḥō·ḇō·wṯ rə·ḥō·wḇ rechOv rechoVah rechoVot rəḥōḇāh rəḥōḇōwṯ rəḥōwḇ ū·ḇā·rə·ḥō·ḇō·wṯ ū·ḇir·ḥō·ḇō·ṯe·hā ū·ḇir·ḥō·wḇ ū·rə·ḥō·ḇō·wṯ ūḇārəḥōḇōwṯ ūḇirḥōḇōṯehā ūḇirḥōwḇ urechoVot ūrəḥōḇōwṯ uVarechoVot uvirchoTeiha uvirchOv vareChov virchooTeihaLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 19:2 HEB: לֹּ֔א כִּ֥י בָרְח֖וֹב נָלִֽין׃ NAS: but we shall spend the night in the square. KJV: Nay; but we will abide in the street all night. INT: No in the square the night Deuteronomy 13:16 Judges 19:15 Judges 19:17 Judges 19:20 2 Samuel 21:12 2 Chronicles 29:4 2 Chronicles 32:6 Ezra 10:9 Nehemiah 8:1 Nehemiah 8:3 Nehemiah 8:16 Nehemiah 8:16 Esther 4:6 Esther 6:9 Esther 6:11 Job 29:7 Psalm 55:11 Psalm 144:14 Proverbs 1:20 Proverbs 5:16 Proverbs 7:12 Proverbs 22:13 Proverbs 26:13 Songs 3:2 43 Occurrences |
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