Lexical Summary
rachoq: Far, distant, remote
Original Word:רָחוֹק
Part of Speech:Adjective; noun masculine; Adjective; noun masculine
Transliteration:rachowq
Pronunciation:rah-khoke'
Phonetic Spelling:(raw-khoke')
KJV: (a-)far (abroad, off), long ago, of old, space, great while to come
NASB:far, afar, distance, distant, long ago, far off, who are far
Word Origin:[fromH7368 (רָחַק - far)]
1. remote, literally or figuratively, of place or time
2. specifically, precious
3. often used adverbially (with preposition)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
far abroad, off, long ago, of old, space, great while to come
Or rachoq {raw-khoke'}; fromrachaq; remote, literally or figuratively, of place or time; specifically, precious; often used adverbially (with preposition) -- (a-)far (abroad, off), long ago, of old, space, great while to come.
see HEBREWrachaq
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
rachaqDefinitiondistant, far, a distance
NASB Translationafar (19), afar* (1), distance (11), distant (7), distant future (1), far (31), far away (1), far off (2), farthest (1), great while (1), great while to come (1), long ago (4), long* (1), off* (1), reach (1), remote (1), who are far (2), who are far away (1), who is far off (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
, , and
Joshua 3:4 (LagBN 31); — absoluteExodus 2:4 +,Ezekiel 6:12 +; feminine singularDeuteronomy 30:11 +,Joshua 9:6 +; masculine pluralDeuteronomy 13:8 +, etc., feminine plural absoluteJeremiah 48:24 +, etc.; — often opposed to :
distant, landJoshua 9:6,9 (+ ),Deuteronomy 29:21;1 Kings 8:41,46 2Chronicles 6:32,36;2 Kings 20:14 =Isaiah 39:3,Isaiah 66:19 #NAME?Psalm 65:6 (Che We read for ; Weir in Che ; makes =distant ones, people); with person, of peoplesJoshua 9:22 (JE),Judges 18:7, personsEzekiel 22:5;Nehemiah 4:13;Proverbs 15:29 (, figurative), compareJeremiah 12:2 (id.,), citiesDeuteronomy 20:15, so ( local)Judges 18:28; absolute of people Joel 4:8, personsIsaiah 33:13;Isaiah 57:19;Jeremiah 25:26;Ezekiel 6:12;Zechariah 6:15;Proverbs 27:10;Daniel 9:7;Esther 9:20, citiesJeremiah 48:24, treesPsalm 56:1 (title; seenear the end, p. 401), ofdistant journeyNumbers 9:10 (P); figurative, predicate (indefinite)Ecclesiastes 7:24, of sDeuteronomy 30:11; with person (i.e. absent from, lacking to), of salvationPsalm 119:155, wisdomEcclesiastes 7:23; of person with of act or qualityIsaiah 46:12;Psalm 22:2; of price, with compare =far beyondProverbs 31:10.
Ezekiel 12:27.
always singular:
distanceJoshua 3:4 (D); elsewhere with preposition: (1)from a distance, with verbs implying motion, physical or mental: lookGenesis 24:4 (E)Genesis 37:18 (J)Job 2:12;Job 36:25; bringDeuteronomy 28:49;Isaiah 43:6;Isaiah 60:9, compareJeremiah 46:27; comeIsaiah 49:12;Isaiah 60:4;Habakkuk 1:8; hearIsaiah 49:1; smellJob 39:25; rememberJeremiah 51:50; probably also worshipExodus 24:1 (J); (2)at a distance ( )Exodus 2:4 (E),Exodus 20:18,21 (E; GiExodus 20:15;Exodus 20:18),1 Samuel 26:13;2 Kings 2:7;Isaiah 5:26;Isaiah 59:14;Psalm 38:12, compareJeremiah 23:23a God afar off (on construct of. Ges§ 130a; < read Gie, compare ); (3)to a distance ( )Isaiah 22:3;Isaiah 23:7;Proverbs 7:19; -4at a distancePsalm 10:1;to a distanceMicah 4:3; also with two prepp.: (5)from ( ),Job 36:3;Job 39:29; -6 (III.
)to a distanceIsaiah 57:9 +Nehemiah 12:43 van d. H. ( omitted by Baer Gi); even (7) ( III.) 2 Chronicles 26:15;Ezra 3:13.
,long agoIsaiah 22:11, with noun =ancient, of long standingIsaiah 25:1;long ago2 Kings 19:25 =Isaiah 37:26;from afar2 Samuel 7:19 =1 Chronicles 17:17. Psalm 139:2.
(√ of following; see Biblical Hebrew , ).
Topical Lexicon
Entry: רָחוֹק (Strong’s 7350)
Meaning And Scope Of Usage
Used about eighty-five times, רָחוֹק describes literal distance, figurative separation, and prophetic remoteness. It modifies persons, places, times, intentions, and even divine action, allowing Scripture to contrast “far” with “near” and to underscore God’s ability to span every gulf He permits or ordains.
Geographical Distance
1. Separation for safety or observation:Genesis 21:16;Exodus 2:4;2 Samuel 15:17.
2. Description of remote peoples or lands:Deuteronomy 28:49;2 Kings 20:14;Isaiah 5:26;Jeremiah 5:15.
3. Exile and dispersion:Daniel 9:7;Nehemiah 1:9;Ezekiel 11:16. The term paints the pain of banishment while also hinting at regathering.
Relational And Social Distance
1. Strained personal relationships:Proverbs 27:10, “Better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.”
2. Alienation between factions or nations:1 Kings 8:41;Isaiah 17:13.
3. The poor kept at bay:Proverbs 19:7.
Moral Or Spiritual Distance
1. God’s knowledge versus intimacy:Psalm 138:6;Proverbs 15:29.
2. Sin pushing salvation away:Psalm 119:155.
3. Hypocrisy:Isaiah 29:13, “These people draw near with their mouths... but their hearts are far from Me.”
Temporal And Prophetic Distance
1. Future fulfillment:2 Samuel 7:19 refers to “this decree for mankind of long ago and far off.”
2. “Far country” imagery anticipates Messianic inclusion of Gentiles (Isaiah 66:19;Zechariah 6:15).
3. Remote generations:Deuteronomy 30:11-14 stresses that obedience is “not too difficult or too far off.”
God As The One Who Bridges The Distance
Jeremiah 23:23, “Am I only a God nearby... and not a God far away?”
Jeremiah 31:3, “The LORD appeared to him from afar, saying, ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love.’”
Isaiah 57:19 unites far and near in promised peace, a text Paul cites inEphesians 2:17 to show Christ bringing Gentiles into covenant fellowship.
Near And Far In Covenant Theology
Under the Mosaic economy, ritual impurity or foreign birth placed people “far.” The prophets, however, anticipated a global ingathering (Isaiah 27:13). Pentecost (Acts 2:39) announces that the promise is “for all who are far off,” validating the Old Testament trajectory.
Intertextual Echoes In The New Testament
Though Greek terms differ, the conceptual pair “far/near” inEphesians 2:13-17;Colossians 1:21 mirrors רָחוֹק, confirming the canonical unity that salvation closes the greatest distance—human estrangement from God.
Pastoral And Ministry Applications
• Intercession:Psalm 10:1 motivates prayer when God “seems far.”
• Evangelism:Isaiah 49:12 encourages outreach to nations “from far away.”
• Fellowship:Hebrews 10:25 answers the danger of drifting “far” by urging regular assembly.
• Assurance: Even in dispersion, believers echoPsalm 22:11, “For trouble is near and there is no one to help,” confident the Redeemer stands ready.
Representative References
Genesis 21:16;Exodus 2:4;Deuteronomy 13:7; 30:11-12;2 Samuel 7:19;2 Kings 20:14;Psalm 10:1; 38:11; 138:6;Proverbs 15:29;Ecclesiastes 7:24;Isaiah 6:12; 29:13; 57:19;Jeremiah 23:23; 31:3;Ezekiel 11:15-16;Daniel 9:7;Micah 4:3;Zechariah 6:15.
Forms and Transliterations
בְּרָח֑וֹק ברחוק הָרְחֹק֖וֹת הָרְחֹקִ֗ים הָרְחֹקִ֣ים הָרְחֹקֹ֥ת הָרְחוֹקִ֖ים הָרָח֞וֹק הרחוק הרחוקים הרחקות הרחקים הרחקת וְהָֽרְחֹקִים֙ וְהָרְחֹק֥וֹת וְהָרְחֹקִ֗ים וְהָרְחוֹקִֽים׃ וְרָח֖וֹק וְרָחֹ֖ק וּֽ֭מֵרָחוֹק וּרְחֹקִ֥ים וּרְחוֹקִ֣ים ׀ והרחוקים׃ והרחקות והרחקים ומרחוק ורחוק ורחוקים ורחק ורחקים לְ֝מֵרָח֗וֹק לְמֵ֣רָח֔וֹק לְמֵֽרָח֑וֹק לְמֵֽרָחוֹק֙ לְמֵרָח֑וֹק לְמֵרָחֽוֹק׃ לָרָח֧וֹק למרחוק למרחוק׃ לרחוק מֵ֣רָחֹ֔ק מֵֽרָח֔וֹק מֵֽרָח֖וֹק מֵֽרָחֹ֑ק מֵֽרָחֹֽק׃ מֵֽרָחוֹק֙ מֵרָח֑וֹק מֵרָח֔וֹק מֵרָח֕וֹק מֵרָח֖וֹק מֵרָח֣וֹק מֵרָחֹ֑ק מֵרָחֹ֥ק מֵרָחֹֽק׃ מֵרָחֽוֹק׃ מֵרָחוֹק֙ מרחוק מרחוק׃ מרחק מרחק׃ רְ֭חֹקִים רְֽחוֹקָה־ רְחֹקִֽים׃ רְחֹקָ֖ה רְחֹקָ֜הׅ רְחוֹק֖וֹת רְחוֹקִ֖ים רְחוֹקִ֨ים רְחוֹקָ֑ה רְחוֹקָ֖ה רְחוֹקָ֗ה רְחוֹקָ֛ה רְחוֹקָ֤ה רְחוֹקָ֥ה רְחוֹקָה֙ רָח֑וֹק רָח֖וֹק רָח֣וֹק רָח֥וֹק רָחֽוֹק׃ רחוק רחוק׃ רחוקה רחוקה־ רחוקות רחוקים רחקה רחקים רחקים׃ bə·rā·ḥō·wq beraChok bərāḥōwq hā·rā·ḥō·wq hā·rə·ḥō·qîm hā·rə·ḥō·qō·wṯ hā·rə·ḥō·qōṯ hā·rə·ḥō·w·qîm haraChok hārāḥōwq harechoKim harechoKot hārəḥōqîm hārəḥōqōṯ hārəḥōqōwṯ hārəḥōwqîm lā·rā·ḥō·wq laraChok lārāḥōwq lə·mê·rā·ḥō·wq lemeraChok ləmêrāḥōwq mê·rā·ḥō·wq mê·rā·ḥōq meraChok mêrāḥōq mêrāḥōwq rā·ḥō·wq raChok rāḥōwq rə·ḥō·qāh rə·ḥō·qîm rə·ḥō·w·qāh rə·ḥō·w·qāh- rə·ḥō·w·qîm rə·ḥō·w·qō·wṯ rechoKah rechoKim rechoKot rəḥōqāh rəḥōqîm rəḥōwqāh rəḥōwqāh- rəḥōwqîm rəḥōwqōwṯ ū·mê·rā·ḥō·wq ū·rə·ḥō·qîm ū·rə·ḥō·w·qîm Umerachok ūmêrāḥōwq urechoKim ūrəḥōqîm ūrəḥōwqîm veharechoKim veharechoKot veraChok wə·hā·rə·ḥō·qîm wə·hā·rə·ḥō·qō·wṯ wə·hā·rə·ḥō·w·qîm wə·rā·ḥō·wq wə·rā·ḥōq wəhārəḥōqîm wəhārəḥōqōwṯ wəhārəḥōwqîm wərāḥōq wərāḥōwq
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