Lexical Summary
rachaq: To be far, to be distant, to remove, to withdraw
Original Word:רָחַק
Part of Speech:Verb
Transliteration:rachaq
Pronunciation:rah-khak'
Phonetic Spelling:(raw-khak')
KJV: (a-, be, cast, drive, get, go, keep (self), put, remove, be too, (wander), withdraw) far (away, off), loose, X refrain, very, (be) a good way (off)
NASB:far, extended, removed my far, went far, abandon, away, distance
Word Origin:[a primitive root]
1. to widen (in any direction), i.e. (intransitively) recede or (transitively) remove (literally or figuratively, of place or relation)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
cast, drive, get, go, keep self, put, remove
A primitive root; to widen (in any direction), i.e. (intransitively) recede or (transitively) remove (literally or figuratively, of place or relation) -- (a-, be, cast, drive, get, go, keep (self), put, remove, be too, (wander), withdraw) far (away, off), loose, X refrain, very, (be) a good way (off).
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origina prim. root
Definitionto be or become far or distant
NASB Translationabandon (1), away (1), distance (1), extended (2), fail (1), far (25), far has he removed (1), far away (1), go far (1), go...far (1), gone some distance (1), good distance (1), keep and far (1), keep your far (1), keep far (1), put it far away (1), put away (1), put...far (1), remove (1), remove it far (1), remove the army far (1), remove their far (1), remove them far (1), remove you far (1), remove...far (1), removed and far (1), removed my far (2), removed them far (1), removed...far (1), shun (1), stand aloof (1), went far (2).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
(Late Hebrew = Biblical Hebrew; Assyrian especially adjective
rû‡u,
far; compare Arabic
choice wine (i.e. from a distance) Frä
158; Ethiopic
be far, Sabean CIS
iv, nos. 95, 98; Aramaic , , and (often in derived species and derivatives)
); —
Perfect3masculine singularIsaiah 59:9;Lamentations 1:16, etc.;Imperfect3masculine singularDeuteronomy 12:21 +, etc.;Imperative feminine singularIsaiah 54:14, masculine pluralEzekiel 11:15 <Perfect Ra Hi Sm Co Toy Krae;Infinitive constructPsalm 103:12;Ecclesiastes 3:5,Ezekiel 8:6; —be far, distant: with person, of placeDeuteronomy 12:21;Deuteronomy 14:24, of person, = neglect, abandon,Proverbs 19:7, especially in Psalms, of ,Psalm 22:12;Psalm 22:20 ( person omitted),Psalm 35:22;Psalm 38:22;Psalm 71:12; of utter absence, or non-existenceLamentations 1:16, compareIsaiah 49:19 (absolute), subject justiceIsaiah 59:9 (opposed to ), compareIsaiah 59:11 ("" ), subject blessingPsalm 109:17; subjectJob 21:16,18; with person (), of Israel (figurative)Jeremiah 2:5, compareEzekiel 44:10; =far from (land of)Ezekiel 11:15 (see above; Krae insert ); with locationEzekiel 8:6 (of ), local (east from west)Psalm 103:12; with of thing (figurative):Psalm 119:150 (opposed to );Job 5:14,Isaiah 54:14, compareProverbs 22:5; =wholly abstain fromExodus 23:7 (E), so ( infinitive)Ecclesiastes 3:5; absolute of s righteousness, with reference to timeIsaiah 46:13 ("" ; opposed to ). —Micah 7:11boundary shall become distant, i.e. territory be enlarged (? corrupt, compare We Now); KtEcclesiastes 12:6be removed ? Qrbe joined ? ,rumpatur, compare , read probably Pfannk Thes Ew De Siegf BuhlLex.
Perfect3masculine singularIsaiah 6:12, of ,send far away, accusative of person; of people,Isaiah 29:13, with of ; 2 masculine singularIsaiah 26:15thou hast far extended (with accusative) all the ends (boundaries) of the land;Imperfect3masculine pluralEzekiel 43:9.
Perfect3masculine singularJob 19:13;Psalm 103:12, 1singular suffixEzekiel 11:16, etc.;Imperfect3masculine singular suffixProverbs 22:15, 2masculine singularJob 22:23, etc.;Imperative masculine singularProverbs 4:24 2t.,Job 13:21, suffixJob 11:14;Infinitive absoluteGenesis 21:16 +,constructJeremiah 27:10, suffix Joel 4:6; —
direct causationmake, orexhibit, distance, be gone far, subject person:Genesis 44:4 (J), with localJoshua 8:4 (JE),Judges 18:22; followed by infinitive constructExodus 8:24 (J), comparePsalm 55:8, Infinitive absolute as adverb =at a distanceGenesis 21:16 (E), with localExodus 33:7 (E),Joshua 3:16 (J E; , Qr; > Kt for ).
indirect causationremove, put far away, with accusative of person + of landJeremiah 27:10, compare Joel 4:6, + personJob 19:13 and (accusative )Joel 2:20, + personPsalm 88:9;Psalm 88:19; +Ezekiel 11:16; with accusative + personJob 13:21, with accusative +id.Proverbs 5:8; with accusative of sin + personProverbs 4:24;Job 11:14 ( person omitted);Proverbs 22:15;Proverbs 30:8;Psalm 103:12; + localJob 22:23.
Topical Lexicon
Overview of Scriptural UsageThe verb רָחַק occurs about fifty-eight times across the Hebrew Scriptures, describing literal distance, deliberate separation, or relational estrangement. The contexts range from domestic scenes (Genesis 21:16) to royal intercession (1 Kings 8:41) and prophetic indictment (Isaiah 59:9). In every setting the word highlights the tension between nearness and remoteness, a tension resolved only by divine initiative.
Physical Distance in Narrative Contexts
1. Separation for safety: Hagar “sat down at a distance” so as not to watch the death of Ishmael (Genesis 21:16).
2. Watchful waiting: Miriam “stood at a distance” to see what would happen to Moses (Exodus 2:4).
3. Tactical withdrawal: “The Danites had gone some distance from the house of Micah” when he overtook them (Judges 18:22).
4. Royal instruction: Elijah kept fifty sons of the prophets “standing at a distance” while the Jordan was parted (2 Kings 2:7).
These scenes underline ordinary human limits; people can only observe, unable to alter events unless God intervenes.
Relational and Spiritual Distance
Psalms and Job employ רָחַק to lament alienation:
• “My friends and companions stand aloof from my plague” (Psalm 38:11).
• “He has removed my brothers far from me” (Job 19:13).
The verb therefore expresses emotional isolation and broken fellowship, realities that foreshadow humanity’s wider estrangement from God.
Covenant Infidelity and Exile
Prophets link national unfaithfulness with being driven far away:
• “They followed worthless idols and became worthless; they walked after them and went far from Me” (Jeremiah 2:5).
• “Your brothers… say of you, ‘Stay far from the LORD; this land has been given to us’” (Ezekiel 11:15).
The exile is not merely geographical; it is a moral distancing brought on by covenant violation.
Divine Nearness versus Distance in Lament and Praise
Lamenters plead for the LORD’s proximity:
• “Be not far from me, for trouble is near” (Psalm 22:11).
• “O God, be not far from me” (Psalm 71:12).
Yet God pledges the opposite: “I bring My righteousness near; it is not far off” (Isaiah 46:13). Scripture presents the LORD as the only One who can close the gap human sin creates.
Wisdom Literature and Moral Exhortation
Proverbs uses רָחַק as a safeguard:
• “Keep your way far from her” (Proverbs 5:8) warns against adultery.
• Discipline “drives folly far from” a child (Proverbs 22:15).
Here distance is protective, urging believers to put moral space between themselves and temptation.
Cultic and Ceremonial Implications
Temple architecture and ritual preserve sacred space, but Solomon prays for foreigners “who come from a distant land” (1 Kings 8:41) acknowledging that even the remotest worshiper can draw near by faith. Conversely,Isaiah 6:12 anticipates a time when the land will be “utterly forsaken,” a spiritual desolation made visible in geographic emptiness.
Prophetic Vision and Eschatological Hope
Isaiah 13:5 speaks of armies “coming from a distant land” as instruments of judgment, whileMicah 4:3 promises that nations will “beat their swords into plowshares,” implying reconciliation for those once far off. UltimatelyPsalm 103:12 seals the hope: “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”
Soteriological Perspective
By removing sin, the LORD removes distance. Old Testament usage prepares for the gospel proclamation that those “who once were far away have been brought near” (concept echoed inEphesians 2:13). רָחַק shows that reconciliation is a divine act; sinners cannot bridge the separation on their own.
Practical Ministry Applications
• Pastoral Care: Encourage lament that frankly admits feelings of God’s remoteness while directing hearts to His promises of nearness (Psalm 22:19).
• Discipleship: Teach believers to maintain holy distance from sin and relational closeness to God’s people (Proverbs 5:8;Job 19:13).
• Mission: Solomon’s prayer (1 Kings 8:41) invites outreach to those geographically or culturally distant, trusting God to draw them near.
• Counseling: UsePsalm 103:12 to assure repentant individuals that forgiveness is not partial but spatially absolute.
Representative References
Genesis 21:16;Genesis 44:4
Exodus 2:4;Exodus 23:7
Deuteronomy 12:30
Judges 18:22;Judges 20:32
1 Kings 8:41
2 Kings 2:7, 15
Job 19:13
Psalm 22:11, 19;Psalm 38:11;Psalm 71:12;Psalm 103:12
Proverbs 5:8;Proverbs 22:15;Proverbs 27:10
Isaiah 46:13;Isaiah 59:9
Jeremiah 2:5
Lamentations 1:16
Ezekiel 11:15
Daniel 9:7
Micah 4:3
Forms and Transliterations
אַרְחִ֣יק ארחיק הִֽרְחִ֥יק הִרְחִ֑יק הִרְחִ֖יקוּ הִרְחִיקוּ֒ הִרְחַ֣קְתָּ הִרְחַ֥קְתָּ הִרְחַקְתִּים֙ הַרְחִ֤יק הַרְחִיקֵ֑הוּ הַרְחִיקָ֖ם הַרְחֵ֣ק הַרְחֵ֥ק הַרְחֵ֨ק הַרְחֵ֬ק הַרְחֵק֙ הַרְחַ֑ק הרחיק הרחיקהו הרחיקו הרחיקם הרחק הרחקת הרחקתים וְרִחַ֥ק וְרָחֲק֖וּ וַתִּרְחַ֥ק ורחק ורחקו ותרחק יְרַחֲק֧וּ יִרְחֲק֣וּ יִרְחַ֤ק יִרְחַ֥ק יִרְחַ֨ק יִרְחַק־ יֵרָתֵק֙ יַרְחִיקֶ֥נָּה ירחיקנה ירחק ירחק־ ירחקו ירתק כִּרְחֹ֣ק כרחק לְרָֽחֳקָה֙ לִרְחֹ֥ק לרחק לרחקה רִחַ֖קְתָּ רִחַ֣ק רַֽחֲקוּ֙ רַחֲקִ֤י רָ֣חֲקָה רָ֣חֲקוּ רָֽחֲקוּ֙ רָחֲק֖וּ רָחֲק֣וּ רָחֲקָ֥ה רָחַ֤ק רָחַ֥ק רָחָֽקוּ׃ רחק רחקה רחקו רחקו׃ רחקי רחקת תִּרְחַ֣ק תִּרְחַ֥ק תִּרְחָ֑ק תִרְחָ֔ק תַּרְחִ֥יק תַּרְחִ֥יקוּ תַרְחִ֖יקוּ תרחיק תרחיקו תרחק ’ar·ḥîq ’arḥîq arChik har·ḥaq har·ḥêq har·ḥî·qām har·ḥî·qê·hū har·ḥîq harChak harChek harChik harchiKam harchiKehu harḥaq harḥêq harḥîq harḥîqām harḥîqêhū hir·ḥaq·tā hir·ḥaq·tîm hir·ḥî·qū hir·ḥîq hirChakta hirchakTim hirChik hirchiKu hirḥaqtā hirḥaqtîm hirḥîq hirḥîqū kir·ḥōq kirChok kirḥōq lə·rā·ḥo·qāh lərāḥoqāh lerochoKah lir·ḥōq lirChok lirḥōq rā·ḥă·qāh ra·ḥă·qî ra·ḥă·qū rā·ḥă·qū rā·ḥā·qū rā·ḥaq raChak Rachakah rachaKi Rachaku rāḥaq rāḥăqāh raḥăqî raḥăqū rāḥăqū rāḥāqū ri·ḥaq ri·ḥaq·tā riChak riChakta riḥaq riḥaqtā tar·ḥî·qū ṯar·ḥî·qū tar·ḥîq tarChik tarChiku tarḥîq tarḥîqū ṯarḥîqū tir·ḥaq tir·ḥāq ṯir·ḥāq tirChak tirḥaq tirḥāq ṯirḥāq vattirChak verachaKu veriChak wat·tir·ḥaq wattirḥaq wə·rā·ḥă·qū wə·ri·ḥaq wərāḥăqū wəriḥaq yar·ḥî·qen·nāh yarchiKennah yarḥîqennāh yə·ra·ḥă·qū yê·rā·ṯêq yerachaKu yəraḥăqū yeraTek yêrāṯêq yir·ḥă·qū yir·ḥaq yir·ḥaq- yirChak yirchaKu yirḥaq yirḥaq- yirḥăqū
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