Abarim Publications' online Biblical Hebrew Dictionary
רחב
The verb רחב (rahab) appears all over the Semitic language spectrum and means to be or become large or wide. It is used mostly to indicate the spaciousness of land or territory (Genesis 26:22, Exodus 34:24, Amos 1:13). But is also occurs in colloquial phrases, which "defy translation" (in the words of HAW Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament ): a mouth may be enlarged (1 Samuel 2:1), a heart (Psalm 119:32, Isaiah 60:5), troubles (Psalm 25:17), steps (Psalm 18:37), and once even a whole person (Psalm 4:1).
Derivatives of this verb are:
- The masculine noun רחב (rahab), meaning breadth or wideness (Job 36:16 and 38:18 only).
- The similar masculine noun רחב (rohab), meaning breadth or width (Genesis 13:17, 1 Kings 5:9).
- The adjective רחב (rahab), meaning broad or wide (Isaiah 33:21, Ezekiel 23:32).
- The feminine noun רחוב (rehob), meaning broad open place or plaza (Genesis 19:2, Amos 5:16).
- The masculine noun מרחב (merhab), meaning broad, roomy place (Hosea 4:16, Psalm 31:9).