אָרֹךְ
long
Definition
The Hebrew noun אָרֹךְ (ʼârôk) means 'long' and describes physical length, duration, or extent. In its three biblical occurrences, it primarily conveys the idea of great length or prolonged duration. In 2 Samuel 3:1, it describes the 'long war' between the house of David and the house of Saul, emphasizing a protracted conflict. In Job 11:9, Zophar uses it metaphorically to speak of the immeasurable, 'longer than the earth' dimensions of God's wisdom and ways. Finally, in Jeremiah 29:28, the prophet references a letter that was 'long,' likely meaning lengthy in content.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only three times in the Old Testament, appearing in historical narrative (2 Samuel), wisdom literature (Job), and prophecy (Jeremiah). Its usage spans both literal and figurative contexts. Literally, it describes the physical length of a written document (Jeremiah 29:28) and the duration of a war (2 Samuel 3:1). Figuratively, it is employed in a comparative statement to express the vast, immeasurable nature of divine wisdom (Job 11:9).
Etymology
The noun אָרֹךְ (ʼârôk) is derived directly from the verbal root אָרַךְ (ʼârak, H748), which means 'to be long,' 'to prolong,' or 'to endure.' This root conveys the core idea of extension in space or time. Cognate words in related Semitic languages carry similar meanings of length and duration.
Semantic Range
While a simple adjective, its use in Job 11:9 elevates its theological significance. There, it helps articulate a key attribute of God: the infinite and immeasurable extent of His wisdom and understanding, which far surpasses human comprehension. This contrasts divine transcendence with human limitation, a central theme in wisdom literature. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of Job by highlighting the rhetorical force of Zophar's argument about God's inscrutable nature.
In its ancient Near Eastern context, describing something as 'long' (אָרֹךְ) could carry connotations of significance, endurance, or even difficulty. A 'long war' (2 Samuel 3:1) was not just a chronological fact but implied a costly, drawn-out struggle for power. A 'long' letter (Jeremiah 29:28) would have been notable due to the practical constraints of writing materials like scrolls, suggesting a message of substantial importance or detail.
אֹרֶךְ (ʼorek, H753) — A closely related noun meaning 'length'; often used for physical measurement. יָמִים (yāmîm, H3117) — Literally 'days'; frequently used idiomatically to indicate a long period of time or duration.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
Full methodology & sources →