רְחֹבוֹת
Rechoboth, a place in Assyria and one in Palestine
Definition
Rechoboth (רְחֹבוֹת) is a proper noun referring to two distinct places in the Old Testament. The first is a city in Assyria, built by Nimrod, as mentioned in Genesis 10:11. The second is a well dug by Isaac in the Negev region, named to signify that God had made room for him and his people, as recorded in Genesis 26:22. The name also appears in the Edomite king list (Genesis 36:37, 1 Chronicles 1:48), referring to a location associated with King Saul of Rehoboth on the Euphrates.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively as a place name in the Old Testament. It appears in historical and genealogical contexts across Genesis and 1 Chronicles. In Genesis 10:11, it denotes an Assyrian city within Nimrod's kingdom. In Genesis 26:22, it is the name Isaac gives to a well, celebrating God's provision of space. The final two occurrences (Genesis 36:37, 1 Chronicles 1:48) list it as the city of origin for an Edomite king.
Etymology
The word רְחֹבוֹת (Rechoboth) is the plural form of the common noun רְחֹב (rechob, H7339), meaning 'broad place,' 'street,' or 'open square.' It derives from the root רחב (r-ch-b), meaning 'to be wide' or 'to enlarge.' Thus, the name literally means 'broad places' or 'spaciousness,' conveying a sense of room made available.
Semantic Range
The naming of Isaac's well as Rechoboth in Genesis 26:22 carries theological weight. After conflict over previous wells, this act is a declaration of God's faithful provision and blessing, creating space for Isaac's flourishing despite opposition. It serves as a tangible reminder of God's promise to Abraham's lineage and His ability to provide peace and room even in contested territories.
In the ancient Near East, naming a well was a significant act of ownership and commemoration. Isaac's act of naming the well Rechoboth ('spaciousness') publicly testified to his God-given success and settlement rights in the land. For the Assyrian city, the name likely reflected its status as a large, open settlement or trading center within Nimrod's expanding empire.
רְחֹב (rechob, H7339) — The singular form, meaning a broad street or open square, not a proper name. בְּאֵר (be'er, H875) — A general term for a well; Rechoboth was the specific name given to one of Isaac's wells.
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.
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