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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadInternational Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Broad
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broÌ‚d (רחב, roÌ„hÌ£abh, “widthâ€; רחב, rehÌ£oÌ„bh, “a broadway,†“street,†“courtâ€; ἐυÏÏ…ÌχωÏος, euruÌchoÌ„ros, “spaciousâ€): Occurs frequently as a term of dimension (; ; , the Revised Version (British and American), “handbreadth longâ€) and as indicative of strength (; ). The centers of communal life are called the “broad places,†often rendered “streets†(; ; ). A court before the temple: “the broad place on the east†(the King James Version “the east street,†); “broad plates†(, , the Revised Version (British and American) “beatenâ€).
Figurative: Relief from distress: “Yea, he would have allured thee out of (Hebrew “the mouth ofâ€) distress into a broad place†(); the liberty of obedience or liberty within the law (, “broad,†“roomy,†“at libertyâ€); the all-sufficiency of God for His people (). Jerusalem could not boast of a river or navy - Yahweh's presence with and within her would more than supply these deficiencies; the road to destruction: “Broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction†(); the ostentatious piety of the Pharisees: “They make broad (πλατυÌνω, platuÌnoÌ„, “widenâ€) their phylacteries†(). See CITY; GATE.