H0748 H0748
Be long, prolong; to extend in time or space — especially lengthening days, stretching cords, or delaying action
Built on a root shared with Aramaic and Akkadian cognates for length, this verb appears overwhelmingly in the Hifil (causative) stem with the meaning 'prolong' or 'make long.' Its most characteristic use is the Deuteronomic promise that obedience will 'lengthen your days in the land' (Deut 5:33; 6:2), a formula appearing over a dozen times in Torah and Prophets. Beyond lifespan, the word stretches into physical space — lengthening tent cords (Isa 54:2), extending the poles of the ark (1 Kgs 8:8) — and into the patience of waiting, as when God declares 'for my name's sake I will defer my anger' (Isa 48:9).
Senses
1. prolong life or days — The Hifil causative meaning to prolong life or extend one's days, especially in the covenantal formula 'that your days may be long upon the land' (Deut 4:40; 5:33; 6:2). Spanish 'prolongará' and French equivalents consistently reflect this temporal-life sense. This is the dominant usage of the root, appearing throughout Deuteronomy, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes. 16×
AR["تَطُولَ", "تُطِيلَ", "تُطِيلُوا", "تُطِيلُونَ", "فَأُطِيلُ", "وَتُطِيلَ", "وَتُطِيلُوا", "وَيُوجَدُ", "يُطِيلَ", "يُطِيلُ"]·ben["এবং-তোমরা-দীর্ঘ-করবে", "এবং-দীর্ঘ-করবে", "ও-দীর্ঘ-করব", "তুমি-দীর্ঘ-করো", "তোমরা-দীর্ঘ-করবে", "তোমরা-দীর্ঘ-করো", "তোমরা-দীর্ঘায়ু-হবে", "দীর্ঘ-করবে", "দীর্ঘ-করবেন", "দীর্ঘ-করে", "দীর্ঘ-হয়", "দীর্ঘায়ু-করবে", "দীর্ঘায়ু-করে", "দীর্ঘায়ু-হবে-তোমরা"]·DE["[יאריך]", "[מאריך]", "du-prolong", "du-wird-prolong", "er-soll-prolong", "moege-sein-prolonged", "sind-prolonged", "und-du-prolong", "und-du-wird-prolong", "und-ich-soll-lengthen"]·EN["and-I-shall-lengthen", "and-you-prolong", "and-you-will-prolong", "are-prolonged", "he-shall-prolong", "he-will-prolong", "may-be-prolonged", "prolonging", "will-prolong", "you-prolong", "you-will-prolong"]·FR["[יאריך]", "et-je-devra-lengthen", "et-tu-fera-prolong", "et-tu-prolong", "il-devra-prolong", "pourra-être-prolonged", "prolonger", "sont-prolonged", "tu-fera-prolong", "tu-prolong"]·heb["ו-הארכת", "ו-הארכתי", "ו-הארכתם", "יאריך", "יאריכו", "יאריכון", "מאריך", "תאריך", "תאריכו", "תאריכון"]·HI["और-लम्बे-करेगा", "और-लम्बे-करोगे", "तुम्हारे-लिए", "तो-मैं-लम्बा-करूंगा", "लंबे-करोगे", "लम्बा-करता-है", "लम्बा-करे", "लम्बे-करेंगे", "लम्बे-करेगा", "लम्बे-हों", "वह-लम्बा-करेगा"]·ID["Dia-akan-memperpanjang", "akan-memperpanjang", "dan-kamu-memperpanjang", "dia-memperpanjang", "diperpanjang", "kamu-akan-memperpanjang", "maka-Aku-akan-memperpanjang", "memperpanjang"]·IT["e-io-dovrà-lengthen", "e-tu-fara-prolong", "e-tu-prolong", "egli-dovra-prolong", "possa-essere-prolonged", "prolonging", "prolungare", "sono-prolonged", "tu-fara-prolong", "tu-prolong", "will-prolong"]·jav["badhé-dangu", "badhé-njembaraken", "badé-ndawakaken", "dados-panjang", "dipunpanjangaken", "gesang-dangu", "lan-kula-badh飖nambahi", "lan-panjenengan-dawa", "lan-panjenengan-ndawakaken", "ndawakaken", "panjenengan-nambah", "panjenengan-ndawakaken", "panjenengan-sadaya-nambah", "piyambakipun-dawa"]·KO["그리고-길게-하리라", "그리고-내가-길게-하리라", "길게-하리라", "길게-하시리니", "너희가-길게-하리라", "늦추리라", "오래-간다", "오래-사는", "오래-살게-하라-너희가", "오래가다"]·PT["e-prolongarei", "e-prolongueis", "e-prolongues", "prolongando", "prolongareis", "prolongará", "prolongue", "prolongueis", "prolonguem", "prolonguem-se", "prolongues"]·RU["и-продлили", "и-продлишь", "и-продлю-Я", "продлевающий", "продлил", "продлили-вы", "продлились", "продлит", "продлите"]·ES["alargará", "prolongará", "prolongaréis", "prolongue", "prolongues", "prolongéis", "que-prolonga", "se-prolonguen", "y-alargaré", "y-prolongues", "y-prolonguéis"]·SW["anayeongeza-maisha", "ataongeza", "atarefusha", "azidishe", "kuongeza", "mtaishi-muda-mrefu", "mtarefusha", "mzidishe", "na-mwishi-muda-mrefu", "na-utarefusha", "siku-zako", "siku-zako-ziwe-nyingi", "uishi-muda-mrefu", "zitarefushwa"]·TR["uzasın", "uzasın-diye", "uzatacak", "uzatacaksın", "uzatacaksınız", "uzatan", "uzatasınız", "uzatılsın", "uzatır", "ve-uzasın", "ve-uzatacaksınız", "ve-uzatacağım"]·urd["اور-لمبی-کروں-گا", "اور-لمبی-ہو", "اور-لمبے-کرو", "طویل-ہوں-گے", "لمبا-کرنے-والا", "لمبی-کرے-گا", "لمبے-کرو-گے", "لمبے-کروگے", "لمبے-کروگے-تم", "لمبے-کرے", "لمبے-کرے-گا", "لمبے-ہوں", "لمبے-ہوں-تمہارے", "وہ-لمبی-کرے"]
Deut 4:26, Deut 4:40, Deut 5:16, Deut 5:33, Deut 6:2, Deut 11:9, Deut 17:20, Deut 22:7, Deut 25:15, Deut 30:18, Deut 32:47, 1 Kgs 3:14 (+4 more)
2. continue or persist in duration — The Hifil sense of continuing or persisting in duration — drawing out an action, sound, or state over time rather than referring to lifespan. In Numbers 9:19,22 the cloud 'prolonged' its stay over the tabernacle; in Joshua 24:31 and Judges 2:7 Israel served the Lord 'all the days' that the elders who outlived Joshua 'prolonged' their influence. The distinction from sense 1 lies in emphasizing ongoing duration of events rather than length of life. 7×
AR["أَطالوا", "تَطُولَ", "عِنْدَ-إِطَالَةِ", "هِأَرِكُوا", "وَ-عِنْدَ-إِطَالَةِ", "وَيُطِيلُ", "يَطُولُ"]·ben["এবং-দীর্ঘায়ু-করে", "এবং-যখন-দীর্ঘ-হতো", "দিন", "দীর্ঘ-হবে", "দীর্ঘ-হুক", "বাড়িয়েছিল", "যখন-দীর্ঘ-হতো"]·DE["[ומאריך]", "[יאריך]", "als-prolonged", "prolonged", "sind-lang", "und-als-prolonged"]·EN["and-prolongs", "and-when-prolonged", "are-long", "it-will-endure", "prolonged", "when-prolonged"]·FR["et-prolonger", "et-quand-prolonged", "prolonged", "prolonger", "quand-prolonged", "sont-long"]·heb["ב-האריך", "האריכו", "ו-בהאריך", "ו-מאריך", "יאריך", "יאריכון"]·HI["और-जब-लम्बा-होता", "और-लम्बा-करता-है", "जब-लम्बा-होता", "लम्बा।", "लम्बे-थे", "लम्बे-हों"]·ID["akan-panjang-umur", "dan-ketika-berlama", "dan-memperpanjang", "diperpanjang", "ketika-berlama", "memperpanjang"]·IT["e-e-prolongs", "e-quando-prolonged", "esso-will-endure", "prolonged", "quando-prolonged", "sono-lungo"]·jav["Lan-nalika-dangu", "badé-langgeng", "dados-panjang", "dangu-gesang", "dawa", "lan-gesang-dangu", "nalika-dangu"]·KO["그리고-에서-길게함", "그리고-오래-간다", "길어졌다", "길어지게-하려니", "에서-길게함", "연장하였던", "오래가다"]·PT["E-quando-prolongar", "durará", "e-prolongando", "prolongaram", "quando-prolongar", "se-prolonguem"]·RU["и-когда-задерживалось", "и-продлевается", "когда-задерживалось", "продлили", "продлились", "продлится"]·ES["Y-al-prolongar", "al-prolongar", "durará", "prolongaron", "se-alargarán", "y-prolonga"]·SW["inadumu", "na-kuendelea", "na-lilipokaa-muda-mrefu", "ngome", "waliishi-muda-mrefu", "ziongezeke"]·TR["-de-uzattığında", "uzar", "uzattılar", "uzun-olsun", "ve-uzatiyor", "ve-uzattığında"]·urd["اور-جب-لمبا-کرتا", "اور-لمبی-دی-جاتی-ہے", "دراز-ہو-گی", "طویل-ہوں", "لمبا-کرتا", "لمبی-عمر-پائی"]
3. extend or stretch physically — The Hifil causative sense of physically stretching or extending a concrete object in space. Isaiah 54:2 commands 'lengthen your cords'; in 1 Kings 8:8 and 2 Chronicles 5:9 the poles of the ark were 'extended' so their ends could be seen. Psalm 129:3 uses the image of plowmen who 'made long their furrows,' and Isaiah 57:4 asks 'against whom do you stretch out the tongue?' — all involving spatial, not temporal, extension. 5×
AR["أَطَالُوا", "أَطِيلِي", "تُطِيلُونَ", "وَ-أَطَالُوا"]·ben["আর-দীর্ঘ-ছিল", "এবং-দীর্ঘ-ছিল", "তোমরা-দীর্ঘ-কর", "দীর্ঘ-করেছে", "দীর্ঘ-করো"]·DE["[האריכי]", "[ויאריכו]", "[תאריכו]", "sie-gemacht-lang", "und-sie-extended"]·EN["and-they-extended", "do-you-stick-out", "lengthen", "they-made-long"]·FR["[האריכו]", "[האריכי]", "[ויאריכו]", "[תאריכו]", "et-ils-extended"]·heb["האריכו", "האריכי", "ו-האריכו", "ו-יאריכו", "תאריכו"]·HI["और-लम्बे-थे", "लम्बी-करते-हो", "लम्बी-करो", "लम्बी-कीं"]·ID["dan-mereka-memanjangkan", "dan-panjang", "kamu-menjulurkan", "mereka-memperpanjang", "perpanjanglah"]·IT["[ויאריכו]", "e-essi-extended", "prolungare", "prolungo'"]·jav["Lan-dawa", "dawakaken", "lan-dawa", "panjenengan-ngalukaken", "sami-ndawākaken"]·KO["그리고-길었다", "길게-하라", "길게-하였도다", "너희가-길게-하는가"]·PT["E-alongaram", "alonga", "alongais", "prolongaram"]·RU["высовываете", "и-были-длинны", "и-выступали", "удлини", "удлиняли-они"]·ES["Y-alargaron", "Y-eran-largas", "alarga", "alargaron", "alargáis"]·SW["Na-walirefusha", "mnanyoosha", "na-wakaongeza", "refusha", "walifanya-mirefu"]·TR["Ve-uzattılar", "uzat", "uzatirsiniz", "uzattılar", "ve-uzattılar"]·urd["اور-لمبے-تھے", "لمبی-کر", "لمبی-کیں", "نکالتے-ہو"]
4. delay or defer — The Hifil sense of delaying, deferring, or exercising patient restraint. Proverbs 19:11 teaches that discretion 'makes a person slow to anger'; in Isaiah 48:9 God says 'for my name's sake I will defer my anger'; Job 6:11 asks what strength he has that he should 'prolong' or endure further. Multilingual evidence shows Spanish 'prolongue' and German renderings reflecting forbearance and postponement. 3×
AR["أُطيلَ", "أُطِيلُ", "تُطيلُ"]·ben["আমি-দীর্ঘ-করব", "আমি-দীর্ঘ-করি", "ধীর-করে"]·DE["[אאריך]", "[האריך]"]·EN["I-delay", "I-should-prolong", "makes-slow"]·FR["[אאריך]", "prolonger"]·heb["אאריך", "האריך"]·HI["मैं-बढ़ाऊँ", "मैं-लंबा-करूंगा", "लंबा-करती-है"]·ID["Aku-menunda", "aku-memperpanjang", "memperlambat"]·IT["I-should-prolong", "makes-slow", "prolungare"]·jav["Ingsun-nglirwakaken", "kawula-njangkakaken", "ndawakaken"]·KO["내가-늘이겠느냐", "늦추리라", "더디게-하느니라"]·PT["alongarei", "prolonga", "prolongaria"]·RU["делает-долгим", "продлевать-мне", "продлю"]·ES["alarga", "prolongaré", "prolongue"]·SW["inamfanya-avumilie", "nirefushe", "nitachelewa"]·TR["geciktiririm", "uzatayım", "uzatır"]·urd["دیر-کرتی-ہے", "صبر-کروں", "میں-روکتا-ہوں"]
5. be long (stative) — The Qal stative sense describing something as being or becoming long, used for both temporal and physical extension. Genesis 26:8 notes that 'the days were long' (i.e., much time had passed); Ezekiel 12:22 quotes the proverb 'the days are prolonged'; Ezekiel 31:5 describes branches that 'were long.' This is the basic intransitive state from which the causative Hifil senses derive. 3×
AR["تَطُولُ", "طالَت", "وَطَالَتْ"]·ben["আর-লম্বা-হয়েছিল", "দীর্ঘ-হবে", "দীর্ঘ-হল-"]·DE["[ותארכנה]", "[יארכו]", "lang-wurden-"]·EN["and-grew-long", "they-shall-be-long", "were-long"]·FR["et-être-long", "étaient-long", "être-long"]·heb["ארכו", "ו-תארכנה", "יאריכו"]·HI["और-लंबी-हुईं", "लंबे-हुए-", "लंबे-होंगे"]·ID["akan-diperpanjang", "dan-memanjang", "lama"]·IT["[ותארכנה]", "[יארכו]", "furono-lungo"]·jav["dangu", "dangu-", "lan-dados-panjang"]·KO["그리고-길어졌다", "길어졌다", "길어지리라"]·PT["e-alongaram-se", "prolongaram-se", "se-prolongam"]·RU["длились", "длятся", "и-удлинились"]·ES["Se-alargan", "se-prolongaron", "y-se-alargaron"]·SW["na-vikarefuka", "zilipokuwa-ndefu", "zinaongezeka"]·TR["uzadı", "uzayacak", "ve-uzadı"]·urd["اور-لمبی-ہو-گئیں", "لمبے-ہوئے", "لمبے-ہوں-گے"]
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H0935 1. come, arrive (Qal) (2413×)H3117 1. day, specific time (2231×)G1473 1. first person singular pronoun (2084×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H5704 1. until, unto, as far as (1238×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)H3318 1. Qal: go out, depart, come forth (891×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8141 1. year, unit of time (880×)H7725 1. to return, come/go back (Qal) (874×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)H5927 1. go up, ascend (Qal) (779×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† [אָרַךְ, אָרֵךְ] vb. be long, almost always of time (Assyrian arâku COTGloss, Aramaic אֲרַךְ, ܐܶܪܰܟ )— Qal Pf. אָֽרְכוּ Gn 26:8; Impf. יַאַרְכוּ Ez 12:22; 3 fpl. וַתֶּאֱרַכְנָה Ez 31:5 (del. B Co)—be long, subj. הַיָּמִים (i.e. a long time passed Gn 26:8 (J); cf. Assyrian urriku ûmî, days grew long, Creation Tableta v. COT Gn 1:1); of delayed fulfilment of prophecy Ez 12:22; subj. פֹּארֹת Ez…