Figurative: Relief from distress: "Yea, he would have allured thee out of (Hebrew "the mouth of") distress into a broad place" (Job 36:16); the liberty of obedience or liberty within the law (Ps 119:96, "broad," "roomy," "at liberty"); the all-sufficiency of God for His people (Isa 33:21). 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" (Mt 7:13); the ostentatious piety of the Pharisees: "They make broad (platuno, "widen") their phylacteries" (Mt 23:5).

See City; Gate.