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רָכַב

𐤓𐤊𐤁

râkab

H7392 verb

SILEX Entry

Root רכב to ride, to mount, to be carried

Definition

To ride or mount (an animal, usually a horse, donkey, or mule; or a vehicle such as a chariot); to sit upon in the act of riding. By extension and in the causative stem (Hiphil), to cause someone or something to ride, to place upon an animal or a chariot for transportation, or to send or dispatch by means of riding. The core sense involves movement or travel utilizing a mount or vehicle, but can be metaphorical (e.g., domination or control).

Semantic Range

to ride (on animal or chariot), to mount, to sit upon for riding, to cause to ride, to place upon (animal or vehicle), to dispatch via riding, to send mounted, to be in control as a rider, to transport by mounting, figuratively: to exercise control or sovereignty

Root / Etymology

Root: רָכַב (ר-כ-ב), core meaning: to mount, ride, or be carried by a vehicle or animal. The verbal forms arise naturally from the physical act of mounting and riding, with causative forms expressed in derived stems. No cognate root is attested in related Semitic languages with the precise sense of 'to ride,' though similar roots may carry meanings associated with 'mounting' or 'getting on.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

Throughout the Hebrew Bible, רָכַב refers to a prominent mode of travel in the ancient Near East, signifying both literal movement (e.g., individuals riding animals or chariots) and, at times, status or authority—riding a chariot in particular can be a symbol of high rank or military leadership (cf. Pharaoh, Israelite kings, or Elijah). In the patriarchal and monarchic periods, 'riding' usually denotes horses, donkeys, mules, or chariots; widespread use of horses is more characteristic of royal and military circles, especially in later narratives. The action of רָכַב can be literal—travel, journeying, entering battle, or ceremonial processions—or figurative, as in poetic texts where God is described as riding on the clouds (metaphor for sovereignty or swift action, e.g., Ps 18:11[10]). The semantic range in standard English translations is generally well rendered as 'to ride,' but the roots and nuances (e.g., the difference between riding as transport versus riding as a symbol of authority or divinity) are often understated. The causative usage (hiphil) broadens the sense beyond personal action to include enabling or commanding riding. In later biblical Hebrew and post-biblical usage, the term may take on more specialized meanings, but fundamentally retains the association with mounted movement.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to ride (on an animal or in a vehicle); causatively, to place upon (for riding or generally), to despatch; bring (on (horse-) back), carry, get (oneself) up, on (horse-) back, put, (cause to, make to) ride (in a chariot, on, -r), set.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

רכב (r-k-b) — to ride, to mount, to be carried

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1024 בֵּית הַמַּרְכָּבוֹת House of the Chariots
H4817 מֶרְכָּב the riding-vehicle
H4818 מֶרְכָּבָה in the chariot
H7393 רֶכֶב in the chariot
H7394 רֵכָב Rekab

Word Forms

38 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H7392-13 רֹכְבֵי֩ rokhevey HVqrmpc riding riders of 8
H7392-11 רֹכֵ֣ב rokhev HVqrmsa riding one who rides 8
H7392-14 רֹֽכְבִים֙ rokhevim HVqrmpa riding riding ones 7
H7392-24 וַ/יַּרְכִּ֜בוּ vayarekivu HC/Vhw3mp and they made ride and they caused to ride 6
H7392-26 וַ/יִּרְכַּ֥ב vayirekav HC/Vqw3ms and he rode and he rode 5
H7392-35 וְ/רֹכְב֖/וֹ verokhevo HC/Vqrmsc/Sp3ms and its rider and his riding-one 5
H7392-04 לָ/רֹכֵ֣ב larokhev HRd/Vqrmsa the one riding to the rider 2
H7392-05 לִ/רְכֹּ֗ב lirekov HR/Vqc the riding to ride 2
H7392-32 וְ/רֹכֵ֣ב verokhev HC/Vqrmsc and rider and riding-one of 2
H7392-38 יִרְכָּ֑בוּ yirekavu HVqi3mp they-ride they ride 2

Occurrences in Scripture

78 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H7392-20 Genesis 24:61 וַ/תִּרְכַּ֨בְנָה֙ vatirekavenah HC/Vqw3fp and they mounted and they rode
H7392-21 Genesis 41:43 וַ/יַּרְכֵּ֣ב vayarekev HC/Vhw3ms he had him ride and he caused to ride
H7392-15 Genesis 49:17 רֹכְב֖/וֹ rokhevo HVqrmsc/Sp3ms his rider his rider
H7392-23 Exodus 4:20 וַ/יַּרְכִּבֵ/ם֙ vayarekivem HC/Vhw3ms/Sp3mp and set them riding and he made them ride
H7392-35 Exodus 15:1 וְ/רֹכְב֖/וֹ verokhevo HC/Vqrmsc/Sp3ms and its rider and his riding-one
H7392-35 Exodus 15:21 וְ/רֹכְב֖/וֹ verokhevo HC/Vqrmsc/Sp3ms and its rider and his riding-one
H7392-37 Leviticus 15:9 יִרְכַּ֥ב yirekav HVqi3ms he rides he rides
H7392-11 Numbers 22:22 רֹכֵ֣ב rokhev HVqrmsa was riding one who rides
H7392-08 Numbers 22:30 רָכַ֣בְתָּ rakhaveta HVqp2ms you have ridden you rode
H7392-36 Deuteronomy 32:13 יַרְכִּבֵ֨/הוּ֙ yarekivehu HVhi3ms/Sp3ms He made him ride he causes him to ride
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