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רָכַב

𐤓𐤊𐤁

râkab

H7392 verb

SILEX Entry

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.

Translation Consistency

primary "ride" 34 occurrences

'Ride' is the most natural, common English verb that captures the primary sense of רָכַב—mounting and traveling on an animal or vehicle. It readily covers simple and causative uses (made/caused to ride, placed on a mount) and can serve metaphorically (exercising control) while remaining familiar to modern readers. Other options like 'mount' are more formal; 'ride' best fits typical usage and will produce natural, consistent renderings across all forms.

Alternatives (16 occurrences):
"rode" (9x) "riding-one" (4x) "riders of" (2x) "rider" (1x)

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

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

רכב (Beyt Hamarekavot) — to ride, to mount, to drive

Root רכב 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 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H7392-11 רֹכֵ֨ב rokhev HVqrmsc riding one who rides one who rides 8
H7392-13 רֹכְבֵ֤י rokhevey HVqrmpc riding riders of riders of 8
H7392-14 רֹכְבִ֤ים rokhevim HVqrmpa riding riding ones riding ones 7
H7392-24 וַ/יַּרְכִּ֜יבוּ vayarekivu HC/Vhw3mp and they made ride and they caused to ride and they caused to ride 6
H7392-26 וַ/יִּרְכַּ֖ב vayirekav HC/Vqw3ms and he rode and he rode and he rode 5
H7392-35 וְ/רֹכְב֖/וֹ verokhevo HC/Vqrmsc/Sp3ms and its rider and his riding-one and his riding-one 5
H7392-04 לָ/רֹכֵ֣ב larokhev HRd/Vqrmsa the one riding to the rider to the one riding 2
H7392-05 לִ/רְכֹּ֔ב lirekov HR/Vqc the riding to ride to ride 2
H7392-06 נִרְכָּ֔ב nirekav HVqi1cp we will ride we will ride we will ride 2
H7392-21 וַ/יַּרְכֵּ֖ב vayarekev HC/Vhw3ms and he drew and he caused to ride and he caused to ride 2

Occurrences in Scripture

78 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H7392-20 Genesis 24:61 וַ/תִּרְכַּ֨בְנָה֙ vatirekavenah HC/Vqw3fp and they mounted and they rode and they rode
H7392-21 Genesis 41:43 וַ/יַּרְכֵּ֣ב vayarekev HC/Vhw3ms he had him ride and he caused to ride and he caused to ride
H7392-15 Genesis 49:17 רֹכְב֖/וֹ rokhevo HVqrmsc/Sp3ms his rider 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 and he made them ride
H7392-35 Exodus 15:1 וְ/רֹכְב֖/וֹ verokhevo HC/Vqrmsc/Sp3ms and its rider and his riding-one and his riding-one
H7392-35 Exodus 15:21 וְ/רֹכְב֖/וֹ verokhevo HC/Vqrmsc/Sp3ms and its rider and his riding-one and his riding-one
H7392-37 Leviticus 15:9 יִרְכַּ֥ב yirekav HVqi3ms he rides he rides he rides
H7392-11 Numbers 22:22 רֹכֵ֣ב rokhev HVqrmsa was riding one who rides one who rides
H7392-08 Numbers 22:30 רָכַ֣בְתָּ rakhaveta HVqp2ms you have ridden you rode you rode
H7392-36 Deuteronomy 32:13 יַרְכִּבֵ֨/הוּ֙ yarekivehu HVhi3ms/Sp3ms He made him ride he causes him to ride he causes him to ride
H7392-11 Deuteronomy 33:26 רֹכֵ֤ב rokhev HVqrmsa who rides one who rides one who rides
H7392-13 Judges 5:10 רֹכְבֵי֩ rokhevey HVqrmpc you who ride riders of riders of
H7392-14 Judges 10:4 רֹֽכְבִים֙ rokhevim HVqrmpa riding riding ones riding ones
H7392-14 Judges 12:14 רֹכְבִ֖ים rokhevim HVqrmpa who rode riding ones riding ones
H7392-12 1 Samuel 25:20 רֹכֶ֣בֶת rokhevet HVqrfsa riding riding-one riding
H7392-19 1 Samuel 25:42 וַ/תִּרְכַּב֙ vatirekav HC/Vqw3fs and rode and she rode and she rode
H7392-09 1 Samuel 30:17 רָכְב֥וּ rakhevu HVqp3cp rode they rode they rode
H7392-24 2 Samuel 6:3 וַ/יַּרְכִּ֜בוּ vayarekivu HC/Vhw3mp and they caused to ride and they caused to ride and they caused to ride
H7392-27 2 Samuel 13:29 וַֽ/יִּרְכְּב֛וּ vayirekevu HC/Vqw3mp mounted and they rode and they rode
H7392-05 2 Samuel 16:2 לִ/רְכֹּ֗ב lirekov HR/Vqc to ride to ride to ride
H7392-11 2 Samuel 18:9 רֹכֵ֣ב rokhev HVqrmsa riding one who rides one who rides
H7392-28 2 Samuel 19:27 וְ/אֶרְכַּ֤ב veerekav HC/Vqi1cs and-I-will-ride and I will ride and I will ride
H7392-26 2 Samuel 22:11 וַ/יִּרְכַּ֥ב vayirekav HC/Vqw3ms And He rode and he rode and he rode
H7392-29 1 Kings 1:33 וְ/הִרְכַּבְתֶּם֙ vehirekavetem HC/Vhq2mp and cause to ride and you caused to ride and you caused to ride
H7392-24 1 Kings 1:38 וַ/יַּרְכִּ֨בוּ֙ vayarekivu HC/Vhw3mp and they had ride and they caused to ride and they caused to ride
H7392-24 1 Kings 1:44 וַ/יַּרְכִּ֣בוּ vayarekivu HC/Vhw3mp and they made ride and they caused to ride and they caused to ride
H7392-26 1 Kings 13:13 וַ/יִּרְכַּ֖ב vayirekav HC/Vqw3ms and he rode and he rode and he rode
H7392-26 1 Kings 18:45 וַ/יִּרְכַּ֥ב vayirekav HC/Vqw3ms and rode and he rode and he rode
H7392-05 2 Kings 4:24 לִ/רְכֹּ֔ב lirekov HR/Vqc the riding to ride to ride
H7392-26 2 Kings 9:16 וַ/יִּרְכַּ֤ב vayirekav HC/Vqw3ms rode and he rode and he rode
H7392-11 2 Kings 9:18 רֹכֵ֨ב rokhev HVqrmsc rider one who rides one who rides
H7392-11 2 Kings 9:19 רֹכֵ֣ב rokhev HVqrmsc a horseman one who rides one who rides
H7392-14 2 Kings 9:25 רֹכְבִ֤ים rokhevim HVqrmpa riding riding ones riding ones
H7392-24 2 Kings 9:28 וַ/יַּרְכִּ֧בוּ vayarekivu HC/Vhw3mp and they made ride and they caused to ride and they caused to ride
H7392-24 2 Kings 10:16 וַ/יַּרְכִּ֥בוּ vayarekivu HC/Vhw3mp So they made ride and they caused to ride and they caused to ride
H7392-02 2 Kings 13:16 הַרְכֵּ֤ב harekev HVhv2ms Draw cause to ride! cause to ride
H7392-21 2 Kings 13:16 וַ/יַּרְכֵּ֖ב vayarekev HC/Vhw3ms and he drew and he caused to ride and he caused to ride
H7392-14 2 Kings 18:23 רֹכְבִ֥ים rokhevim HVqrmpa riders riding ones riding ones
H7392-25 2 Kings 23:30 וַ/יַּרְכִּבֻ֨/הוּ vayarekivuhu HC/Vhw3mp/Sp3ms and they made him ride and they caused him to ride and they caused him to ride
H7392-11 Isaiah 19:1 רֹכֵ֨ב rokhev HVqrmsa rides one who rides one who rides
H7392-06 Isaiah 30:16 נִרְכָּ֔ב nirekav HVqi1cp we will ride we will ride we will ride
H7392-14 Isaiah 36:8 רֹכְבִ֥ים rokhevim HVqrmpa riders riding ones riding ones
H7392-30 Isaiah 58:14 וְ/הִרְכַּבְתִּ֖י/ךָ vehirekavetikha HC/Vhq1cs/Sp2ms and I will make you ride and I caused you to ride and I will cause you to ride
H7392-38 Jeremiah 6:23 יִרְכָּ֑בוּ yirekavu HVqi3mp they-ride they ride they ride
H7392-14 Jeremiah 17:25 רֹכְבִ֣ים rokhevim HVqrmpa riding riding ones riding ones
H7392-14 Jeremiah 22:4 רֹֽכְבִים֙ rokhevim HVqrmpa riding riding ones riding ones
H7392-38 Jeremiah 50:42 יִרְכָּ֑בוּ yirekavu HVqi3mp they-shall-ride they ride they ride
H7392-35 Jeremiah 51:21 וְ/רֹֽכְב֑/וֹ verokhevo HC/Vqrmsc/Sp3ms and-its-rider and his riding-one and his riding-one
H7392-35 Jeremiah 51:21 וְ/רֹכְבֽ/וֹ verokhevo-2 HC/Vqrmsc/Sp3ms and-its-rider and his riding-one and his riding-one
H7392-13 Ezekiel 23:6 רֹכְבֵ֖י rokhevey HVqrmpc riding riders of riders of
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