רֶכֶב
𐤓𐤊𐤁
rekeb
H7393 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A chariot or wheeled vehicle, primarily used for military or official transport. The term can also refer more broadly to the collective body of chariots, the cavalry force, and, rarely, the upper millstone of a grinding apparatus (by analogy to the movement or ‘riding’ of a stone upon another). In extension, it sometimes denotes a group or multitude pertaining to chariots or riders.
Semantic Range
chariot, wheeled vehicle, wagon, cavalry, body of chariots, upper millstone, group or multitude (related to chariotry)
Root / Etymology
From the root רכב (to ride, mount, cause to ride). While its root meaning denotes the action of riding or mounting, רֶכֶב develops to refer to the object that is ridden, principally a chariot, and by extension, to those who ride or the collective force of chariots.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, רֶכֶב predominantly refers to chariots, especially in military contexts (e.g., Pharaoh’s chariots, Israelite chariots in battle). The term is distinct from סוּס (sus), which specifically means ‘horse,’ and from רֹכֵב (rokev), which denotes the individual who rides. In some passages, רֶכֶב refers collectively to chariotry or cavalry (the assembly of chariots and their riders), distinguishing between foot soldiers and the mobile fighting force. In Ezekiel and later biblical literature, the term may take on symbolic or visionary connotations (e.g., the divine chariot). The rare meaning ‘upper millstone’ likely arises from the image of one stone moving upon another, much as a rider sits atop a mount; this sense is marginal and context-specific. English translations often render רֶכֶב as ‘chariot,’ but the Hebrew has a richer semantic field, occasionally embracing related terms like wagon, cavalry, or even multitude, though chariot remains the central referent. The use of רֶכֶב reflects technological developments in warfare and society during the monarchy and beyond, and occasionally in poetic passages it may carry metaphorical resonance.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from רָכַב; a vehicle; by implication, a team; by extension, cavalry; by analogy a rider, i.e. the upper millstone; chariot, (upper) millstone, multitude (from the margin), wagon.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
רכב (r-k-b) — to ride, to mount, to cause to ride
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1024 | בֵּית הַמַּרְכָּבוֹת | House of the Chariots |
| H4817 | מֶרְכָּב | the riding-vehicle |
| H4818 | מֶרְכָּבָה | in the chariot |
| H7392 | רָכַב | I will cause to ride |
| H7394 | רֵכָב | Rekab |
Word Forms
22 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7393-11 |
רֶ֖כֶב | rekhev | HNcmsa |
chariots | chariot | 39 |
H7393-06 |
הָ/רֶ֨כֶב֙ | harekhev | HTd/Ncmsa |
the chariots | the chariot | 25 |
H7393-14 |
רִכְבּ֑/וֹ | rikhebo | HNcmsc/Sp3ms |
his chariots | his chariot | 11 |
H7393-03 |
בְּ/רִכְבּ֖/וֹ | berikhebo | HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms |
in his chariot | in his chariot | 6 |
H7393-21 |
וְ/רֶ֣כֶב | verekhev | HC/Ncmsc |
and chariots | and chariot-of | 5 |
H7393-20 |
וָ/רֶ֨כֶב֙ | varekhev | HC/Ncmsa |
and chariots | chariot | 5 |
H7393-05 |
הָ/רָ֑כֶב | harakhev | HTd/Ncmsa |
the chariots | the chariot | 4 |
H7393-08 |
לְ/רֶ֖כֶב | lerekhev | HR/Ncmsa |
for-chariots | for a chariot | 3 |
H7393-19 |
וָ/רָ֑כֶב | varakhev | HC/Ncmsa |
and chariots | and chariot | 3 |
H7393-10 |
רָֽכֶב | rakhev | HNcmsa |
chariots | chariot | 3 |
Occurrences in Scripture
120 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7393-11 |
Genesis 50:9 | רֶ֖כֶב | rekhev | HNcmsa |
chariots | chariot |
H7393-14 |
Exodus 14:6 | רִכְבּ֑/וֹ | rikhebo | HNcmsc/Sp3ms |
his chariot | his chariot |
H7393-11 |
Exodus 14:7 | רֶ֨כֶב֙ | rekhev | HNcmsa |
chariots | chariot |
H7393-11 |
Exodus 14:7 | רֶ֣כֶב | rekhev-2 | HNcmsc |
chariots | chariot |
H7393-11 |
Exodus 14:9 | רֶ֣כֶב | rekhev | HNcmsc |
chariots | chariot |
H7393-03 |
Exodus 14:17 | בְּ/רִכְבּ֖/וֹ | berikhebo | HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms |
his chariots | in his chariot |
H7393-03 |
Exodus 14:18 | בְּ/רִכְבּ֖/וֹ | berikhebo | HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms |
upon his chariots | in his chariot |
H7393-14 |
Exodus 14:23 | רִכְבּ֖/וֹ | rikhebo | HNcmsc/Sp3ms |
chariots | his chariot |
H7393-14 |
Exodus 14:26 | רִכְבּ֖/וֹ | rikhebo | HNcmsc/Sp3ms |
their chariots | his chariot |
H7393-06 |
Exodus 14:28 | הָ/רֶ֨כֶב֙ | harekhev | HTd/Ncmsa |
the chariots | the chariot |