רֶכֶב (H7393) — Hebrew Lexicon

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.

Translation Consistency

primary "chariot" 46 occurrences

Most common and natural rendering in biblical contexts (73 occurrences as “chariot” plus 37 as “chariots”). Rekeb primarily denotes a military/official wheeled vehicle or the body of chariots/cavalry; using “chariot” as the base word allows regular pluralization/inflection for collective senses. The rare millstone sense is exceptional and can be handled in marginal/gloss notes.

Alternatives (4 occurrences):

"chariot-of" (2x) "or upper stone" (1x) "millstone" (1x)

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 recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

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

Root רכב 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
H7395	רַכָּב	to a chariot-driver
H7396	רִכְבָּה	to a chariot corps
H7398	רְכוּב	his riding-vehicle
H755	אַרְכֻבָה	his bending-joints

Word Forms

22 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`H7393-11`	רֶ֗כֶב	rekhev	`HNcmsa`	chariots	chariot	chariot	39
`H7393-06`	הָ/רֶ֔כֶב	harekhev	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the chariots	the chariot	the chariot	25
`H7393-14`	רִכְבּ֖/וֹ	rikhebo	`HNcmsc/Sp3ms`	his chariots	his chariot	his chariot	11
`H7393-03`	בְּ/רִכְבּ֗/וֹ	berikhebo	`HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms`	in his chariot	in his chariot	in his chariot	6
`H7393-20`	וָ/רֶ֨כֶב֙	varekhev	`HC/Ncmsa`	and chariots	chariot	and chariot	5
`H7393-21`	וְ/רֶ֣כֶב	verekhev	`HC/Ncmsa`	and chariots	and chariot-of	and chariot-of	5
`H7393-05`	הָ/רָ֑כֶב	harakhev	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the chariots	the chariot	the chariot	4
`H7393-02`	בְּ/רֶ֨כֶב֙	berekhev	`HR/Ncmsa`	with-chariot	in a chariot	in a chariot	3
`H7393-08`	לְ/רֶ֥כֶב	lerekhev	`HR/Ncmsa`	for-chariots	for a chariot	for a chariot	3
`H7393-10`	רָֽכֶב	rakhev	`HNcmsa`	chariots	chariot	chariot	3
`H7393-19`	וָ/רָ֑כֶב	varakhev	`HC/Ncmsa`	and chariots	and chariot	or upper stone	3
`H7393-01`	בָּ/רֶ֣כֶב	barekhev	`HRd/Ncmsa`	in chariot	in the chariot	in the chariot	2
`H7393-13`	רִכְבִּ֛/י	rikhebi	`HNcmsc/Sp1cs`	my chariots	my chariot	my chariots	2
`H7393-04`	בְּ/רִכְבֵ֣י	berikhevey	`HR/Ncmpc`	among the chariots	in chariots of	among the chariots	1
`H7393-07`	כָּ/רֶ֗כֶב	karekhev	`HRd/Ncmsa`	like chariot	chariot	like chariot	1
`H7393-09`	לְ/רִכְבּ֔/וֹ	lerikhebo	`HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms`	of his chariots	to his chariot	his chariot	1
`H7393-12`	רִכְבָּ֔/הּ	rikhebah	`HNcmsc/Sp3fs`	her chariots	her chariot	her chariot	1
`H7393-15`	וּ/לְ/רִכְבּ֗/וֹ	ulerikhebo	`HC/R/Ncmsc/Sp3ms`	and to its chariots	and to his chariot	and to his chariots	1
`H7393-16`	וּ֠/בָ/רֶכֶב	uvarekhev	`HC/Rd/Ncmsa`	and-in-chariot	and in a chariot	and in chariot	1
`H7393-17`	וּ/בְ/רֶ֥כֶב	uverekhev	`HC/R/Ncmsa`	and-with-chariot	and with a chariot	and with a chariot	1
`H7393-18`	וּ/בְ/רִכְבּ֑/וֹ	uverikhebo	`HC/R/Ncmsc/Sp3ms`	and with his chariot	and in his chariot	and with his chariot	1
`H7393-22`	ב/רכב	vrkhv	`HR/Ncmsc`	with chariot	his two millstones	with chariot	1

Occurrences in Scripture

120 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`H7393-11`	Genesis 50:9	רֶ֖כֶב	rekhev	`HNcmsa`	chariots	chariot	chariot
`H7393-14`	Exodus 14:6	רִכְבּ֑/וֹ	rikhebo	`HNcmsc/Sp3ms`	his chariot	his chariot	his chariot
`H7393-11`	Exodus 14:7	רֶ֨כֶב֙	rekhev	`HNcmsa`	chariots	chariot	chariot
`H7393-11`	Exodus 14:7	רֶ֣כֶב	rekhev-2	`HNcmsc`	chariots	chariot	chariot
`H7393-11`	Exodus 14:9	רֶ֣כֶב	rekhev	`HNcmsc`	chariots	chariot	chariot
`H7393-03`	Exodus 14:17	בְּ/רִכְבּ֖/וֹ	berikhebo	`HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms`	his chariots	in his chariot	in his chariot
`H7393-03`	Exodus 14:18	בְּ/רִכְבּ֖/וֹ	berikhebo	`HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms`	upon his chariots	in his chariot	upon his chariots
`H7393-14`	Exodus 14:23	רִכְבּ֖/וֹ	rikhebo	`HNcmsc/Sp3ms`	chariots	his chariot	his chariot
`H7393-14`	Exodus 14:26	רִכְבּ֖/וֹ	rikhebo	`HNcmsc/Sp3ms`	their chariots	his chariot	their chariots
`H7393-06`	Exodus 14:28	הָ/רֶ֨כֶב֙	harekhev	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the chariots	the chariot	the chariot
`H7393-03`	Exodus 15:19	בְּ/רִכְבּ֤/וֹ	berikhebo	`HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms`	with his chariot	in his chariot	in his chariot
`H7393-15`	Deuteronomy 11:4	וּ/לְ/רִכְבּ֗/וֹ	ulerikhebo	`HC/R/Ncmsc/Sp3ms`	and to its chariots	and to his chariot	and to his chariots
`H7393-20`	Deuteronomy 20:1	וָ/רֶ֨כֶב֙	varekhev	`HC/Ncmsa`	and chariots	chariot	and chariot
`H7393-19`	Deuteronomy 24:6	וָ/רָ֑כֶב	varakhev	`HC/Ncmsa`	or upper millstone	and chariot	or upper stone
`H7393-20`	Joshua 11:4	וָ/רֶ֖כֶב	varekhev	`HC/Ncmsa`	and chariots	chariot	and chariot
`H7393-21`	Joshua 17:16	וְ/רֶ֣כֶב	verekhev	`HC/Ncmsc`	and chariots	and chariot-of	and chariot-of
`H7393-11`	Joshua 17:18	רֶ֤כֶב	rekhev	`HNcmsc`	chariots	chariot	chariot
`H7393-02`	Joshua 24:6	בְּ/רֶ֥כֶב	berekhev	`HR/Ncmsa`	with-chariot	in a chariot	in a chariot
`H7393-11`	Judges 1:19	רֶ֥כֶב	rekhev	`HNcmsc`	chariots	chariot	chariots
`H7393-11`	Judges 4:3	רֶֽכֶב	rekhev	`HNcmsc`	chariots	chariot	chariots
`H7393-14`	Judges 4:7	רִכְבּ֖/וֹ	rikhebo	`HNcmsc/Sp3ms`	his-chariots	his chariot	his chariots
`H7393-14`	Judges 4:13	רִכְבּ֗/וֹ	rikhebo	`HNcmsc/Sp3ms`	his chariots	his chariot	his chariot
`H7393-11`	Judges 4:13	רֶ֣כֶב	rekhev	`HNcmsc`	chariots	chariot	chariot
`H7393-06`	Judges 4:15	הָ/רֶ֧כֶב	harekhev	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the-chariots	the chariot	the chariot
`H7393-06`	Judges 4:16	הָ/רֶ֨כֶב֙	harekhev	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the chariots	the chariot	the chariot
`H7393-14`	Judges 5:28	רִכְבּ/וֹ֙	rikhebo	`HNcmsc/Sp3ms`	his chariot	his chariot	his chariot
`H7393-11`	Judges 9:53	רֶ֖כֶב	rekhev	`HNcmsa`	of millstone	chariot	millstone
`H7393-14`	1 Samuel 8:12	רִכְבּֽ/וֹ	rikhebo	`HNcmsc/Sp3ms`	his chariots	his chariot	his chariots
`H7393-11`	1 Samuel 13:5	רֶ֨כֶב֙	rekhev	`HNcmsa`	chariots	chariot	chariots
`H7393-06`	2 Samuel 1:6	הָ/רֶ֛כֶב	harekhev	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the chariots	the chariot	the chariot
`H7393-06`	2 Samuel 8:4	הָ/רֶ֔כֶב	harekhev	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the chariots	the chariot	the chariot
`H7393-10`	2 Samuel 8:4	רָֽכֶב	rakhev	`HNcmsa`	chariots	chariot	chariot
`H7393-11`	2 Samuel 10:18	רֶ֔כֶב	rekhev	`HNcmsa`	chariots	chariot	chariot
`H7393-11`	2 Samuel 11:21	רֶ֜כֶב	rekhev	`HNcmsa`	of the chariot	chariot	chariot
`H7393-11`	1 Kings 1:5	רֶ֚כֶב	rekhev	`HNcmsa`	chariots	chariot	chariot
`H7393-06`	1 Kings 9:19	הָ/רֶ֔כֶב	harekhev	`HTd/Ncmsa`	for the chariots	the chariot	the chariot
`H7393-14`	1 Kings 9:22	רִכְבּ֖/וֹ	rikhebo	`HNcmsc/Sp3ms`	his chariots	his chariot	his chariot
`H7393-11`	1 Kings 10:26	רֶ֣כֶב	rekhev	`HNcmsa`	chariots	chariot	chariots
`H7393-11`	1 Kings 10:26	רֶ֔כֶב	rekhev-2	`HNcmsa`	chariots	chariot	chariots
`H7393-06`	1 Kings 10:26	הָ/רֶ֔כֶב	harekhev	`HTd/Ncmsa`	of the chariots	the chariot	the chariot
`H7393-05`	1 Kings 16:9	הָ/רָ֑כֶב	harakhev	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the chariots	the chariot	the chariots
`H7393-19`	1 Kings 20:1	וָ/רָ֑כֶב	varakhev	`HC/Ncmsa`	and chariots	and chariot	and chariot
`H7393-05`	1 Kings 20:21	הָ/רָ֑כֶב	harakhev	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the chariots	the chariot	the chariot
`H7393-21`	1 Kings 20:25	וְ/רֶ֣כֶב	verekhev	`HC/Ncmsa`	and chariot	and chariot-of	and chariot-of
`H7393-07`	1 Kings 20:25	כָּ/רֶ֗כֶב	karekhev	`HRd/Ncmsa`	like chariot	chariot	like chariot
`H7393-06`	1 Kings 22:31	הָ/רֶ֨כֶב	harekhev	`HTd/Ncmsa`	of-the-chariots	the chariot	the chariot
`H7393-06`	1 Kings 22:32	הָ/רֶ֜כֶב	harekhev	`HTd/Ncmsa`	of the chariots	the chariot	the chariot
`H7393-06`	1 Kings 22:33	הָ/רֶ֔כֶב	harekhev	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the chariots	the chariot	the chariot
`H7393-05`	1 Kings 22:35	הָ/רָֽכֶב	harakhev	`HTd/Ncmsa`	of the chariot	the chariot	the chariot
`H7393-06`	1 Kings 22:38	הָ/רֶ֜כֶב	harekhev	`HTd/Ncmsa`	chariot	the chariot	the chariot

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