רַכָּב
𐤓𐤊𐤁
rakkâb
H7395 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
One who drives or rides in a chariot; charioteer. In biblical usage, רַכָּב refers specifically to an individual responsible for operating, managing, or commanding a chariot, often as part of a military entourage or as an appointed official within an army. The term is contextually distinct from generic riders or cavalry and is commonly associated with high-status roles or skilled professionals in chariot-based warfare.
Semantic Range
charioteer, chariot driver, officer in charge of a chariot, member of chariot corps
Root / Etymology
From the root רָכַב (rākav), which means 'to mount, to ride, to drive, or to be carried.' רַכָּב is a noun form directly derived from this root, signifying the person performing the act of riding (specifically, driving or operating a chariot).
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the ancient Near East, particularly during the late Bronze and Iron Ages, the chariot was a symbol of military strength, state power, and elite status. רַכָּב appears in narratives set during the monarchic period, especially within royal or military lists, and always refers to chariot personnel rather than horseback cavalry; the latter are referred to by distinct terms (e.g., פָּרָשׁ, 'horseman'). Usage is attested mostly in passages relating to military organization or royal court contexts (e.g., 2 Kings 9:17, 2 Chron 18:33, 2 Kings 23:30). The role of the רַכָּב was specialized—chariot driving required training, coordination, and strategic importance. In later biblical literature (exilic, post-exilic), the prominence of the term diminishes in line with the reduced significance of chariot warfare. English translations variously render רַכָּב as 'charioteer,' 'driver,' or (occasionally, and less accurately) 'horseman,' though the latter risks confusion with mounted cavalry, which is not intended by the Hebrew term.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from רָכַב; a charioteer; chariot man, driver of a chariot, horseman.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
רכב (r-k-b) — to mount, to ride, to drive
| 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 |
| H7393 | רֶכֶב | in the chariot |
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7395-02 |
לְ/רַכָּב֗/וֹ | lerakavo | HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms |
to his charioteer | to his charioteer | 1 |
H7395-03 |
רַכָּ֛ב | rakav | HNcmsa |
horseman | chariot-driver | 1 |
H7395-01 |
לָֽ/רַכָּ֗ב | larakav | HRd/Ncmsa |
to the charioteer | to a chariot-driver | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7395-02 |
1 Kings 22:34 | לְ/רַכָּב֗/וֹ | lerakavo | HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms |
to his charioteer | to his charioteer |
H7395-03 |
2 Kings 9:17 | רַכָּ֛ב | rakav | HNcmsa |
horseman | chariot-driver |
H7395-01 |
2 Chronicles 18:33 | לָֽ/רַכָּ֗ב | larakav | HRd/Ncmsa |
to the charioteer | to a chariot-driver |