רִכְבָּה
𐤓𐤊𐤁𐤄
rikbâh
H7396 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A group or collection of chariots, usually referring to a contingent of war chariots as a unit or division within an army. The term is grammatically feminine and often designates a chariot force rather than an individual vehicle. In some contexts, refers generically to the body of chariots employed by a nation or military.
Semantic Range
chariot corps, division or detachment of chariots, collective chariotry, company or group of chariots
Root / Etymology
Feminine formation from the root רכב (r-k-b), meaning 'to ride, mount, or drive.' The root connotes mounting or riding, particularly involving vehicles or animals used for transport or war. רִכְבָּה is the feminine collective noun derived from רֶכֶב (rekhev), 'chariot' or 'chariotry.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term רִכְבָּה appears rarely in the Hebrew Bible and is used primarily in descriptions of military units or contingents, typically of chariots. While the masculine form רֶכֶב can refer both to an individual chariot or collectively to chariotry, רִכְבָּה more specifically designates a collective body (likely a squadron, detachment, or company of chariots). This particular feminine collective can emphasize the organizational aspect of chariot warfare, where groups of chariots acted as tactical units. In post-exilic or later contexts, related forms came to be used for other kinds of vehicles, but in biblical times רִכְבָּה remained specific to military chariot corps. English translations tend to render both רֶכֶב and רִכְבָּה simply as 'chariot(s),' often obscuring the distinction between a single chariot and a chariot contingent. This term should not be confused with רֶכֶב as an individual chariot, or with other vehicle terms. Its usage is concentrated in contexts describing military strength, composition of armies, or the assets of monarchs, particularly in the period of the Israelite monarchy.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
feminine of רֶכֶב; a chariot (collectively); chariots.
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 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
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7396-01 |
לְ/רִכְבָּֽה | lerikhebah | HR/Ncfsa |
for riding | to a chariot corps | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7396-01 |
Ezekiel 27:20 | לְ/רִכְבָּֽה | lerikhebah | HR/Ncfsa |
for riding | to a chariot corps |