H7409 H7409
steeds, swift horses (royal cavalry mounts)
This collective noun denotes high-quality horses or steeds, particularly swift cavalry mounts or royal horses. Distinguished from ordinary horses, these are animals of prestige—Solomon's chariot horses, Persian royal couriers' mounts, and horses pulling chariots in prophetic imagery. The term emphasizes speed and nobility.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Designates elite horses or steeds. In 1 Kings 4:28 (5:8 Heb.), these are the horses (רֶכֶשׁ וְסוּסִים, 'steeds and horses'—hendiadys or distinction?) for Solomon's chariots. Esther 8:10, 14 specifies royal mounts (הָרֶכֶשׁ, בְּנֵי הָרַמָּכִים, 'the steeds, sons of the stud-mares'—possibly indicating superior breeding) used by couriers carrying the decree reversing Haman's plot. Micah 1:13 commands Lachish to 'harness the steeds to the chariot' (רִתְמִי הַמֶּרְכָּבָה לָרֶכֶשׁ). Multilingual glosses emphasize speed and quality: Spanish 'corceles' (chargers), French 'cavalier,' German 'swift-steeds'—all marking these as premium horses, not ordinary draft animals. 4×
AR["الْجِيَادِ", "بِ-الْجِيَادِ", "وَلِلْجِيَادِ"]·ben["-দ্রুতগামী-ঘোড়ার", "ও--জন্য-দ্রুতগামীদের", "দ্রুতগামী-ঘোড়ায়"]·DE["[הרכש]", "[לרכש]", "und-fuer-der-swift-steeds"]·EN["and-for-the-swift-steeds", "the-steeds", "to-the-steed"]·FR["[הרכש]", "cavalier", "et-pour-le-swift-steeds"]·heb["ה-רכש", "ו-ל-ה-רכש", "ל-רכש"]·HI["और-तेज़-घोड़ों-के-लिए", "घोड़ों-से", "तेज़-घोड़ों"]·ID["dan-kuda-cepat", "kuda-cepat", "pada-kuda"]·IT["[לרכש]", "destriero", "e-per-il-swift-steeds"]·jav["dhateng-kapal-rikat", "kapal-rikat", "lan-kagem-jaran-cepet"]·KO["그-우편마의", "그리고-빠른-말들을-위해", "에-빠른-말"]·PT["a-corsa", "ao-corcel", "e-para-os-ginetes"]·RU["быстрых-коней", "и-для-скакунов", "к-коню"]·ES["a-corcel", "los-corceles", "y-para-los-corceles"]·SW["kwa-farasi", "na-kwa-farasi-wa-kukimbia", "wa-farasi"]·TR["koşu-atına-o", "kısrakların-", "ve-hızlı-atlar"]·urd["اور-لیے-سواری", "تیز-دوڑ-والے", "تیز-گھوڑوں-سے"]
Related Senses
H2719 1. sword, weapon of war (410×)H4196 1. altar (place of sacrifice) (403×)H7393 1. chariot, chariotry (117×)H7198 1. bow (weapon) (72×)H7979 1. table (71×)H7782 1. ram's horn trumpet (69×)H4294 2. staff, rod, scepter (63×)H4043 1. shield, defensive weapon (60×)H0646 1. ephod (priestly garment) (49×)H8504 1. blue (violet-blue yarn/fabric) (49×)H2595 1. spear, lance (48×)H2671 1. arrow, projectile weapon (46×)H4818 1. chariot, war-chariot (44×)H3658 1. lyre, harp (stringed instrument) (42×)H1537 1. Gilgal (place name) (41×)H0713 1. purple (fabric/dye) (38×)H0905 3. poles, staves (37×)H7392 1. Qal participle: rider, charioteer (37×)H4501 1. cultic lampstand (menorah) (36×)H0212 1. wheel (35×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† רֶ֫כֶשׁ n.m. Est 8, 10 coll. steeds (connex. with √ dub.);—abs. ר׳ Mi 1:13 +, רָ֑כֶשׁ 1 K 5:8;—+ סוּסִים 1 K 5:8, harnessed to chariot Mi 1:13, ridden Est 8:10 (+ סוּסִים; defined as בְּנֵי הָרַמָּכִים), v 14.