Original Word: רֶכֶשׁ
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: rekesh
Pronunciation: reh'-kesh
Phonetic Spelling: (reh'-kesh)
KJV: dromedary, mule, swift beast
NASB: steeds, horses, swift steeds
Word Origin: [from H7408 (רָכַשׁ - acquired)]

1. a relay of animals on a post-route (as stabled up for that purpose)
2. (by implication) a swift horse or animal

dromedary, mule, swift beast

From rakash; a relay of animals on a post-route (as stored up for that purpose); by implication, a courser -- dromedary, mule, swift beast.

see HEBREW rakash

Word Origin
perhaps from rakash
Definition
steeds
NASB Translation
horses (1), steeds (2), swift steeds (1).

רֶ֫כֶשׁ noun masculine^{Esther 8:10} collective steeds (connection with √ dubious); — absolute ׳ר Micah 1:13 +, רָ֑כֶשׁ 1 Kings 5:8; — + סוּסִים 1 Kings 5:8, harnessed to chariot Micah 1:13, ridden Esther 8:10 ( + סוּסִים; defined as בְּנֵי הָרֵמָּכִים), Esther 8:14.

Semantic Range and Contextual Nuances

The word depicts a fast, serviceable mount—usually a horse—chosen for speed, endurance, and royal or military duty. Unlike the more common term for “horse,” it is reserved for animals pressed into specialized service: royal supply lines, imperial couriers, or war chariots. The word therefore carries connotations of urgency, preparedness, and strategic mobility.

Occurrences in the Old Testament

• 1 Kings 4:28: Solomon’s provincial governors “brought to the required place their quotas of barley and straw for the horses and swift steeds”. The king’s administrative machine depended on a network of well-provisioned mounts.
• Esther 8:10: Mordecai’s edict is dispatched “by couriers on horseback, riding swift horses bred from the royal mares”, highlighting the Persian courier system that could transmit the king’s word across a vast empire with remarkable speed.
• Esther 8:14: Those same couriers, “mounted on swift horses,” rush the decree to the provinces, illustrating how the fate of God’s covenant people hinged on rapid communication.
• Micah 1:13: The prophet warns, “Harness the horses to the chariot, O daughter of Lachish”. The city is urged to flee with speed, yet its reliance on horses underscores Judah’s misplaced confidence in military mobility rather than in the LORD.

Historical Background and Cultural Setting

In the Ancient Near East, the acquisition and maintenance of swift horses signified strength, wealth, and international connectivity. Solomon imported horses from Egypt (1 Kings 10:28) in apparent tension with Deuteronomy 17:16, which cautioned Israel’s kings against multiplying horses lest they trust in military resources over divine help. Persia later perfected an imperial posting system in which elite horses stood at stations every few miles—exactly the mechanism behind Esther’s narrative. Micah’s eighth-century context evokes Judah’s dependence on chariot warfare learned from the Philistines and neighboring powers.

Theological and Symbolic Significance

1. Human power versus divine trust: Scripture often contrasts confidence in horses with reliance on the LORD (Psalm 20:7; Isaiah 31:1). The specialized steeds in the above verses intensify this contrast: the very best human resources still cannot avert judgment (Micah) or guarantee deliverance apart from God’s providence (Esther).
2. Speed of proclamation: In Esther, swift horses become instruments for preserving the covenant people, paralleling the urgency with which the gospel must be carried “to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
3. Eschatological anticipation: The motif of a noble, swift mount reaches its zenith when the faithful and true Rider appears on a white horse (Revelation 19:11), ensuring that God’s final decree will also arrive with unstoppable speed.

Ministry Applications

• Stewardship of resources: Solomon’s system teaches the importance of orderly provision for ministry while heeding the warning against misplaced trust.
• Urgency in communication: Like the Persian couriers, believers are called to deliver the King’s message without delay, leveraging every legitimate means of rapid transmission.
• Readiness for spiritual conflict: Micah’s imagery challenges the church to prepare—not in the arm of flesh—but in the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18).

Cross-References and Connections

Deuteronomy 17:16; Psalm 33:17; Psalm 147:10–11; Proverbs 21:31; Isaiah 31:1; Zechariah 9:10; Revelation 6:2; Revelation 19:11-16.

הָרֶ֙כֶשׁ֙ הרכש וְלָרָ֑כֶשׁ ולרכש לָרֶ֖כֶשׁ לרכש hā·re·ḵeš haRechesh hāreḵeš lā·re·ḵeš laRechesh lāreḵeš velaRachesh wə·lā·rā·ḵeš wəlārāḵešInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts