Lexical Summary rekush: Possessions, goods, property, wealth Original Word: רְכוּשׁ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance good, riches, substance Or rkush {rek-oosh'}; from passive participle of rakash; property (as gathered) -- good, riches, substance. see HEBREW rakash NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom rakash Definition property, goods NASB Translation equipment (1), goods (7), herds (1), plunder (1), possessions (12), property (5), wealth (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs רְכוּשׁ, רְכֻשׁ noun masculineGenesis 13:6 property, goods; — absolute רְכוּשׁ Numbers 16:32 +, רְכֻשׁ Genesis 14:16,21; construct רְכוּשׁ2Chronicles 35:7, רְכֻשׁ Genesis 14:11; suffix רְכֻשׁוֺ Genesis 14:12 +, רְכוּשָׁם Genesis 12:5 +, etc.; — property, goods, Proverbs, Chronicles, Daniel, Genesis 14:1 general term for movable possessions of all kinds (often specifically including cattle), Genesis 12:5; Genesis 15:4; Numbers 16:32; 1 Chronicles 27:31; 1 Chronicles 28:1; 2Chronicles 31:3; 32:29; Ezra 8:21; Ezra 10:8. 2 used specifically of cattle, flocks, etc. Genesis 13:6; Genesis 31:18; Genesis 36:7; Numbers 35:3; 2Chronicles 35:7. 3 of stores, utensils, etc. Genesis 46:6; Ezra 1:4,6, as camp-baggage Daniel 11:13, especially as booty Genesis 14:11,12,16 (twice in verse); Genesis 14:21; 2Chronicles 20:25; 21:14,17; Daniel 11:24,28. רָם, רֻם see דום. רֵם see רְאֵם. Topical Lexicon Summary of Meaning and Range רְכוּשׁ describes movable property—herds, household goods, silver and gold, or any material asset that can be amassed, transported, distributed, or seized. It is never abstract wealth alone but concrete, countable resources placed under human responsibility yet ultimately belonging to God. Occurrences and Literary Distribution Approximately twenty-eight appearances span Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Samuel, Chronicles, Ezra, Esther, and Nehemiah. The word clusters around three narrative centers: the Patriarchal journeys (Genesis), the Exodus–Conquest complex (Exodus–Deuteronomy), and the Return from Exile (Ezra–Esther). Each cluster highlights divine provision, covenant faithfulness, and the ethical handling of possessions. Patriarchal Context: Pilgrim Wealth under Promise Genesis repeatedly couples רְכוּשׁ with flocks and families to show prosperity granted to sojourners. Exodus and Wilderness: Redemption and Redistribution The Exodus narrative stresses God’s right to transfer רְכוּשׁ from oppressor to redeemed. Conquest and Settlement: Inheritance and Justice In Deuteronomy 8:17–18 Israel is cautioned not to credit personal strength for רְכוּשׁ: “Remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you the power to gain wealth.” Possessions are tied to covenant loyalty. Levitical cities (Numbers 35:3) receive pasturelands “for their livestock and all their possessions,” integrating priestly welfare into the community’s economy. Monarchy to Exile: Plunder and Provision in War When David recovers goods from the Amalekites, he declares, “This is David’s spoil” (1 Samuel 30:20), yet he shares generously with his men, modeling distributive justice. Centuries later, Jehoshaphat’s army gathers “an abundance of goods” after God routs their enemies (2 Chronicles 20:25), portraying רְכוּשׁ as a divine gift attendant upon faith-driven victory. Return from Exile: Restoration Economics Cyrus commands neighbors of the returning exiles to supply them “with silver and gold, with goods and livestock” (Ezra 1:4). The community’s revival is financed through surrounding nations, echoing the earlier Exodus pattern. Ezra faithfully weighs temple vessels and other רְכוּשׁ before and after the journey (Ezra 8:27, 33), demonstrating accountability in sacred service. Esther: The Temptation of Unholy Gain In the Persian period the Jews are authorized “to plunder their enemies’ possessions” (Esther 8:11), yet three times the text notes they “laid no hand on the plunder” (Esther 9:10, 15, 16). Voluntary restraint distinguishes righteous self-defense from greed, teaching that not every lawful gain is expedient. Theological Themes 1. Divine Ownership Every passage assumes that God may distribute, increase, diminish, or transfer רְכוּשׁ at will. Human holders are stewards, not ultimate proprietors. 2. Covenant Blessing and Warning Obedience invites abundance (Genesis 24:35; Deuteronomy 28:11), while rebellion jeopardizes it (Numbers 16:32; Proverbs 15:6). Possessions mirror covenant standing, though never replace faith. 3. Visible Testimony Movable goods often journey with God’s people, giving tangible witness to His guidance. Abram’s caravan, Israel’s exodus carts, and Ezra’s treasure convoy turn property into a traveling proclamation of divine faithfulness. 4. Ethical Stewardship Scripture highlights just acquisition (Jacob), generous distribution (David), careful accounting (Ezra), and self-denial (Esther). These facets form a composite ethic: gain honestly, guard faithfully, give generously, and relinquish willingly when doing so glorifies God. Practical Ministry Implications • Teaching on stewardship should ground believers in God’s absolute ownership and the pilgrim character of earthly goods. Related Concepts חָיִל (resources, strength) – often paired but emphasizing capability over objects. שָׁלָל (spoils) – property seized in war; overlaps where רְכוּשׁ becomes plunder. נַחֲלָה (inheritance) – landed estate; complements the movable focus of רְכוּשׁ. By tracing רְכוּשׁ through the unfolding account of Scripture, one observes not merely the movement of material goods but the faithful orchestration of God who supplies, disciplines, and sanctifies His people through the stewardship of their possessions. Forms and Transliterations בִּרְכ֣וּשׁ בִּרְכֻ֥שׁ בָּרְכ֥וּשׁ ברכוש ברכש הָרְכ֔וּשׁ הָרְכֻ֑שׁ הָרְכוּשׁ֙ הָרֲכֽוּשׁ׃ הרכוש הרכוש׃ הרכש וְהָרְכֻ֖שׁ וְלִרְכֻשָׁ֔ם וּבִרְכ֣וּשׁ וּבִרְכ֥וּשׁ וּרְכ֖וּשׁ וּרְכ֤וּשׁ וּרְכֻשׁוֹ֙ וברכוש והרכש ולרכשם ורכוש ורכשו מֵרְכ֥וּשׁ מרכוש רְכ֖וּשׁ רְכֻ֨שׁ רְכֻשׁ֛וֹ רְכֻשׁוֹ֙ רְכוּשֵֽׁנוּ׃ רְכוּשֶֽׁךָ׃ רְכוּשָׁ֛ם רְכוּשָׁם֙ רְכוּשׁ֑וֹ רְכוּשׁ֜וֹ רְכוּשׁ־ רכוש רכוש־ רכושו רכושך׃ רכושם רכושנו׃ רכש רכשו bā·rə·ḵūš bareChush bārəḵūš bir·ḵuš bir·ḵūš birChush birḵuš birḵūš hā·ră·ḵūš hā·rə·ḵuš hā·rə·ḵūš haraChush hārăḵūš hareChush hārəḵuš hārəḵūš mê·rə·ḵūš mereChush mêrəḵūš rə·ḵū·šām rə·ḵū·še·ḵā rə·ḵū·šê·nū rə·ḵu·šōw rə·ḵū·šōw rə·ḵuš rə·ḵūš rə·ḵūš- reChush rechuSham rechuShecha rechuShenu rechuSho rəḵuš rəḵūš rəḵūš- rəḵūšām rəḵūšeḵā rəḵūšênū rəḵušōw rəḵūšōw ū·ḇir·ḵūš ū·rə·ḵu·šōw ū·rə·ḵūš ūḇirḵūš ureChush urechuSho ūrəḵūš ūrəḵušōw uvirChush vehareChush velirchuSham wə·hā·rə·ḵuš wə·lir·ḵu·šām wəhārəḵuš wəlirḵušāmLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 12:5 HEB: וְאֶת־ כָּל־ רְכוּשָׁם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר רָכָ֔שׁוּ NAS: and all their possessions which KJV: son, and all their substance that they had gathered, INT: his brother's and all their possessions which had accumulated Genesis 13:6 Genesis 14:11 Genesis 14:12 Genesis 14:16 Genesis 14:16 Genesis 14:21 Genesis 15:14 Genesis 31:18 Genesis 36:7 Genesis 46:6 Numbers 16:32 Numbers 35:3 1 Chronicles 27:31 1 Chronicles 28:1 2 Chronicles 20:25 2 Chronicles 21:14 2 Chronicles 21:17 2 Chronicles 31:3 2 Chronicles 32:29 2 Chronicles 35:7 Ezra 1:4 Ezra 1:6 Ezra 8:21 Ezra 10:8 28 Occurrences |
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