Topical Bible: Riding

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Topical Encyclopedia

Riding, as depicted in the Bible, primarily involves the use of animals such as donkeys, horses, and camels for transportation and symbolic purposes. The act of riding is mentioned in various contexts, from everyday travel to significant religious and royal events.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, riding is often associated with royalty and leadership. Kings and leaders frequently rode on donkeys or mules, which were considered noble animals. For instance, King David's son Solomon rode on David's mule during his anointing as king, signifying his legitimate succession (1 Kings 1:33). The choice of a mule, rather than a horse, underscores humility and peace, contrasting with the warlike connotations of horses.

Horses, while less common in early Israelite society due to their association with warfare and foreign powers, are mentioned in contexts involving military strength and chariots. The acquisition of horses was often linked to the influence of neighboring nations, such as Egypt, and was sometimes viewed with caution (Deuteronomy 17:16).

Camels were also used for riding, particularly in long-distance travel and trade. The account of Rebekah riding a camel to meet Isaac (Genesis 24:61) illustrates the use of camels in journeys across the desert.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the most significant instance of riding is Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Jesus rode on a donkey, fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9, which states, "Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey" (Matthew 21:5). This act symbolized Jesus' role as the peaceful Messiah and contrasted with the expectations of a militant deliverer.

The imagery of riding also appears in the apocalyptic visions of Revelation. In Revelation 6:2, a rider on a white horse is depicted, symbolizing conquest and victory. This imagery draws on the cultural associations of horses with power and warfare, yet it is imbued with spiritual significance in the context of divine judgment and redemption.

Symbolism and Themes

Riding in the Bible often carries symbolic meanings. It can represent authority, as seen in the royal processions of kings. It also signifies humility and peace, particularly in the context of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. The choice of animal—donkey, horse, or camel—further enhances the symbolic message, whether it be peace, power, or endurance.

The act of riding also reflects the broader biblical themes of journey and pilgrimage. It underscores the transient nature of life and the movement towards a divine purpose or destination. In this way, riding serves as a metaphor for the spiritual journey of faith, obedience, and fulfillment of God's promises.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Ride.

2. (n.) One of the three jurisdictions into which the county of York, in England, is divided; -- formerly under the government of a reeve. They are called the North, the East, and the West, Riding.

3. (a.) Employed to travel; traveling; as, a riding clerk.

4. (a.) Used for riding on; as, a riding horse.

5. (a.) Used for riding, or when riding; devoted to riding; as, a riding whip; a riding habit; a riding day.

6. (n.) The act or state of one who rides.

7. (n.) A festival procession.

8. (n.) Same as Ride, n., 3.

9. (n.) A district in charge of an excise officer.

Greek

4480. rhede -- a chariot
... chariot. Of Latin origin; a rheda, ie Four-wheeled carriage (wagon for riding) --
chariot. (redon) -- 1 Occurrence. 4479, 4480. rhede. 4481 . Strong's Numbers
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4480.htm - 6k

2934. ktenos -- a beast of burden
... ktenos Phonetic Spelling: (ktay'-nos) Short Definition: a beast of burden Definition:
a beast of burden (generally, a horse or mule) either for riding or for ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2934.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

7396. rikbah -- (act of) riding
... 7395, 7396. rikbah. 7397 . (act of) riding. Transliteration: rikbah
Phonetic Spelling: (rik-baw') Short Definition: riding. Word ...
/hebrew/7396.htm - 6k

4817. merkab -- a chariot, riding seat
... 4816, 4817. merkab. 4818 . a chariot, riding seat. Transliteration: merkab
Phonetic Spelling: (mer-kawb') Short Definition: chariots. ...
/hebrew/4817.htm - 6k

7392. rakab -- to mount and ride, ride
... 1), horseman* (2), lead (1), led (1), mounted (4), pace (1), placed (1), put (2),
ridden (2), ride (17), rider (7), riders (5), rides (5), riding (15), rode (9 ...
/hebrew/7392.htm - 6k

Library

But Seeing a Worldly Spirituality, Called in the Scripture the ...
... [Way-3-61] But seeing a worldly spirituality, called in the scripture the whore
riding upon the beast? But seeing a worldly spirituality ...
/.../law/the way to divine knowledge/way-3-61 but seeing a worldly.htm

Of the First Seal.
... the emperor, is to go forth from that quarter of the compass, from the mounting
of whom on his horse for the purpose of riding,"that is, from the beginning ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mede/a key to the apocalypse/of the first seal.htm

The Entry into Jerusalem.
... the flourish of trumpets and the kissing of his hand by the great officers of state
proclaim him king, so unmistakably does our Lord by riding into Jerusalem ...
/.../ii the entry into jerusalem.htm

God's Care Over Me
... There were three of us to go to town on these two horses"two other young women and
I. The old lady had asked me if I was used to riding, and upon hearing ...
/.../cole/trials and triumphs of faith/chapter xvi gods care over.htm

Messiah's Entrance into Jerusalem
... greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh
unto thee: He is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass ...
/.../newton/messiah vol 1/sermon xi messiahs entrance into.htm

The Shunammite's Boy.
... Now it happened that one day the prophet Elisha, sitting upon his ass, with his
rough cloak cast about him, came riding towards a little village named Shunem. ...
/.../anonymous/children of the old testament/the shunammites boy.htm

Conversations.
... "Throw!" said Cyrus. The Sacian shut his eyes and threw. It happened that, just
at that instant, an officer named Pheraulas was riding by. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/abbott/cyrus the great/chapter xi conversations.htm

That the Logos is One, not Many. Of the Word, Faithful and True ...
... and Evangelist (and the Apocalypse entitles him to be styled a prophet, too) says
he saw the Word of God in the opened heaven, and that He was riding on a ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of john/4 that the logos is.htm

Expatriation
... By steady riding he could reach Tanis shortly, but once within the capital of the
Pharaoh, he was near to Har-hat and within reach of the fan-bearer's potent ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xlii expatriation.htm

The Liberty of Obedience
... The same is true about riding a bicycle. You know that in order to be free
to ride a bicycle you must obey the rules of riding it ...
/.../chidley/fifty-two story talks to boys and girls/the liberty of obedience.htm

Thesaurus

Riding (30 Occurrences)
... reeve. They are called the North, the East, and the West, Riding. 3. (a.)
Employed to travel; traveling; as, a riding clerk. 4. (a ...
/r/riding.htm - 16k

Riding-cloths (1 Occurrence)
Riding-cloths. Riding, Riding-cloths. Rie . Multi-Version Concordance
Riding-cloths (1 Occurrence). Ezekiel 27:20 Dedan ...
/r/riding-cloths.htm - 6k

Ride (31 Occurrences)
... 9. (vt) To convey, as by riding; to make or do by riding. 10. ... 11. (n.) The act of
riding; an excursion on horseback or in a vehicle. 12. (n.) A saddle horse. ...
/r/ride.htm - 17k

Mounted (32 Occurrences)
... Esther 8:10 He wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus, and sealed it with the king's
ring, and sent letters by courier on horseback, riding on royal horses that ...
/m/mounted.htm - 15k

Mule (9 Occurrences)
... the King James Version "mules" (Genesis 36:24); hemionos, "half-ass," "mule" (1
Esdras 5:43; Judith 15:11)): Mules are mentioned as riding animals for princes ...
/m/mule.htm - 13k

Prefects (18 Occurrences)
... (YLT NAS). Ezekiel 23:6 Clothed with blue -- governors and prefects, Desirable
young men all of them, Horsemen, riding on horses, (YLT). ...
/p/prefects.htm - 12k

Attractive (6 Occurrences)
... Please take her, instead." (See NIV). Ezekiel 23:6 clothed with blue, governors
and rulers, all of them attractive young men, horsemen riding upon horses. (DBY) ...
/a/attractive.htm - 8k

Saddle (7 Occurrences)
... 8. (vt) To put a saddle upon; to equip (a beast) for riding. ... Ezekiel 27:20 Dedan
was your trafficker in precious cloths for riding. (See NAS RSV NIV). ...
/s/saddle.htm - 10k

Camel (13 Occurrences)
... The camel was early used both for riding and as a beast of burden (Genesis 24:64;
37:25), and in war (1 Samuel 30:17; Isaiah 21:7). Mention is made of the ...
/c/camel.htm - 21k

Desirable (49 Occurrences)
... (YLT). Ezekiel 23:6 who were clothed with blue, governors and rulers, all of them
desirable young men, horsemen riding on horses. (WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT NAS RSV). ...
/d/desirable.htm - 21k

Resources

Why would a king ride a donkey instead of a warhorse (Zechariah 9:9-10)? | GotQuestions.org

Is the pope, or the next pope, the antichrist? | GotQuestions.org

What is the significance of the triumphal/triumphant entry? | GotQuestions.org

Riding: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Riding (30 Occurrences)

Matthew 21:5
"Tell the daughter of Zion, behold, your King comes to you, humble, and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey."
(WEB ASV NIV)

John 12:15
"Fear not, Daughter of Zion! See, thy King is coming riding on an ass's colt."
(WEY)

Revelation 19:14
The armies which are in heaven followed him on white horses, clothed in white, pure, fine linen.
(See NIV)

Exodus 4:20
And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them riding upon an ass, and he returned to the land of Egypt. And Moses took the staff of God in his hand.
(DBY)

Leviticus 15:9
And what saddle soever he that hath the issue rideth upon shall be unclean.
(See NIV)

Numbers 22:22
God's anger was kindled because he went; and the angel of Yahweh placed himself in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Deuteronomy 33:26
There is none like the God of Jeshurun, Riding the heavens in thy help, And in His excellency the skies.
(YLT)

Judges 10:4
and he hath thirty sons riding on thirty ass-colts, and they have thirty cities, (they call them Havoth-Jair unto this day), which 'are' in the land of Gilead;
(YLT)

Judges 12:14
and he hath forty sons, and thirty grandsons, riding on seventy ass-colts, and he judgeth Israel eight years.
(YLT)

1 Samuel 25:20
And as she was riding on the ass, and coming down by the covert of the hill, behold, David and his men came down opposite to her; and she met them.
(DBY YLT NAS NIV)

2 Samuel 18:9
Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the sky and earth; and the mule that was under him went on.
(WEB JPS ASV DBY YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Kings 4:24
Then she saddled an ass, and said to her servant, Drive, and go forward; slack not thy riding for me, except I bid thee.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

2 Kings 9:25
And 'Jehu' saith unto Bidkar his captain, 'Lift up, cast him into the portion of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite -- for, remember, I and thou were riding together after Ahab his father, and Jehovah lifted upon him this burden:
(YLT NAS NIV)

Nehemiah 2:12
and I rise by night, I and a few men with me, and have not declared to a man what my God is giving unto my heart to do for Jerusalem, and there is no beast with me except the beast on which I am riding.
(YLT NAS NIV)

Esther 8:10
He wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus, and sealed it with the king's ring, and sent letters by courier on horseback, riding on royal horses that were bread from swift steeds.
(WEB JPS ASV DBY NAS RSV)

Esther 8:14
The runners, riding on the dromedary, 'and' the mules, have gone out, hastened and pressed by the word of the king, and the law hath been given in Shushan the palace.
(YLT NAS NIV)

Psalms 68:4
Sing ye to God -- praise His name, Raise up a highway for Him who is riding in deserts, In Jah 'is' His name, and exult before Him.
(YLT)

Psalms 68:33
To him who is riding on the heavens of the heavens of old, Lo, He giveth with His voice a strong voice.
(YLT)

Ecclesiastes 10:7
I have seen servants on horses, and rulers walking on the earth as servants.
(See NAS)

Isaiah 19:1
The burden of Egypt. Lo, Jehovah is riding on a swift thick cloud, And He hath entered Egypt, And moved have been the idols of Egypt at His presence, And the heart of Egypt melteth in its midst.
(YLT NAS RSV)

Jeremiah 17:25
then shall there enter in by the gates of this city kings and princes sitting on the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they, and their princes, the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and this city shall remain forever.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Jeremiah 22:4
For if you do this thing indeed, then shall there enter in by the gates of this house kings sitting on the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, he, and his servants, and his people.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 23:6
who were clothed with blue, governors and rulers, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding on horses.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Ezekiel 23:12
She doted on the Assyrians, governors and rulers, her neighbors, clothed most gorgeously, horsemen riding on horses, all of them desirable young men.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Ezekiel 23:23
the Babylonians and all the Chaldeans, Pekod and Shoa and Koa, and all the Assyrians with them; desirable young men, governors and rulers all of them, princes and men of renown, all of them riding on horses.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Ezekiel 27:14
They of the house of Togarmah, 'For' horses, and riding steeds, and mules, They have given out thy remnants.
(YLT)

Ezekiel 27:20
Dedan was your trafficker in precious cloths for riding.
(WEB JPS ASV DBY YLT NAS RSV)

Ezekiel 38:15
You shall come from your place out of the uttermost parts of the north, you, and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great company and a mighty army;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Zechariah 1:8
"I had a vision in the night, and behold, a man riding on a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that were in a ravine; and behind him there were red, brown, and white horses.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Zechariah 9:9
Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion! Shout, daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King comes to you! He is righteous, and having salvation; lowly, and riding on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Riding

Related Terms

Riding (30 Occurrences)

Rie (1 Occurrence)