ῥέδα (rheda)
rheda
carriage
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun rheda refers to a wheeled carriage or chariot. It appears only once in the New Testament, in Revelation 18:13, where it lists merchandise traded by Babylon. The word describes a vehicle with four wheels, distinct from the lighter, two-wheeled war chariots often mentioned elsewhere.
Its origin is foreign to Greek culture, borrowing directly from Latin. This loanword reflects the influence of Roman technology and daily life on the language of the first century. By using this specific term, the text highlights the material wealth and imperial power associated with the city’s downfall.
Translators typically render it as "wagon" or "chariot" to convey its function as a heavy transport vehicle. The single occurrence underscores the global scale of commerce described in the vision, where even the tools of land transport are commodified.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word rheda describes a heavy, four-wheeled carriage used for transport in the first century. It was a practical vehicle, distinct from the swift two-wheeled chariots of war or sport. This term entered Greek as a loanword from Latin, showing how Roman technology shaped daily life and language during that era.
In Revelation 18:13, this specific type of carriage appears in a list of goods traded by Babylon. Its inclusion highlights the vast scale of commerce involved. Even the tools of land transport became commodities in a system driven by material wealth and imperial power.
Reflecting on this word reminds us that our faith is not found in the accumulation of goods or the efficiency of our vehicles. While we use modern tools for convenience, true security rests in God alone. The fleeting nature of earthly trade points us toward eternal values that do not fade or break down.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- of chariots1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ῥεδῶν1×
Key Verses
-
Revelation of John 18:13
and cinnamon, incense, perfume, frankincense, wine, olive oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle, sheep, horses, chariots, and people’s bodies and souls.
This is the only New Testament occurrence, where the carriage represents a commodity in Babylon's global trade network.