Bethuel
malePatriarchalMeaning: “Man of God; dweller in God”
The son of Nahor and Milcah and the father of Rebekah and Laban, who consented to Rebekah’s marriage to Isaac.
Biography
Bethuel was a son of Nahor (Abraham's brother) and Milcah, and the father of Rebekah and Laban (Genesis 22:22–23). His chief appearance is in the account of Abraham's servant seeking a bride for Isaac. When the servant recounted God's clear leading, Bethuel and Laban answered together, "The thing proceedeth from the LORD… let her be thy master's son's wife" (Genesis 24:50–51), consenting to Rebekah's pivotal marriage into the covenant family.
Life Timeline
Consents to Rebekah’s marriage to Isaac
On the Bible timeline
Bethuel belongs to the The Patriarchs era (c. 2100 – 1800 BC).
- c. 2091 BCThe Call of Abraham
- c. 1898 BCJoseph Sold into Egypt
Family Tree
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Themes & lessons from Bethuel
Biblical themes that run through the passages where Bethuel appears.
People they appear with
Places in their story
Scripture Appearances
9 verses in 1 bookGenesis9 verses
Genesis 22:22
And Chesed, and Hazo, and Pildash, and Jidlaph, and Bethuel.
Genesis 22:23
And Bethuel begat Rebekah: these eight Milcah did bear to Nahor, Abraham's brother. Rebekah: Gr. Rebecca
Genesis 24:15
And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder.
Genesis 24:24
And she said unto him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, which she bare unto Nahor.
Genesis 24:47
And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter art thou? And she said, The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bare unto him: and I put the earring upon her face, and the bracelets upon her hands.
Genesis 24:50
Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from the LORD: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good.
Genesis 25:20
And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian.
Genesis 28:2
Arise, go to Padanaram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother's father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother's brother.
Genesis 28:5
And Isaac sent away Jacob: and he went to Padanaram unto Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob's and Esau's mother.
Frequently asked about Bethuel
Who was Bethuel in the Bible?
The son of Nahor and Milcah and the father of Rebekah and Laban, who consented to Rebekah’s marriage to Isaac.
What does the name Bethuel mean?
The name Bethuel means “Man of God; dweller in God”.
Who were Bethuel's children?
Bethuel's children include Rebekah, Laban.
Who were Bethuel's parents?
Bethuel was the child of Nahor, Milcah.
Where does Bethuel appear in the Bible?
Bethuel is mentioned 9 times across 1 book: Genesis.
What can we learn from Bethuel?
The story of Bethuel touches on themes of rebekah, milcah, servants, burnt offering, the — explore each to study the lessons drawn from Bethuel's life.
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