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Rebekah

femalePatriarchal

Meaning: “To bind; captivating

The wife of Isaac, found at a well by Abraham’s servant, and mother of the twins Esau and Jacob, whose favor for Jacob shaped Israel’s line.

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Biography

Rebekah, the wife of Isaac and mother of Esau and Jacob, is the second of Israel's matriarchs. Her story begins with one of Scripture's most beautiful pictures of providence and ends entangled in the family favoritism that divided her sons.

The bride found at the well

Abraham sent his servant to find a wife for Isaac among his kindred. Praying for a sign, the servant met Rebekah, who watered his camels with generous hospitality (Genesis 24:18–20). Recognizing God's hand, her family sent her off with a blessing, and she became Isaac's beloved wife (Genesis 24:67).

Mother of twins

Barren for twenty years, Rebekah conceived after Isaac's prayer. The twins struggled in her womb, and the LORD told her, "the elder shall serve the younger" (Genesis 25:23) — a word that shaped her later actions.

Securing the blessing for Jacob

When Isaac prepared to bless Esau, Rebekah devised the plan by which Jacob received the blessing instead (Genesis 27:5–17). Though it accorded with the prophecy, the deceit cost her dearly: Jacob fled for his life, and Scripture never records that she saw her favored son again.

Life Timeline

2026 BC

Met at the well and chosen as Isaac's bride

Genesis 24:15
2006 BC

Gives birth to the twins Esau and Jacob

Genesis 25:24
1929 BC

Helps Jacob obtain the blessing; sends him to Haran

Genesis 27:43

On the Bible timeline

Rebekah belongs to the The Patriarchs era (c. 2100 – 1800 BC).

  1. c. 2091 BCThe Call of Abraham
  2. c. 1898 BCJoseph Sold into Egypt

Family Tree

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Themes & lessons from Rebekah

Biblical themes that run through the passages where Rebekah appears.

Rebekah27×Servants13×Jacob7×Esau3×Laban3×Milcah2×Nurse2×Syria2×Woman2×Burnt Offering, the1×Marriage1×Mesopotamia1×Prayer, Answers To1×Presents1×Tent1×Tents1×Travellers1×Women1×

People they appear with

Isaac12×
Jacob8×
Esau7×
Abraham4×
Bethuel4×
Laban3×
Nahor2×
Milcah2×
Sarah2×
Abimelech1×
Rachel1×
Leah1×

Places in their story

Padan-aram2×
Bethel1×

Scripture Appearances

30 verses in 2 books
Genesis29 verses

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 24:29

And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban: and Laban ran out unto the man, unto the well.

Genesis 24:30

And it came to pass, when he saw the earring and bracelets upon his sister's hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, Thus spake the man unto me; that he came unto the man; and, behold, he stood by the camels at the well.

Genesis 24:45

And before I had done speaking in mine heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down unto the well, and drew water: and I said unto her, Let me drink, I pray thee.

Genesis 24:51

Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and go, and let her be thy master's son's wife, as the LORD hath spoken.

Genesis 24:53

And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things. jewels: Heb. vessels

Genesis 24:58

And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go.

Genesis 24:59

And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his men.

Genesis 24:60

And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them.

Genesis 24:61

And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man: and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way.

Genesis 24:64

And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel.

Genesis 24:67

And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.

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 25:21

And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.

Genesis 25:28

And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob. he: Heb. venison was in his mouth

Genesis 26:7

And the men of the place asked him of his wife; and he said, She is my sister: for he feared to say, She is my wife; lest, said he, the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah; because she was fair to look upon.

Genesis 26:8

And it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold, Isaac was sporting with Rebekah his wife.

Genesis 26:35

Which were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah. a grief: Heb. bitterness of spirit

Genesis 27:5

And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it.

Genesis 27:6

And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying,

Genesis 27:11

And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man:

Genesis 27:15

And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her eldest son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son: goodly: Heb. desirable

Genesis 27:42

And these words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah: and she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said unto him, Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching thee, doth comfort himself, purposing to kill thee.

Genesis 27:46

And Rebekah said to Isaac, I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth: if Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these which are of the daughters of the land, what good shall my life do me?

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.

Genesis 29:12

And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's brother, and that he was Rebekah's son: and she ran and told her father.

Genesis 35:8

But Deborah Rebekah's nurse died, and she was buried beneath Bethel under an oak: and the name of it was called Allonbachuth. Allonbachuth: that is, The oak of weeping

Genesis 49:31

There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah.

Romans1 verse

Romans 9:10

And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;

Frequently asked about Rebekah

Who was Rebekah in the Bible?

The wife of Isaac, found at a well by Abraham’s servant, and mother of the twins Esau and Jacob, whose favor for Jacob shaped Israel’s line.

What does the name Rebekah mean?

The name Rebekah means “To bind; captivating”.

What did Rebekah do in the Bible?

Rebekah served as matriarch.

Who were Rebekah's children?

Rebekah's children include Jacob, Esau.

Where does Rebekah appear in the Bible?

Rebekah is mentioned 30 times across 2 books: Genesis, Romans.

What can we learn from Rebekah?

The story of Rebekah touches on themes of rebekah, servants, jacob, esau — explore each to study the lessons drawn from Rebekah's life.

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