Rebekah
Israelite / Jew Of Nahor's family in Padan-aram (Mesopotamia) · Creation & Patriarchs · Old Testament
- Also called
- Rebecca
- Name means
- Tying; captivating (commonly given)
- Role
- Wife of Isaac; mother of Esau and Jacob
- When
- c. 1900 BC (traditional)
What they did
Found at the well by Abraham's servant in answer to prayer; she willingly left her home to marry Isaac. God told her the elder of her twin sons would serve the younger.
Why it matters: the purpose of their role
God guided her to Isaac to continue the promised line, and her twins show God's sovereign choice in His purpose (Romans 9:10-12).
And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go. Genesis 24:58 (KJV)
Bible references
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 24:15 (KJV)
And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go. Genesis 24:58 (KJV)
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 24:67 (KJV)
And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD. And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger. Genesis 25:21-23 (KJV)
And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. Romans 9:10-12 (KJV)
Family
- Father
- Bethuel
- Spouse(s)
- Isaac
- Children
- Esau, Jacob
- Brothers / sisters
- Laban
Granddaughter of Nahor, Abraham's brother (Genesis 24:15).