Rachel (Genesis 29:9–12; Genesis 29:17–20; Genesis 29:28–30; Genesis 29:31–30:2; Genesis 30:6–8; Genesis 30:14–16; Genesis 30:22–24; Genesis 31:14–16; Genesis 31:19; Genesis 31:34–35; Genesis 33:2; Genesis 35:16–20; Genesis 46:19–22; Genesis 48:7; Ruth 4:11; 1 Samuel 10:2; Jeremiah 31:15–16; Matthew 2:16–18)

Beloved Wife of Jacob, Mother of Joseph and Benjamin

The younger daughter of Laban, found by Jacob at the well with her father's sheep, for whom he served seven years and then seven more; barren while her sister Leah bore sons, she gave Bilhah to Jacob, later bore Joseph, took her father's teraphim when Jacob fled, and died on the way to Ephrath after bearing Benjamin.

Genesis first shows her coming to the well with her father’s flock: “Rachel came with her father’s sheep; for she kept them” (Genesis 29:9). “And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept” (Genesis 29:11), and she “ran and told her father” (Genesis 29:12). Laban had two daughters, and “Leah’s eyes were tender; but Rachel was beautiful and well favored” (Genesis 29:17). “And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her” (Genesis 29:20). Laban gave Leah in the evening instead; when Leah’s week was fulfilled Jacob received Rachel, “and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years” (Genesis 29:30).

“Jehovah saw that Leah was hated, and he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren” (Genesis 29:31). Rachel “envied her sister; and she said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die” (Genesis 30:1). She gave Bilhah her handmaid to Jacob, and named Dan and Naphtali (Genesis 30:3-8). Then “God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb” (Genesis 30:22), and she bore Joseph. When God told Jacob to return, Rachel and Leah answered, “now then, whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do” (Genesis 31:16). On the departure “Rachel stole the teraphim that were her father’s” (Genesis 31:19); when Laban searched, she sat upon them and said she could not rise (Genesis 31:34-35).

On the way to Ephrath she travailed with her second son: “as her soul was departing (for she died), that she called his name Ben-oni: but his father called him Benjamin” (Genesis 35:18). “And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath (the same is Beth-lehem)” (Genesis 35:19). Years afterward Jacob says to Joseph, “Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan in the way” (Genesis 48:7). Later books name her again: “Jehovah make the woman that is come into thy house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel” (Ruth 4:11); “Rachel’s sepulchre, in the border of Benjamin” (1 Samuel 10:2). In Jeremiah, “A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children; she refuseth to be comforted for her children, because they are not” (Jeremiah 31:15), and the LORD answers, “Refrain thy voice from weeping … they shall come again from the land of the enemy” (Jeremiah 31:16). When Herod slew the male children of Bethlehem, the Gospel of Matthew says, “Then was fulfilled that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet” (Matthew 2:17), and quotes the same words (Matthew 2:18).

Strengths

• Kept her father's sheep
• Named God in the births of her sons
• Joined Jacob in doing what God said

Weaknesses

• Envied her sister
• Stole her father's teraphim

Themes

• Love and the seven years
• Rivalry between sisters
• Barrenness and God's remembering
• The teraphim
• Death at Ephrath
• Rachel weeping

Jacob meets Rachel at the well (Genesis 29:1–14)

Jacob comes to a well in the east and finds Rachel bringing her father's sheep; he rolls the stone, waters the flock, kisses her, weeps, and she runs to tell her father.

Jacob meets Rachel at the well

Jacob asked the shepherds about Laban, and they said, “It is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep” (Genesis 29:6). “While he was yet speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep; for she kept them” (Genesis 29:9).

“Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother. And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept” (Genesis 29:10-11).

“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 29:12). Laban ran to meet him, and said, “Surely thou art my bone and my flesh” (Genesis 29:14).

Seven years for Rachel, and Laban's substitute (Genesis 29:15–30)

Jacob serves seven years for Rachel; at the feast Laban brings Leah instead, and Jacob fulfills her week, receives Rachel, and serves seven other years.

Barrenness, envy and Bilhah (Genesis 29:31–30:8)

The LORD opens Leah's womb while Rachel is barren; Rachel envies her sister, demands children, gives Bilhah to Jacob, and names Dan and Naphtali.

Barrenness, envy and Bilhah

“And Jehovah saw that Leah was hated, and he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren” (Genesis 29:31). “And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and she said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die” (Genesis 30:1).

“And Jacob’s anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God’s stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb? And she said, Behold, my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; that she may bear upon my knees, and I also may obtain children by her” (Genesis 30:2-3).

When Bilhah bore a son, “Rachel said, God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and hath given me a son: therefore called she his name Dan” (Genesis 30:6). Of the second, “Rachel said, With mighty wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali” (Genesis 30:8).

The mandrakes (Genesis 30:14–16)

Reuben brings mandrakes to his mother Leah; Rachel asks for some, and when Leah protests, Rachel grants her a night with Jacob for them.

God remembers Rachel; Joseph is born (Genesis 30:22–25)

God remembers Rachel and hearkens to her; she bears Joseph, and Jacob then asks Laban to send him away.

Leaving Laban; the teraphim (Genesis 31:4–35)

Rachel and Leah answer Jacob that he should do what God has said; Rachel steals her father's teraphim, and when Laban searches the tents she sits on them and says she cannot rise.

Leaving Laban; the teraphim

Jacob called Rachel and Leah to the field. They answered, “Are we not accounted by him as foreigners? for he hath sold us, and hath also quite devoured our money … now then, whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do” (Genesis 31:15-16).

“Now Laban was gone to shear his sheep: and Rachel stole the teraphim that were her father’s” (Genesis 31:19). Overtaking Jacob, Laban asked, “wherefore hast thou stolen my gods?” (Genesis 31:30). Jacob answered, “With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, he shall not live” (Genesis 31:32), and the text adds, “For Jacob knew not that Rachel had stolen them” (Genesis 31:32).

“Now Rachel had taken the teraphim, and put them in the camel’s saddle, and sat upon them. And Laban felt about all the tent, but found them not. And she said to her father, Let not my lord be angry that I cannot rise up before thee; for the manner of women is upon me. And he searched, but found not the teraphim” (Genesis 31:34-35). Scripture does not say why she took them.

Rachel and Joseph before Esau (Genesis 33:1–7)

As Esau comes with four hundred men, Jacob puts Rachel and Joseph hindermost, and they come near and bow.

Dies at Ephrath; Benjamin is born (Genesis 35:16–20)

Between Beth-el and Ephrath Rachel has hard labor, names her son Ben-oni and dies; Jacob calls him Benjamin, buries her, and sets up a pillar on her grave.

Dies at Ephrath; Benjamin is born

“And they journeyed from Beth-el; and there was still some distance to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labor. And it came to pass, when she was in hard labor, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; for now thou shalt have another son” (Genesis 35:16-17).

“And it came to pass, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she called his name Ben-oni: but his father called him Benjamin. And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath (the same is Beth-lehem). And Jacob set up a pillar upon her grave: the same is the Pillar of Rachel’s grave unto this day” (Genesis 35:18-20).

Jacob speaks of it again to Joseph: “Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan in the way, when there was still some distance to come unto Ephrath: and I buried her there in the way to Ephrath (the same is Beth-lehem)” (Genesis 48:7). The text gives no meaning for Ben-oni.

Jacob (Genesis 29:11; Genesis 29:18–20; Genesis 29:30; Genesis 35:19–20)

He kissed her at the well, served seven years for her, and loved her more than Leah; he set up a pillar on her grave.

Leah (Genesis 29:16–25; Genesis 30:1; Genesis 30:14–16; Genesis 31:14–16)

Her elder sister, given to Jacob first; Rachel envied her and wrestled with her, asked for her son's mandrakes, and later answered Jacob with her.

Joseph (Genesis 30:22–24; Genesis 33:7; Genesis 46:19)

Her first son, born when God remembered her; he came near with her to bow before Esau.

Benjamin (Genesis 35:16–19; Genesis 46:19–22)

Her second son, whom she called Ben-oni as her soul departed and his father called Benjamin.

Laban (Genesis 29:16–30; Genesis 31:30–35)

Her father, who gave Leah to Jacob first, gave Bilhah to Rachel, and sought his teraphim in her tent.

Bilhah (Genesis 29:29; Genesis 30:3–8; Genesis 46:25)

Laban gave her to Rachel as handmaid; Rachel gave her to Jacob to wife, and she bore Dan and Naphtali, whom Rachel named.

The LORD (Genesis 30:6; Genesis 30:22–24; Genesis 31:16)

Rachel said that God had judged her and heard her voice; the text says God remembered her and hearkened to her.

Major sections

• Genesis 29:1–30:24
• Genesis 30:25–31:55
• Genesis 33:1–7
• Genesis 35:16–20
• Genesis 46:19–22
• Genesis 48:7
• Ruth 4:11
• 1 Samuel 10:2
• Jeremiah 31:15–17
• Matthew 2:16–18

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