Rebekah (Genesis 22:20–24; Genesis 24:15–20; Genesis 24:50–67; Genesis 25:19–28; Genesis 26:6–11; Genesis 26:34–35; Genesis 27:5–17; Genesis 27:41–28:5; Genesis 29:12; Genesis 35:8; Genesis 49:29–33; Romans 9:10–12)

Wife of Isaac, Mother of Esau and Jacob

The daughter of Bethuel who gave Abraham's servant drink at the well, said she would go, became Isaac's wife, inquired of the LORD about the children struggling within her, loved Jacob, and planned the taking of Isaac's blessing.

Genesis first names her in Nahor's family: “And Bethuel begat Rebekah” (Genesis 22:23). Abraham made his servant swear to take a wife for Isaac from his own kindred (Genesis 24:3-4). At the well the servant asked for a little water, and she said, “Drink, my lord” (Genesis 24:18), and then, “I will draw for thy camels also, until they have done drinking” (Genesis 24:19). Asked by her family, “Wilt thou go with this man?” (Genesis 24:58), she answered, “I will go” (Genesis 24:58). Isaac “took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her” (Genesis 24:67).

She was barren; Isaac entreated the LORD, and she conceived. When the children struggled within her, “she went to inquire of Jehovah” (Genesis 25:22), and “Jehovah said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb” (Genesis 25:23). Of the twins the text says, “Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: and Rebekah loved Jacob” (Genesis 25:28). When Isaac spoke to Esau of blessing him, she heard, told Jacob to “obey my voice” (Genesis 27:8), and answered his fear of a curse with “Upon me be thy curse, my son” (Genesis 27:13). She then dressed him in Esau's garments and put the skins of the kids on his hands and neck (Genesis 27:15-16).

When Esau purposed to kill Jacob, she told Jacob to flee to Laban her brother at Haran, saying, “why should I be bereaved of you both in one day?” (Genesis 27:45), and Isaac sent him away to Paddan-aram (Genesis 28:5). Genesis does not narrate her death; it records the death of “Deborah Rebekah's nurse” (Genesis 35:8), and Jacob, dying, says “there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife” (Genesis 49:31). The New Testament names her once, as “Rebecca” (Romans 9:10): before the children were born, “it was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger” (Romans 9:12).

Strengths

• Quick to serve
• Willing to go
• Inquired of the LORD

Weaknesses

• Loved Jacob, as Isaac loved Esau
• Planned the deception of Isaac

Themes

• The servant's mission
• Barren and then with child
• The elder shall serve the younger
• Two sons
• Deception and blessing

At the well (Genesis 24:10–27)

Abraham's unnamed servant waits at the well of Nahor's city; Rebekah, born to Bethuel, comes out, gives him drink, and draws for all his camels.

At the well

“And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder” (Genesis 24:15). The servant ran to meet her and asked for a little water.

“And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink. And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw for thy camels also, until they have done drinking” (Genesis 24:18-19).

“And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw, and drew for all his camels” (Genesis 24:20).

Goes to be Isaac's wife (Genesis 24:50–67)

Laban and Bethuel say the matter proceeds from the LORD; her family asks her directly and she consents, is sent away with her nurse, and Isaac brings her into Sarah's tent.

Barren, with child, and the answer of the LORD (Genesis 25:19–26)

Rebekah is barren; Isaac entreats the LORD and she conceives; the children struggle within her and she inquires of the LORD, who answers her.

Barren, with child, and the answer of the LORD

“And Isaac entreated Jehovah for his wife, because she was barren: and Jehovah was entreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived” (Genesis 25:21).

“And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, wherefore do I live? And she went to inquire of Jehovah” (Genesis 25:22).

“And Jehovah said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, And two peoples 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 25:23). Twins were born; Esau came first, and Jacob's hand had hold on Esau's heel (Genesis 25:24-26).

Rebekah loved Jacob (Genesis 25:27–28)

The boys grow, Esau a skillful hunter and Jacob a quiet man dwelling in tents; Isaac loves Esau and Rebekah loves Jacob.

Isaac calls her his sister at Gerar (Genesis 26:6–11)

In Gerar Isaac says of Rebekah, she is my sister; Abimelech sees them together, rebukes Isaac, and charges all the people not to touch her.

The plan to take the blessing (Genesis 27:5–17)

Rebekah hears Isaac speak to Esau, tells Jacob what to do, prepares the savory food, and dresses him in Esau's garments and the skins of the kids.

The plan to take the blessing

“And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son” (Genesis 27:5). She told Jacob what she had heard and said, “Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command thee” (Genesis 27:8).

Jacob answered, “My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing” (Genesis 27:12). “And his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy curse, my son; only obey my voice, and go fetch me them” (Genesis 27:13).

“And Rebekah took the goodly garments of Esau her elder son, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son; and she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck: and she gave the savory food and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob” (Genesis 27:15-17).

Jacob sent away (Genesis 27:41–28:5)

Told that Esau purposes to kill Jacob, Rebekah tells Jacob to flee to Laban at Haran and tells Isaac she is weary of her life; Isaac sends Jacob to Paddan-aram.

Jacob sent away

“And the 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. Now therefore, my son, obey my voice; and arise, flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran” (Genesis 27:42-43).

She said she would send and fetch him from there: “why should I be bereaved of you both in one day?” (Genesis 27:45). Scripture does not record that she sent for him or saw him again.

“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, of the daughters of the land, what good shall my life do me?” (Genesis 27:46). Isaac then called Jacob, blessed him, and charged him not to take a wife of the daughters of Canaan (Genesis 28:1), and “sent away Jacob: and he went to Paddan-aram unto Laban … the brother of Rebekah, Jacob's and Esau's mother” (Genesis 28:5).

Isaac (Genesis 24:67; Genesis 25:20–21; Genesis 49:31)

He took her to be his wife and loved her; he entreated the LORD for her; they are buried together.

Jacob (Genesis 25:28; Genesis 27:5–17; Genesis 27:42–46)

The son she loved, whom she told to obey her voice and to flee to Laban her brother.

Esau (Genesis 26:34–35; Genesis 27:15; Genesis 27:42)

Her elder son, whose Hittite wives were a grief of mind to Isaac and to Rebekah, and whose garments she put on Jacob.

Abraham (Genesis 24:2–4; Genesis 49:31)

Isaac's father, who sent his servant to his own kindred to take a wife for Isaac.

Abraham's servant (Genesis 24:2–4; Genesis 24:17–20; Genesis 24:58–66)

Sent to take a wife for Isaac; she gave him drink at the well and went with him to Isaac.

Laban (Genesis 24:50; Genesis 27:43; Genesis 28:5)

Her brother, who with Bethuel answered the servant and to whom she told Jacob to flee.

Bethuel (Genesis 22:23; Genesis 24:15; Genesis 25:20)

Her father, the son of Milcah and Nahor.

The LORD (Genesis 25:22–23)

She went to inquire of the LORD, who said to her that two nations were in her womb.

Major sections

• Genesis 22:20–24
• Genesis 24
• Genesis 25:19–28
• Genesis 26:1–11
• Genesis 27:1–28:5
• Genesis 49:29–33

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