Introduction:
Rebekah is a prominent figure in the Hebrew Bible, known for her role as the wife of Isaac and the mother of Esau and Jacob. Her account is primarily found in the Book of Genesis, where she is depicted as a woman of beauty, faith, and decisive action. Rebekah's life and actions have significant theological implications, particularly in the context of God's covenantal promises to Abraham and his descendants.

Family Background:
Rebekah is introduced in Genesis 22:23 as the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Milcah and Nahor, Abraham's brother. This makes her a member of Abraham's extended family, which is significant in the context of God's covenant with Abraham. Her brother is Laban, who later plays a crucial role in the life of Jacob, Rebekah's son.

Marriage to Isaac:
Rebekah's marriage to Isaac is a pivotal event in the Genesis narrative. In Genesis 24, Abraham sends his servant to find a wife for Isaac from his own kin. The servant prays for guidance, and Rebekah's actions at the well—offering water to the servant and his camels—are seen as a sign of God's providence. Genesis 24:67 states, "And Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah and took Rebekah as his wife. Isaac loved her and was comforted after his mother’s death."

Motherhood and Prophecy:
Rebekah's role as a mother is central to the unfolding of God's plan. She experiences a difficult pregnancy and inquires of the Lord, who reveals to her that she is carrying two nations in her womb and that the older will serve the younger (Genesis 25:23). This prophecy foreshadows the future conflict between her sons, Esau and Jacob, and the eventual rise of Jacob as the heir of God's promises.

Favoritism and Deception:
Rebekah's favoritism towards Jacob is a key element in the narrative. In Genesis 27, she orchestrates a plan for Jacob to receive Isaac's blessing, intended for Esau. Rebekah's actions, while controversial, align with the divine prophecy given to her. Her involvement in the deception highlights the complexity of human agency within God's sovereign plan.

Legacy and Theological Significance:
Rebekah's life is marked by her faith and her pivotal role in the continuation of the Abrahamic covenant. Her actions, particularly in securing the blessing for Jacob, are seen as instrumental in the fulfillment of God's promises. Rebekah's account underscores themes of divine election, the sovereignty of God, and the unfolding of His redemptive plan through flawed human beings.

References in the New Testament:
Rebekah is mentioned in the New Testament in Romans 9:10-12, where the Apostle Paul uses her account to illustrate God's sovereign choice and the doctrine of election. Her role in the narrative of salvation history is thus affirmed in the Christian theological tradition.

Conclusion:
Rebekah remains a significant figure in biblical history, embodying both the virtues and complexities of faith. Her life and actions continue to be studied for their theological depth and their impact on the narrative of God's covenant people.Rebekah

fat; fattened; a quarrel appeased

Rebekah

(ensnarer), daughter of Bethuel, (Genesis 22:23) and sister of Laban, married to Isaac. She is first presented to us in (Genesis 24:1) ... where the beautiful story of her marriage is related. (B.C. 1857.) For nineteen years she was childless: then Esau and Jacob were born, the younger being the mother's companion and favorite. (Genesis 25:19-28) Rebekah suggested the deceit that was practiced by Jacob on his blind father. She directed and aided him in carrying it out, foresaw the probable consequence of Esau's anger, and prevented it by moving Isaac to send Jacob away to Padan-aram, (Genesis 27:1) ... to her own kindred. (Genesis 29:12) Rebekah's beauty became at one time a source of danger to her husband. (Genesis 26:7) It has been conjectured that she died during Jacob's sojourn in Padan-aram.

Rebekah

A daughter of Bethuel, and sister of Laban in Mesopotamia, who became the wife of Isaac, and twenty years afterwards the mother of Jacob and Esau. The manner in which she was sought and obtained as the wife of Isaac, exhibits a striking picture of oriental manners and customs. Through her partiality for Jacob, she was tempted into the use of unjustifiable means to secure for him the inheritance, not having faith to leave to God the fulfilment of his own purposes, Genesis 25:22,23. Her deceit led to disastrous results: Jacob fled from home; and when he returned from Mesopotamia twenty years afterwards, his mother lay buried in the cave of Machpelah, Genesis 24:1-28:22 49:31.

A noose, the daughter of Bethuel, and the wife of Isaac (Genesis 22:23; 24:67). The circumstances under which Abraham's "steward" found her at the "city of Nahor," in Padan-aram, are narrated in Genesis 24-27. "She can hardly be regarded as an amiable woman. When we first see her she is ready to leave her father's house for ever at an hour's notice; and her future life showed not only a full share of her brother Laban's duplicity, but the grave fault of partiality in her relations to her children, and a strong will, which soon controlled the gentler nature of her husband." The time and circumstances of her death are not recorded, but it is said that she was buried in the cave of Machpelah (Genesis 49:31). REBEKAH

re-bek'-a (ribhqah; Septuagint and New Testament Rhebekka, whence the usual English spelling Rebecca): Daughter of Bethuel and an unknown mother, grand-daughter of Nahor and Milcah, sister of Laban, wife of Isaac, mother of Esau and Jacob.

Her name is usually explained from the Arabic, rabqat, "a tie-rope for animals," or, rather, "a noose" in such a rope; its application would then by figure suggest the beauty (?) of her that bears it, by means of which men are snared or bound; The root is found in Hebrew only in the noun meaning "hitching-place" or "stall," in the familiar phrase "fatted calf" or "calf of the stall," and in view of the meaning of such names as Rachel and Eglah the name Rebekah might well mean (concrete for abstract, like riqmah, chemdah, etc.) a "tied-up calf" (or "lamb"?), one therefore peculiarly choice and fat.

Rebekah is first mentioned in the genealogy of the descendants of Nahor, brother of Abraham (Genesis 22:20-24). In fact, the family is there carried down just so far as is necessary in order to introduce this woman, for whose subsequent appearance and role the genealogy is obviously intended as a preparation. All this branch of the family of Terah had remained in Aram when Abraham and Lot had migrated to Canaan, and it is at Haran, "the city of Nahor," that we first meet Rebekah, when in Genesis 24 she is made known to Abraham's servant at the well before the gate.

That idyllic narrative of the finding of a bride for Isaac is too familiar to need rehearsal and too simple to require comment. Besides, the substance both of that story and of the whole of Rebekah's career is treated in connection with the sketches of the other actors in the same scenes. Yet we note from the beginning the maiden's decision of character, which appears in every line of the narrative, and prepares the reader to find in subsequent chapters the positive, ambitious and energetic woman that she there shows herself.

Though the object of her husband's love (Genesis 24:67), Rebekah bore him no children for 20 years (Genesis 25:20, 26). Like Sarah, she too was barren, and it was only after that score of years and after the special intercession of Isaac that God at length granted her twin sons. "The purpose of God according to election," as Paul expresses the matter in Romans 9:11, was the cause of that strange oracle to the wondering, inquiring parents, "The elder shall serve the younger" (Genesis 25:23).

Whether because of this oracle or for some other reason, it was that younger son, Jacob, who became the object of his mother's special love (Genesis 25:28). She it was who led him into the deception practiced upon Isaac (Genesis 27:5-17), and she it was who devised the plan for extricating Jacob from the dangerous situation into which that deception had brought him (Genesis 27:42-46). When the absence of Jacob from home became essential to his personal safety, Rebekah proposed her own relations in Aram as the goal of his journey, and gave as motive the desirability of Jacob's marrying from among her kindred. Probably she did not realize that in sending her favorite son away on this journey she was sending him away from her forever. Yet such seems to have been the case. Though younger than Isaac, who was still living at an advanced age when Jacob returned to Canaan a quarter of a century later, Rebekah seems to have died during that term. We learn definitely only this, that she was buried in the cave of Machpelah near Hebron (Genesis 49:31).

Outside of Genesis, Rebekah is alluded to in Scripture only in the passage from Romans (9:10-12) already cited. Her significance there is simply that of the wife of Isaac and the mother of two sons of such different character and destiny as Esau and Jacob. And her significance in Gen, apart from this, lies in her contribution to the family of Abraham of a pure strain from the same eastern stock, thus transmitting to the founders of Israel both an unmixed lineage and that tradition of separateness from Canaanite and other non-Hebrew elements which has proved the greatest factor in the ethnological marvel of the ages, the persistence of the Hebrew people.

J. Oscar Boyd

4479. Rhebekka -- Rebecca, the wife of Isaac
... patriarch Isaac. Word Origin of Hebrew origin Ribqah Definition Rebecca,
the wife of Isaac NASB Word Usage Rebekah (1). Rebecca. Of ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4479.htm - 6k439. Allon Bakuth -- "oak of weeping," a tree near the grave of ...
Allon Bakuth. 438, 439. Allon Bakuth. 440 . "oak of weeping," a tree near the
grave of Rebekah's nurse. Transliteration: Allon Bakuth Phonetic Spelling: (al ...
/hebrew/439.htm - 6k

7259. Ribqah -- wife of Isaac
... 7258, 7259. Ribqah. 7260 . wife of Isaac. Transliteration: Ribqah Phonetic
Spelling: (rib-kaw') Short Definition: Rebekah. ... Rebekah. ...
/hebrew/7259.htm - 6k

The Story of Rebekah.
... THE STORY OF REBEKAH. When Abraham had grown old ... [Illustration: REBEKAH GIVING
DRINK TO ABRAHAM'S SERVANT.]. Before he had done speaking ...
/.../anonymous/mother stories from the old testament/the story of rebekah.htm

How Rebekah Became the Wife of Isaac
... THE OLD TESTAMENT HOW REBEKAH BECAME THE WIFE OF ISAAC. ... Now Rebekah had a brother
named Laban; and Laban ran out to the man at the spring. ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/how rebekah became the wife.htm

Isaac the Shepherd Prince.
... wife. Before his prayer was ended, Rebekah, of the family of Abraham's
brother Nahor, came bearing her pitcher on her shoulder. ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter iv isaac the shepherd.htm

How Jacob Deceived his Father
... Now Isaac prayed to Jehovah for his wife, because she had no children; and Jehovah
heard his prayer, and Rebekah became the mother of twin boys. ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/how jacob deceived his father.htm

Chapter xxviii
... We cannot help but feel that, had Rebekah told Isaac of Esau's murderous plans,
Isaac would, or at least could, have taken a hand in restraining Esau. ...
/.../leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxviii.htm

The Story of Jacob
... Isaac and his wife Rebekah had two children. The older was named Esau and
the younger Jacob. ... But Rebekah loved Jacob more than Esau. ...
/.../marshall/the wonder book of bible stories/the story of jacob.htm

Jacob, a Prince of God.
... Jacob and Esau were the twin sons of Isaac and Rebekah. ... Rebekah heard it, and told
Jacob to bring kids from the flock, which she cooked and served as venison. ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter v jacob a prince.htm

Jacob and Esau.
... Jacob and Esau were twin brothers, sons of Isaac and Rebekah. ... But Rebekah heard
this and determined that Jacob should have the blessing instead. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/anonymous/wee ones bible stories/jacob and esau.htm

A Bad Bargain
... plain man, dwelling in tents. And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of
his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob. And Jacob sod pottage ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/a bad bargain.htm

Guidance in the Way
... So said Abraham's anonymous servant when telling how he had found Rebekah at the
well, and known her to be the destined bride of his master's servant. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/guidance in the way.htm

Rebekah (31 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. REBEKAH. ...Rebekah is first mentioned in the genealogy
of the descendants of Nahor, brother of Abraham (Genesis 22:20-24). ...
/r/rebekah.htm - 21k

Rebekah's (5 Occurrences)
...Rebekah's (5 Occurrences). Genesis 26:35 They grieved Isaac's and Rebekah's spirits. ...
Genesis 27:5 Now Isaac's words to his son were said in Rebekah's hearing. ...
/r/rebekah's.htm - 7k

Bethuel (10 Occurrences)
... Man of God, or virgin of God, or house of God. (1.) The son of Nahor by Milcah;
nephew of Abraham, and father of Rebekah (Genesis 22:22, 23; 24:15, 24, 47). ...
/b/bethuel.htm - 11k

Laban (52 Occurrences)
... (1.) The son of Bethuel, who was the son of Nahor, Abraham's brother. He lived at
Haran in Mesopotamia. His sister Rebekah was Isaac's wife (Genesis 24). ...
/l/laban.htm - 28k

Bethu'el (10 Occurrences)
... Bethuel.' (See RSV). Genesis 22:23 And Bethuel begot Rebekah; these eight did
Milcah bear to Nahor, Abraham's brother. (See RSV). Genesis 24 ...
/b/bethu'el.htm - 8k

Esau (89 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Hairy, Rebekah's first-born twin son (Genesis
25:25). The name of Edom, "red", was also given to him from ...
/e/esau.htm - 41k

Nahor (18 Occurrences)
... His grand-daughter Rebekah became Isaac's wife (24:67). Int. Standard Bible
Encyclopedia. NAHOR. ... Genesis 22:23 Bethuel became the father of Rebekah. ...
/n/nahor.htm - 13k

Isaac's (8 Occurrences)
... Genesis 25:28 Now Isaac's love was for Esau, because Esau's meat was greatly
to his taste: but Rebekah had more love for Jacob. (BBE). ...
/i/isaac's.htm - 8k

Milcah (10 Occurrences)
... MILCAH. mil'-ka (milkah; Melcha): (1) Daughter of Haran, wife of Nahor, and grandmother
of Rebekah (Genesis 11:29; Genesis 22:20-23; 24:15, 24, 47). ...
/m/milcah.htm - 10k

Pitcher (16 Occurrences)
... pich'-er (kadh; keramion): The word is found chiefly in the Old Testament in the
story of Rebekah in Genesis 24:13;; but Gideon's men also had their lamps in ...
/p/pitcher.htm - 13k

Who was Rebekah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Jacob in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Esau in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus