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Portrait of RebekahPortrait · Rebekah

Patriarchs · Old Testament

Rebekah

Courageous Bride Who Shaped a Family's Future

Name meaning
To tie or bind; captivating (debated)
Name origin
Hebrew: רִבְקָה (Rivqah), etymology debated, commonly associated with "to tie" or "captivating"

Quick facts

Occupation
  • Matriarch
  • Household manager
Birthplace
Aram-naharaim (Paddan Aram)
Modern-day location
Upper Mesopotamia, around present-day southeastern Turkey and northern Syria; the exact site is uncertain.
Family
  • Daughter of Bethuel
  • Sister of Laban
  • Wife of Isaac
  • Mother of Jacob and Esau
First mention
Genesis 22:23; 24:15
Last mention
Genesis 49:31 (burial noted)
Key artifacts
  • Water jar at the well
  • Veil
  • Goatskins and savory food

Key verses

  • “Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go.”

    Genesis 24:58

  • “Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions.”

    Genesis 24:60

  • “Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels.”

    Genesis 25:23

Biography

Early Life

Rebekah was the granddaughter of Abraham's brother Nahor. When Abraham's servant prayed at a well for a sign, Rebekah offered water for him and his camels, showing decisive kindness.

Defining Biblical Moments

Rebekah willingly left her family to marry Isaac, prayed when barren and was told two nations were in her womb, and later helped Jacob receive Isaac's blessing, believing God's earlier word that the older would serve the younger.

Strengths

Rebekah is portrayed as industrious, hospitable, discerning and bold in making major life decisions.

Weaknesses & Lessons

Her favoritism and deception in the blessing scene, though aimed at fulfilling prophecy, sowed division and sent Jacob into exile, warning that good ends do not justify deceitful means.

Life Lessons for Today

Hospitality and initiative open doors to God's purposes; manipulation, even with good intentions, can wound families for generations.

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Rebekah appears in Women of the Bible: Profiles in Courage & Faith, alongside more profiles like this one.

Page #7 in Women of the Bible: Profiles in Courage & Faith

Women of the Bible: Profiles in Courage & Faith front cover

Women whose courage shaped Scripture

Vivid profiles of the women of the Bible whose faith, wisdom, and quiet courage carried them through extraordinary moments.

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