In brief
Rebekah is the daughter of Bethuel, Abraham’s great-niece, and the wife of Isaac. Abraham’s servant meets her at a well in Mesopotamia, where she gives him water to drink, and his ten camels too. She agrees to go and marries Isaac, who loves her. Barren, she becomes the mother of twins, Esau and Jacob, after Isaac’s prayer. Later she favors Jacob and arranges the trick of the blessing. We remember her generosity, but also the damage of favoritism.
What does the name Rebekah mean?
The meaning of her name is debated: it is sometimes linked to a word meaning to tie or to bind. The Bible gives no explanation. It simply notes that she was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah and Nahor, Abraham’s brother (Genesis 24:15).
The story of Rebekah
The Woman Chosen at the Well
Genesis 24:1-27Abraham sends his servant to find a wife for Isaac in his own country, not among the Canaanites. By the well, the servant prays: the girl who offers him a drink, and his camels as well, will be the one God has appointed for Isaac. Rebekah comes out before he has finished praying and answers exactly that way.
A Generous Young Woman
Genesis 24:15-27Rebekah, very beautiful and a virgin, draws water for the servant, then hurries to draw for all the camels. The man watches her in silence, to see whether Yahweh has made his journey successful. He gives her a gold ring and bracelets, learns that she is from Abraham’s family and thanks Yahweh for leading him.
She Agrees to Go
Genesis 24:28-67Rebekah runs to tell everything at her mother’s house, and her brother Laban welcomes the servant. Her family recognizes that this comes from Yahweh. Rebekah agrees to leave the next day and meets Isaac, who takes her as his wife. He loves her, and the Bible says he was comforted after his mother’s death.
Barren, Then Mother of Twins
Genesis 25:19-26Isaac is forty years old when he marries Rebekah. She is barren, and Isaac pleads with Yahweh for his wife, who answers him: she conceives. The children struggle together within her, she inquires of Yahweh, who announces two nations and the elder serving the younger. She gives birth to Esau, then Jacob.
The Trick of the Blessing
Genesis 27Isaac, now old, wants to bless Esau. Rebekah overhears and tells Jacob to bring his father a dish of young goat, wearing Esau’s clothes, to obtain the blessing. Jacob fears a curse, but she says it will fall on her. Isaac blesses Jacob, and Esau, furious, wants to kill him. Rebekah then sends Jacob to Laban.
What Rebekah teaches us
- Simple generosity, without calculation, can become the place where God acts in a destiny.
- Rebekah says yes to an unknown calling: she leaves for a man she has never seen, trusting in what God has led.
- When the wait is long, Isaac prays for his wife, and God answers: prayer can come before the promise is fulfilled.
- Rebekah inquires of Yahweh, but she then chooses trickery: trying to help God through deception creates division in a family.
- Favoritism between children, here between Esau and Jacob, leaves wounds that last.
Key verses
The servant asks God that the girl who offers to give water to his camels as well be the one God has appointed for Isaac. This verse shows a precise prayer, attentive to Rebekah’s actions.
“Two nations are in your womb. Two peoples will be separated from your body.” Yahweh answers Rebekah, who inquired of him, and announces that the elder will serve the younger.
Jacob fears the trick will bring a curse on him. His mother answers: “Let your curse be on me, my son.” This verse reveals the size of the risk she takes to obtain the blessing.
Frequently asked questions
Why did God choose Rebekah for Isaac?
The Bible gives no hidden reason. Abraham’s servant asks for a precise sign: the girl who will give water to him and to his camels. Rebekah answers that prayer with generosity (Genesis 24:14-20). She also belongs to Abraham’s family, which fits his wish.
What does the name Rebekah mean?
The exact meaning of her name is debated. It is sometimes linked to a Hebrew word meaning to bind or to tie. The Bible gives no explanation. It only states her family: daughter of Bethuel, son of Milcah and Nahor, Abraham’s brother, and sister of Laban (Genesis 24:15, 29).
Where can I find the story of Rebekah in the Bible?
The story of Rebekah is in Genesis. Chapter 24 tells of her meeting with Abraham’s servant and her marriage to Isaac. Chapter 25 tells of her wait and the birth of the twins Esau and Jacob, and chapter 27 the blessing obtained by trickery.