Lexical Summary Ribqah: Rebekah Original Word: רִבְקָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Rebekah From an unused root probably meaning to clog by tying up the fetlock; fettering (by beauty); Ribkah, the wife of Isaac -- Rebekah. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as marbeq Definition wife of Isaac NASB Translation Rebekah (28), Rebekah's (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs רִבְקָה30 proper name, feminine Rebekah, daughter of Bethuel and wife of Isaac, Genesis 22:23; Genesis 24:15 24t. 24, 25, 26, 27; Genesis 28:5; Genesis 29:12; Genesis 35:8; Genesis 49:31; — ᵐ5 Πεβεκκα,. רַבשָֿׁקֶה see II. רַב below רבב. רגב (√ of following). Topical Lexicon Overview Rebekah (רִבְקָה, Strong’s 7259) stands as the divinely chosen wife of Isaac and the mother of Esau and Jacob. Appearing in roughly thirty Old Testament verses, her life bridges the patriarchal narratives from Abraham to Jacob, shaping the unfolding of the covenant promises. Family Lineage Rebekah was the daughter of Bethuel and sister of Laban, descendants of Nahor (Genesis 22:20-23; Genesis 24:15, 24, 29). Through this Aramean line, she connects Abraham’s family in Canaan with relatives in Paddan-aram, foreshadowing Israel’s later sojourns outside the Land. Call and Marriage Genesis 24 records the longest single narrative devoted to the choice of a wife in Scripture. Abraham’s servant prayed for divine guidance; before he finished, “Rebekah approached with her jar on her shoulder” (Genesis 24:45). Her willing service—drawing water for both the servant and his camels—confirmed God’s selection. The swift consent of her household and her own words, “I will go” (Genesis 24:58), highlight her faith and readiness to leave all for the covenant purposes of God. Hospitality and Faith Rebekah’s actions parallel Abraham’s hospitality in Genesis 18. She demonstrates the covenant virtue of generous service, anticipating later biblical exhortations to show hospitality (Hebrews 13:2). Her account underscores that God often affirms His plans through everyday acts of kindness. Struggle of the Twins and Oracle Years of barrenness drew Isaac to intercede: “The LORD answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived” (Genesis 25:21). Troubled by an unusual struggle within her womb, she sought the LORD, who declared, “Two nations are in your womb… the older will serve the younger” (Genesis 25:23). Rebekah thus became the first recipient of a prenatal prophecy, and the divine election of Jacob over Esau frames the doctrine of sovereign grace later cited in Romans 9:10-13. Rebekah’s Role in the Blessing of Jacob Genesis 27 portrays her decisive, controversial involvement in securing Isaac’s blessing for Jacob. Motivated by the earlier oracle and Esau’s indifference to covenant values (Genesis 26:34-35; Hebrews 12:16-17), she devised the plan Jacob followed. When Jacob feared a curse, she answered, “Your curse be on me, my son” (Genesis 27:13). Scripture neither commends deception nor voids the blessing; instead, it reveals how divine sovereignty works even through human weakness to accomplish redemptive purposes. Later Life and Death After sending Jacob to Paddan-aram (Genesis 27:42-45; Genesis 28:5), Scripture falls silent on Rebekah until the notice of her nurse Deborah’s death at Allon-bacuth (Genesis 35:8). Rebekah herself was buried in the cave of Machpelah with Abraham and Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, and Leah (Genesis 49:31), affirming her honored place among the patriarchs and matriarchs. Theological Significance 1. Covenant Continuity: Rebekah links Abraham’s household to succeeding generations, ensuring the transmission of the promise (Genesis 26:3-4). New Testament Echoes Paul cites Rebekah by name when discussing election (Romans 9:10). Her life embodies themes of calling, grace, and the trustworthiness of God’s word, echoing in the church’s identity as “children of promise” (Galatians 4:28). Practical Application • Seek divine guidance in life decisions, trusting God to direct seemingly ordinary circumstances. Rebekah’s story, interwoven with faith, initiative, and divine election, invites believers to trust God’s providence and to serve His purposes wholeheartedly. Forms and Transliterations וְרִבְקָ֖ה וְרִבְקָ֣ה וְרִבְקָה֙ וּלְרִבְקָ֥ה וּלְרִבְקָֽה׃ ולרבקה ולרבקה׃ ורבקה לְרִבְקָ֑ה לְרִבְקָ֔ה לְרִבְקָה֙ לרבקה רִ֠בְקָה רִבְקָ֑ה רִבְקָ֔ה רִבְקָ֖ה רִבְקָ֗ה רִבְקָ֛ה רִבְקָ֜ה רִבְקָ֣ה רִבְקָ֤ה רִבְקָ֥ה רִבְקָה֙ רבקה lə·riḇ·qāh ləriḇqāh lerivKah riḇ·qāh riḇqāh rivKah ū·lə·riḇ·qāh ūləriḇqāh ulerivKah verivKah wə·riḇ·qāh wəriḇqāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 22:23 HEB: יָלַ֣ד אֶת־ רִבְקָ֑ה שְׁמֹנָ֥ה אֵ֙לֶּה֙ NAS: the father of Rebekah; these KJV: begat Rebekah: these eight INT: Bethuel became of Rebekah eight these Genesis 24:15 Genesis 24:29 Genesis 24:30 Genesis 24:45 Genesis 24:51 Genesis 24:53 Genesis 24:58 Genesis 24:59 Genesis 24:60 Genesis 24:61 Genesis 24:61 Genesis 24:64 Genesis 24:67 Genesis 25:20 Genesis 25:21 Genesis 25:28 Genesis 26:7 Genesis 26:8 Genesis 26:35 Genesis 27:5 Genesis 27:6 Genesis 27:11 Genesis 27:15 Genesis 27:42 30 Occurrences |
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