Rachel is a prominent figure in the Hebrew Bible, known for her beauty, her role as one of the matriarchs of Israel, and her enduring love account with Jacob. She is the younger daughter of Laban, the sister of Leah, and the beloved wife of Jacob. Her account is primarily found in the Book of Genesis, chapters 29-35.

Family Background and Marriage to Jacob

Rachel was the daughter of Laban, who was the brother of Rebekah, making Rachel a relative of Jacob. Jacob first encountered Rachel when he arrived in Paddan-aram, fleeing from his brother Esau. Upon seeing her, Jacob was immediately smitten, as described in Genesis 29:17: "Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel was shapely and beautiful."

Jacob agreed to work for Laban for seven years to marry Rachel, a testament to his deep love for her. However, Laban deceived Jacob by giving him Leah, Rachel's older sister, as a wife instead. Jacob confronted Laban, who justified his actions by citing local customs that required the elder daughter to marry first. Laban then agreed to give Rachel to Jacob in exchange for another seven years of labor (Genesis 29:25-28).

Rachel's Struggle with Barrenness

Rachel's life was marked by her struggle with infertility, a significant theme in her narrative. While Leah bore Jacob several sons, Rachel remained childless, which caused her great distress. In Genesis 30:1, Rachel's desperation is evident: "When Rachel saw that she was not bearing children for Jacob, she envied her sister. 'Give me children, or I will die!' she said to Jacob."

In her desperation, Rachel gave her maidservant Bilhah to Jacob as a concubine, hoping to build a family through her. Bilhah bore Jacob two sons, Dan and Naphtali, whom Rachel claimed as her own (Genesis 30:3-8).

Birth of Joseph and Benjamin

God eventually remembered Rachel and answered her prayers. She conceived and gave birth to Joseph, saying, "God has taken away my disgrace" (Genesis 30:23). Joseph would later become a central figure in the history of Israel, known for his rise to power in Egypt and his role in preserving the family during a time of famine.

Rachel's second son, Benjamin, was born under tragic circumstances. During the journey from Bethel to Ephrath, Rachel went into labor and experienced great difficulty. As she was dying, she named her son Ben-Oni, meaning "son of my sorrow," but Jacob renamed him Benjamin, meaning "son of the right hand" (Genesis 35:16-18). Rachel was buried on the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem, and Jacob set up a pillar over her tomb (Genesis 35:19-20).

Legacy

Rachel's legacy is profound in the biblical narrative. She is remembered as a beloved wife and mother of two of the twelve tribes of Israel, Joseph and Benjamin. Her account is one of love, struggle, and faith, reflecting the complexities of family dynamics and the fulfillment of God's promises. Rachel's tomb remains a significant site, symbolizing her enduring place in the history of Israel.Rachel

sheep

Rachel

(ewe, or sheep), the younger of the daughters of Laban, the wife of Jacob (B.C. 1753) and mother of Joseph and Benjamin. The incidents of her life may be found in Genesis29-33, 35. The story of Jacob and Rachel has always had a peculiar interest. The beauty of Rachel, Jacob's deep love and long servitude for her, their marriage, and Rachel's death on giving birth to Benjamin, with Jacob's grief at her loss, (Genesis 48:7) makes a touching tale. Yet from what is related to us concerning her character there does not seem much to claim any high degree of admiration and esteem. She appears to have shared all the duplicity and falsehood of her family. See, for instance, Rachel's stealing her father's images, and the ready dexterity and presence of mind with which she concealed her theft. (Genesis 31:1) ... "Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem. (B.C. 1729.) And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave; that is the pillar of Rachel's grave unto this day." (Genesis 35:19,20) The site of Rachel's tomb, "on the way to Bethlehem," "a little way to come to Ephrath," "in the border of Benjamin," never been questioned. It Is about two miles south of Jerusalem and one mile north of Bethlehem.

Rachel

Ewe or sheep, Ruth 4:11, the younger sister of Leah, daughter of Laban, and the chosen wife of Jacob, though her sister was favored with more children. Rachel was the mother of Joseph and Benjamin, and died soon after the birth of the latter. See her history in Genesis 29:1-35:29. Her sepulchre, half an hour's walk north of Bethlehem, is shown unto this day, the spot being marked by a Mohammedan wely or tomb, a stone enclosure and a dome. The prophecy, Jeremiah 31:15, representing her as mourning over her posterity, the tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin, is quoted in Matthew 2:18, in reference to the massacre at Bethlehem, in which undoubtedly many of her descendants suffered. It is supposed that one of the many places called Ramah was adjacent to Bethlehem.

Ewe, "the daughter", "the somewhat petulant, peevish, and self-willed though beautiful younger daughter" of Laban, and one of Jacob's wives (Genesis 29:6, 28). He served Laban fourteen years for her, so deep was Jacob's affection for her. She was the mother of Joseph (Genesis 30:22-24). Afterwards, on Jacob's departure from Mesopotamia, she took with her her father's teraphim (31:34, 35). As they journeyed on from Bethel, Rachel died in giving birth to Benjamin (35:18, 19), and was buried "in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem. And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave". Her sepulchre is still regarded with great veneration by the Jews. Its traditional site is about half a mile from Jerusalem.

This name is used poetically by Jeremiah (31:15-17) to denote God's people mourning under their calamities. This passage is also quoted by Matthew as fulfilled in the lamentation at Bethlehem on account of the slaughter of the infants there at the command of Herod (Matthew 2:17, 18).

RACHEL

ra'-chel (rachel, "ewe"; Rhachel (Genesis 29:6 Jeremiah 31:15, the King James Version "Rahel")):

1. Biography:

An ancestress of Israel, wife of Jacob, mother of Joseph and Benjamin. Rachel was the younger daughter of Laban, the Aramean, the brother of Jacob's mother; so Rachel and Jacob were cousins. They met for the first time upon the arrival of Jacob at Haran, when attracted by her beauty he immediately fell in love with her, winning her love by his chivalrous act related in Genesis 29:10;. According to the custom of the times Jacob contracted with Laban for her possession, agreeing to serve him 7 years as the stipulated price (29:17-20). But when the time had passed, Laban deceived Jacob by giving him Leah instead of Rachel. When Jacob protested, Laban gave him Rachel also, on condition that Jacob serve 7 years more (29:21-29). To her great dismay "Rachel was barren" (Genesis 29:30, 31), while Leah had children. Rachel, envious of her sister, complained to Jacob, who reminded her that children are the gift of God. Then Rachel resorted to the expedient once employed by Sarah under similar circumstances (16:2;); she bade Jacob take her handmaid Bilhah, as a concubine, to "obtain children by her" (30:3). Dan and Naphtali were the offspring of this union. The evil of polygamy is apparent from the dismal rivalry arising between the two sisters, each seeking by means of children to win the heart of Jacob. In her eagerness to become a mother of children, Rachel bargained with Leah for the mandrakes, or love-apples of her son Reuben, but all to no avail (Genesis 30:14). Finally God heard her prayer and granted her her heart's desire, and she gave birth to her firstborn whom she named Joseph (Genesis 30:22-24).

Some years after this, when Jacob fled from Laban with his wives, the episode of theft of the teraphim of Laban by Rachel, related in Genesis 31:19, 34, 35, occurred. She hoped by securing the household gods of her father to bring prosperity to her own new household. Though she succeeded by her cunning in concealing them from Laban, Jacob later, upon discovering them, had them put away (35:2-4). In spite of all, she continued to be the favorite of Jacob, as is clearly evidenced by 33:2, where we are told that he assigned to her the place of greatest safety, and by his preference for Joseph, her son. After the arrival in Canaan, while they were on the way from Beth-el to Ephrath, i.e. Bethlehem, Rachel gave birth to her second son, Benjamin, and died (35:16;).

2. Character:

In a marked manner Rachel's character shows the traits of her family, cunning and covetousness, so evident in Laban, Rebekah and Jacob. Though a believer in the true God (Genesis 30:6, 8, 22), she was yet given to the superstitions of her country, the worshipping of the teraphim, etc. (Genesis 31:19). The futility of her efforts in resorting to self-help and superstitious expedients, the love and stronger faith of her husband (Genesis 35:2-4), were the providential means of purifying her character. Her memory lived on in Israel long after she died. In Ruth 4:11, the names of Rachel and Leah occur in the nuptial benediction as the foundresses of the house of Israel.

4478. Rhachel -- Rachel, the wife of Jacob
... Rachel, the wife of Jacob. Part of Speech: Proper Noun, Indeclinable Transliteration:
Rhachel Phonetic Spelling: (hrakh-ale') Short Definition: Rachel Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4478.htm - 6k7354. Rachel -- a wife of Jacob
... 7353, 7354. Rachel. 7355 . a wife of Jacob. Transliteration: Rachel Phonetic
Spelling: (raw-khale') Short Definition: Rachel. Word ...
/hebrew/7354.htm - 6k

7353. rachel -- ewe
... 7352, 7353. rachel. 7354 . ewe. Transliteration: rachel Phonetic Spelling:
(raw-kale') Short Definition: ewes. ... 7352, 7353. rachel. 7354 . Strong's Numbers
/hebrew/7353.htm - 5k

1126. Ben-oni -- "son of my sorrow," Rachel's name for Benjamin
... 1125, 1126. Ben-oni. 1127 . "son of my sorrow," Rachel's name for Benjamin.
Transliteration: Ben-oni Phonetic Spelling: (ben-o-nee') Short Definition: Ben- ...
/hebrew/1126.htm - 6k

6307. Paddan -- the place where Rachel died
... Paddan or Paddan Aram. 6308 . the place where Rachel died. Transliteration: Paddan
or Paddan Aram Phonetic Spelling: (pad-dawn') Short Definition: Paddan-aram ...
/hebrew/6307.htm - 6k

Rachel's Refuge
... CHAPTER XXXII RACHEL'S REFUGE. Rachel stood by the parapet on the top of the Memphian
house of Har-hat. About her were no evidences of her former serfdom. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xxxii rachels refuge.htm

Laban had Two Daughters, Leah and Rachel; but Leah had Tender Eyes ...
... The Sacred History Of Sulpitius Severus. Book I. Chapter IX. Laban had
two daughters, Leah and Rachel; but Leah had tender eyes? ...
/.../severus/life and writings of sulpitius severus /chapter ix laban had two.htm

The Reason of the Order of the Sons of Rachel.
... THE VISION The Reason of the Order of the Sons of Rachel. Observe that
among the posterity of Rachel, two of them paired together ...
/.../mede/a key to the apocalypse/the reason of the order 2.htm

The Deceiver Deceived
... the son of Nahor?" And they said, "We know him." And he said to them, "Is all well
with him?" And they said, "All is well; indeed, this is Rachel his daughter ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/the deceiver deceived.htm

The Gods of Egypt
... Rachel was a quarry-slave, a member of the lowest rank in the Egyptian scale of
classes. ... Rachel had given him no sign of preference beyond a pretty fellowship. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xv the gods of.htm

A Confirmation of what Has Been Said by a Noteworthy Comparison.
... CHAPTER IX. A CONFIRMATION OF WHAT HAS BEEN SAID BY A NOTEWORTHY COMPARISON.
You know, Theotimus, what was Jacob's love for his Rachel. ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter ix a confirmation of.htm

The Testament of Issachar Concerning Simplicity.
... [124] For Reuben [125] brought in mandrakes from the field, and Rachel
met him and took them. And ... youth. But Rachel said, How so? ...
/.../v the testament of issachar concerning.htm

The Angel of Death
... CHAPTER XLI THE ANGEL OF DEATH. Kenkenes had spent two weeks in Goshen in systematic
search for Rachel. The labor had been time-consuming and fruitless. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xli the angel of.htm

Chapter sixteen
... She was talking it over with Rachel the day after the funeral. ... "How much money
have you, Virginia, to give in this way?" asked Rachel. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sheldon/in his steps/chapter sixteen.htm

Chapter six
... When Rachel Winslow and Virginia Page separated after the meeting at the First Church
on Sunday they agreed to continue their conversation the next day. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sheldon/in his steps/chapter six.htm

Rachel (42 Occurrences)
... As they journeyed on from Bethel, Rachel died in giving birth to Benjamin (35:18,
19), and was buried "in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem. ...RACHEL. ...
/r/rachel.htm - 24k

Rachel's (5 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia RACHEL'S TOMB. ... It is doubtful, but probable,
that it marks the exact spot where Rachel was buried. ...
/r/rachel's.htm - 11k

Leah (30 Occurrences)
... Weary, the eldest daughter of Laban, and sister of Rachel (Genesis 29:16). ... Up to
this time Rachel had not been blessed with children of her own. ...
/l/leah.htm - 19k

Bilhah (11 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Faltering; bashful, Rachel's handmaid, whom she
gave to Jacob (Genesis 29:29). She was the mother of Dan ...
/b/bilhah.htm - 11k

Raddai (1 Occurrence)
... It is doubtful, but probable, that it marks the exact spot where Rachel was buried.
There are, apparently, two traditions as to the location of the place. ...
/r/raddai.htm - 10k

Ephrath (9 Occurrences)
... It is held by many authorities that the Ephrath where Rachel was buried (Genesis
35:16; Genesis 48:7) was a different place, the words "the same is Bethlehem ...
/e/ephrath.htm - 10k

I'll (31 Occurrences)
... NIV). Genesis 29:18 Jacob loved Rachel. He said, "I will serve you seven
years for Rachel, your younger daughter." (See NIV). Genesis ...
/i/i'll.htm - 15k

Tribe (250 Occurrences)
... 1. Name: The fifth of Jacob's sons, the first borne to him by Bilhah, the maid of
Rachel, to whom, as the child of her slave, he legally belonged. ...
/t/tribe.htm - 45k

Tomb (70 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. RACHEL'S TOMB. ... It is doubtful, but probable,
that it marks the exact spot where Rachel was buried. ...
/t/tomb.htm - 31k

Loveth (88 Occurrences)
... WBS). Genesis 29:18 And Jacob loveth Rachel, and saith, 'I serve thee seven
years for Rachel thy younger daughter:' (YLT). Genesis ...
/l/loveth.htm - 30k

Who was Rachel in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What is the story of Jacob, Leah, and Rachel? | GotQuestions.org

How could Jacob not notice he married Leah instead of Rachel? | GotQuestions.org

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