Girls · Hebrew · Old Testament · classic · Patriarchal
Rebecca
/reh-BEK-uh/
רִבְקָה
"To bind; to tie firmly; captivating; ensnaring"
Genesis 24:15
RoleMatriarch; wife of Isaac; mother of Jacob and Esau
Etymology
From the Hebrew root 'ribqah', possibly meaning 'to bind' or 'to tie' — as in binding an animal by tying its legs. Some scholars interpret it as 'captivating' or 'beautiful enough to ensnare.' Others connect it to a root meaning 'fattened' (i.e., well-nourished, healthy).
Who they were
Rebecca's entrance into scripture is one of the Bible's most beautiful narratives. Abraham sent his servant to find a wife for Isaac, and the servant prayed for a sign: the right woman would offer water not just to him but to his camels. Rebecca appeared at the well, offered water to the servant, then said, 'I'll draw water for your camels too, until they have had enough to drink.' Ten thirsty camels drink enormous amounts. This was not a small gesture — it was extraordinary generosity. When asked if she would go with the servant to marry a man she had never met in a land she had never seen, her answer was immediate: 'I will go.' She was decisive, generous, and brave. But Rebecca's later story is more complex. When she bore twins — Esau and Jacob — God told her the older would serve the younger. She favoured Jacob. When Isaac, old and blind, prepared to bless Esau, Rebecca orchestrated a deception: she dressed Jacob in Esau's clothes and goatskins to mimic his brother's hairy skin. The ruse worked. Jacob received the blessing. Esau was devastated. Rebecca never saw Jacob again — she sent him to her brother Laban and died before he returned. She was a woman of initiative and boldness who shaped Israel's destiny through both generosity and manipulation. The biblical text does not resolve the tension. She is buried beside Isaac in the cave of Machpelah.
Family
Character qualities
- Extraordinary generosity
- Decisive action
- Willingness to leave everything
- Strategic thinking that crossed ethical lines
- Favourite-playing that cost her everything
Key verse
Genesis 24:58
Where they appear
Themes
Variants & related forms
Rebekah · Becca · Becky · Rivka · Rivkah
Read their story
Rebecca's story begins in Genesis.
The full passage is at Genesis 24:15. Any modern translation will do — the NLT and NIV are the most readable; the ESV and NKJV stay close to the wording the church has used for centuries.
Find a Bible to read it in →