
Rebekah
Wife of Isaac
c. 2000 BC
Found at the well of Nahor, she became Isaac's wife and the mother of Jacob and Esau.
“I will go.” — Genesis 24:58Talk with Rebekah
The story of Rebekah
Rebekah's story begins with a remarkable scene of divine guidance at a well in Mesopotamia. When Abraham's servant sought a wife for Isaac, he prayed for a sign, and Rebekah appeared, demonstrating both hospitality and strength by drawing water for him and all his camels. Her willingness to leave her family and travel to a distant land to marry a man she had never met shows a spirit of adventure and a deep trust in the God of Abraham.
As the wife of Isaac, Rebekah faced a long period of infertility before giving birth to twin sons, Esau and Jacob. During a difficult pregnancy, she sought the Lord and received a prophecy that two nations were in her womb and that the older son would serve the younger. This divine revelation shaped her perspective and led her to take an active, and sometimes controversial, role in ensuring that the younger son, Jacob, received the primary blessing from his father.
Rebekah was a woman of quick wit and strong initiative, often taking charge of situations to protect her family's future. While her methods of deception regarding Isaac's blessing caused significant strife between her sons, her actions were rooted in her belief in God's stated purpose for Jacob. Her life illustrates the complexities of family dynamics and the ways in which God uses the unique personalities and choices of individuals to bring about His ultimate will for His people.
Key passages
Genesis 24:10–27
The account of Rebekah's kind actions at the well, which identified her as the wife God had chosen for Isaac.
Genesis 24:58–67
Rebekah's decision to leave her home immediately and her first meeting with Isaac in the fields of Canaan.
Genesis 25:19–28
The birth of Esau and Jacob and the prophecy Rebekah received regarding the future of her two sons.
Genesis 27:1–40
The strategic plan Rebekah devised to ensure that Jacob received the blessing that Isaac had intended for Esau.
Key books
- Genesis
Questions you can ask
- “Why did you leave home with the servant?”
- “Tell me about the twins struggling in your womb”
- “Why did you help Jacob?”
Common questions
Why did Rebekah favor Jacob over Esau?
Her favoritism was likely influenced by the prophecy she received from God that the younger son would eventually be the leader over the older.
Was Rebekah a relative of Abraham?
Yes, she was the granddaughter of Abraham's brother Nahor, meaning she came from the same extended family as Isaac.
What happened to Rebekah after Jacob fled?
The Bible does not record the details of her later life or her death, but it notes that she was buried in the family tomb at Machpelah.