Abrahamic / Middle Eastern Christianity Rebekah, Wife of Isaac Mother of Esau and Jacob Share Flipboard Email Print Public Domain Christianity The Old Testament Christianity Origins The Bible The New Testament Practical Tools for Christians Christian Life For Teens Christian Prayers Weddings Inspirational Bible Devotions Denominations of Christianity Christian Holidays Christian Entertainment Key Terms in Christianity Catholicism Latter Day Saints View More By Jack Zavada Jack Zavada Christianity Expert M.A., English Composition, Illinois State University B.S., English Literature, Illinois State University Jack Zavada is a writer who covers the Bible, theology, and other Christianity topics. He is the author "Hope for Hurting Singles: A Christian Guide to Overcoming Life's Challenges." Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on August 02, 2018 Rebekah was assertive in a time when women were expected to be submissive. This quality helped her become Isaac's wife but caused trouble when she pushed one of her sons ahead of the other. Abraham, father of the Jewish nation, did not want his son Isaac to marry one of the pagan Canaanite women in the area, so he sent his servant Eliezer to his homeland to find a wife for Isaac. When the servant arrived, he prayed that the right girl would not only offer him a drink of water from the well but offer to water his ten camels too. Rebekah came out with her water jar and did exactly that! She agreed to go back with the servant and became Isaac's wife. In time, Abraham died. Like her mother-in-law Sarah, Rebekah was also barren. Isaac prayed to God for her and Rebekah conceived twins. The Lord told Rebekah what would happen to her sons: "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger." (Genesis 25:24, NIV) They named the twins Esau and Jacob. Esau was born first, but Jacob became Rebekah's favorite. When the boys grew up, Jacob tricked his older brother into selling his birthright for a bowl of stew. Later, as Isaac was dying and his eyesight had failed, Rebekah helped Jacob deceive Isaac into blessing him instead of Esau. She put goatskins on Jacob's hands and neck to imitate Esau's hairy skin. When Isaac touched it, he blessed Jacob, thinking it was really Esau. Rebekah's deception caused strife between Esau and Jacob. Many years later, however, Esau forgave Jacob. When Rebekah died, she was buried in the family tomb, a cave near Mamre in Canaan, the resting place of Abraham and Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, and her daughter-in-law Leah. Accomplishments Rebekah married Isaac, one of the patriarchs of the Jewish nation. She bore two sons who became leaders of great nations. Strengths Rebekah was assertive and fought for what she believed was right. Weaknesses Rebekah sometimes thought God needed her help. She favored Jacob over Esau and helped Jacob deceive Isaac. Her trickery led to a split between the brothers that has caused turmoil to this day. Life Lessons Impatience and lack of trust made Rebekah interfere with God's plan. She did not consider the consequences of her action. When we step out of God's timing, we can sometimes cause a disaster we have to live with. Hometown Haran Referenced in the Bible Genesis 22:23: Chapter 24; 25:20-28; 26:7-8, 35; 27:5-15, 42-46; 28:5; 29:12; 35:8; 49:31; Romans 9:10. Occupation Wife, mother, homemaker Family Tree Grandparents - Nahor, MilcahFather - BethuelHusband - IsaacSons - Esau and JacobBrother - Leban Key Verses Genesis 24:42-44"When I came to the spring today, I said, 'LORD, God of my master Abraham, if you will, please grant success to the journey on which I have come. See, I am standing beside this spring. If a young woman comes out to draw water and I say to her, "Please let me drink a little water from your jar," and if she says to me, "Drink, and I'll draw water for your camels too," let her be the one the LORD has chosen for my master's son.'" (NIV)Genesis 24:67Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah, and he married Rebekah. So she became his wife, and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death. (NIV)Genesis 27:14-17So he went and got them and brought them to his mother, and she prepared some tasty food, just the way his father liked it. Then Rebekah took the best clothes of Esau her older son, which she had in the house, and put them on her younger son Jacob. She also covered his hands and the smooth part of his neck with the goatskins. Then she handed to her son Jacob the tasty food and the bread she had made. (NIV) Cite this Article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation Zavada, Jack. "Rebekah, Wife of Isaac." Learn Religions, Feb. 8, 2021, learnreligions.com/rebekah-wife-of-isaac-701176. Zavada, Jack. (2021, February 8). Rebekah, Wife of Isaac. Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/rebekah-wife-of-isaac-701176 Zavada, Jack. "Rebekah, Wife of Isaac." Learn Religions. https://www.learnreligions.com/rebekah-wife-of-isaac-701176 (accessed June 8, 2023). copy citation