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Rebekah
Rachel is one of Laban’s daughters, making her Bethuel’s granddaughter and Jacob’s cousin. She becomes engaged to Jacob soon after he arrives in Haran, having been sent there by his parents to seek a wife among his mother’s relatives. After Jacob has worked for seven years in exchange for Rachel, however, Laban gives Leah to Jacob first. Then Jacob is allowed to marry Rachel, whom he loves far more, in exchange for another seven years’ work. Rachel remains barren for many years, watching jealously as Leah gives birth to son after son. Eventually, she gives Jacob her maid, Bilhah, who bears him Dan and Naphtali. After many years, God enables Rachel to conceive Joseph. She later dies in childbirth with Benjamin and is buried at Bethlehem.
Rachel Quotes in Genesis
The Genesis quotes below are all either spoken by Rachel or refer to Rachel. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 30 Quotes
When Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, she envied her sister; and she said to Jacob, “Give me children, or I shall die!” Jacob became very angry with Rachel and said, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?” […]
Then God remembered Rachel, and God heeded her and opened her womb. She conceived and bore a son, and said, “God has taken away my reproach”; and she named him Joseph, saying, “May the Lord add to me another son!”
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
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Rachel Character Timeline in Genesis
The timeline below shows where the character Rachel appears in Genesis. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 29
...shepherds tell him they’re from Haran and that they know Laban; in fact, Laban’s daughter Rachel is approaching with her sheep right now. When Jacob sees her, he goes to the...
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...work for him for free—what should his wages be? Laban has two daughters, Leah and Rachel. Though Leah has lovely eyes, Rachel is more beautiful. Jacob tells Laban he will serve...
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At the end of the seven years, Jacob asks Laban for Rachel, and Laban throws a marriage feast. But that night, he brings Leah to Jacob’s tent...
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God sees that Leah isn’t loved, so while Rachel remains barren, he enables Leah to conceive a son. Leah names her son Reuben because...
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Chapter 30
Rachel, still barren, envies Leah for her many children. She tells Jacob to give her children...
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During the wheat harvest, Reuben brings his mother, Leah, some mandrakes. Rachel asks Leah for some of the mandrakes, but Leah refuses, saying it’s bad enough that...
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Finally, God remembers Rachel, and Rachel conceives at last. She names her son Joseph, saying, “May the LORD add...
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Chapter 31
...LORD tells Jacob to return to his homeland. So Jacob summons his wives and tells Rachel and Leah that he has served Laban well for a long time, but that now...
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Continuing his explanation to Rachel and Leah, Jacob says that once, while the flock was mating, he dreamed that all...
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Meanwhile, Rachel has stolen her father Laban’s household gods. Three days after Jacob’s household sets out, Laban’s...
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...witness between them. Laban says that God will be witness between them if Jacob mistreats Rachel and Leah or takes any additional wives. Jacob swears accordingly, and they eat bread together....
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Chapter 33
...up his household with the maids in front, followed by Leah and her children, and Rachel and Joseph in the rear. Jacob walks in front, bowing seven times before Esau. But...
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Chapter 35
As they journey onward from Bethel, Rachel goes into hard labor and dies just as her son is born. Rachel names him...
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