Overview
Rebekah enters the Genesis narrative as the woman chosen to become Isaac’s wife. She later becomes the mother of Esau and Jacob and plays a major role in the family conflict surrounding the birthright and blessing.
Key Scripture
Marriage to Isaac
Genesis 24 records Abraham’s servant traveling to find a wife for Isaac from Abraham’s extended family. Rebekah responds willingly and returns with the servant to Canaan, where she becomes Isaac’s wife.
Esau and Jacob
After a period of barrenness, Rebekah conceives twins. Genesis records God’s word concerning the two nations represented by the children and the reversal of expected birth order.
The Blessing Conflict
Genesis 27 records Rebekah helping Jacob receive Isaac’s blessing while Esau is away hunting. The episode becomes a major turning point in the family’s history and leads to Jacob’s departure.
Research Notes
Methodology: Biblical. The text clearly records Rebekah’s actions and family relationships. Interpretive judgments about motives should be distinguished from what Scripture explicitly states.