Beloved wife of Jacob; mother of Joseph and Benjamin
c. 1900 BC · Old Testament
The beautiful younger daughter of Laban whom Jacob loved at first sight — and worked fourteen years to marry — mother of Joseph and Benjamin, who died bearing Benjamin on the road to Bethlehem.
Rachel was the younger daughter of Laban, Rebekah's brother. She was 'beautiful and well favoured' (Genesis 29:17). Jacob, fleeing from Esau, met her at a well in Padanaram. He kissed her and wept. He told Laban he would work seven years for her hand. 'They seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her' (Genesis 29:20). At the wedding, Laban deceived Jacob with the older sister Leah. Jacob worked another seven years for Rachel. They were married. Rachel was loved more than Leah but was barren. Leah bore four sons; Rachel grew envious. 'Give me children, or else I die' (Genesis 30:1). Through her servant Bilhah she had Dan and Naphtali by surrogate. Finally God 'remembered Rachel' (Genesis 30:22) and she bore Joseph — the long-awaited son. She named him Joseph saying 'The LORD shall add to me another son' (Genesis 30:24). The family fled Laban and returned to Canaan. On the journey, Rachel had her second son. She named him Ben-oni ('son of my sorrow') as she died in childbirth on the road to Bethlehem. Jacob renamed him Benjamin ('son of the right hand'). Jacob buried Rachel and 'set a pillar upon her grave' (Genesis 35:20). Her grave near Bethlehem became a landmark. Rachel's significance carried forward. Her sons Joseph and Benjamin became two tribes (with Joseph's split into Ephraim and Manasseh). Jeremiah 31:15 — 'A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping, Rahel weeping for her children.' This is quoted in Matthew 2:18 about Herod's slaughter of the children of Bethlehem. Ruth 4:11 — at Boaz's wedding to Ruth, the people blessed: 'The LORD make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel.'
Jacob kisses her and weeps
"Seemed unto him but a few days"
Laban's deception
Marries Rachel
"God hath taken away my reproach"
Buried near Bethlehem
Rachel's significance: (1) She is the beloved wife of Jacob — the great love story of Genesis. (2) Mothers Joseph (savior of Israel and Egypt) and Benjamin (tribe of Saul and Paul). (3) Her tomb near Bethlehem became a national landmark. (4) Jeremiah 31:15 personifies her weeping for her children — quoted in Matthew 2:18 about the slaughter of innocents. (5) Ruth 4:11 names her among the women who 'built the house of Israel.'
“Give me children, or else I die.”— Genesis 30:1
“God hath taken away my reproach.”— Genesis 30:23
Rachel was the younger daughter of Laban and the beloved wife of Jacob. He worked seven years for her, was tricked by Laban into marrying Leah first, then worked seven more years for Rachel. She was barren for years before bearing Joseph and then Benjamin. She died in childbirth on the road to Bethlehem (Genesis 35:16-20) and was buried there. Her sons Joseph and Benjamin became two tribes of Israel.
Jacob agreed to work seven years for Rachel's hand. But at the wedding, Laban tricked him by giving him the older sister Leah instead — explaining the custom that the elder must be married first. Laban then offered Rachel for another seven years of labor. Jacob agreed. So in total, Jacob worked 14 years for Rachel (Genesis 29:15-30).
Rachel died in childbirth on the road to Bethlehem while bearing Benjamin (Genesis 35:16-20). She named him Ben-oni ('son of my sorrow') with her dying breath; Jacob renamed him Benjamin ('son of the right hand'). Jacob 'set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel's grave unto this day' (Genesis 35:20). Her tomb near Bethlehem became a national landmark.
Jeremiah 31:15 — 'A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping, Rahel weeping for her children... because they were not.' Personifying Rachel as Israel's mother weeping over her exiled descendants. Matthew 2:18 quotes this verse to describe Herod's slaughter of the children of Bethlehem (near Rachel's tomb) at the birth of Christ — Rachel weeps again.