Rachel

Rachel is a woman living at the time of the Patriarchs. She is named in 45 verses of the Bible, first in Genesis 29:6.

Family

Verses

Genesis

• Genesis 29:6
  And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.“Is he well?” Jacob inquired. “Yes,” they answered, “and here comes his daughter Rachel with his sheep.”
• Genesis 29:9
  And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep: for she kept them.While he was still speaking with them, Rachel arrived with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess.
• Genesis 29:10
  And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother.As soon as Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of his mother’s brother Laban, with Laban’s sheep, he went up and rolled the stone away from the mouth of the well and watered his uncle’s sheep.
• Genesis 29:11
  And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept aloud.
• Genesis 29:12
  And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s brother, and that he was Rebekah’s son: and she ran and told her father.He told Rachel that he was Rebekah’s son, a relative of her father, and she ran and told her father.
• Genesis 29:16
  And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.Now Laban had two daughters; the older was named Leah, and the younger was named Rachel.
• Genesis 29:17
  Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel was shapely and beautiful.
• Genesis 29:18
  And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.Since Jacob loved Rachel, he answered, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.”
• Genesis 29:20
  And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, yet it seemed but a few days because of his love for her.
• Genesis 29:25
  And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?When morning came, there was Leah! “What have you done to me?” Jacob said to Laban. “Wasn’t it for Rachel that I served you? Why have you deceived me?”
• Genesis 29:28
  And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.And Jacob did just that. He finished the week’s celebration, and Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife.
• Genesis 29:29
  And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.Laban also gave his servant girl Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maidservant.
• Genesis 29:30
  And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.Jacob slept with Rachel as well, and indeed, he loved Rachel more than Leah. So he worked for Laban another seven years.
• Genesis 29:31
  And when the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.When the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb; but Rachel was barren.
• Genesis 30:1
  And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.When Rachel saw that she was not bearing any children for Jacob, she envied her sister. “Give me children, or I will die!” she said to Jacob.
• Genesis 30:2
  And Jacob’s anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God’s stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?Jacob became angry with Rachel and said, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld children from you?”
• Genesis 30:6
  And Rachel said, God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and hath given me a son: therefore called she his name Dan.Then Rachel said, “God has vindicated me; He has heard my plea and given me a son.” So she named him Dan.
• Genesis 30:7
  And Bilhah Rachel’s maid conceived again, and bare Jacob a second son.And Rachel’s servant Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son.
• Genesis 30:8
  And Rachel said, With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali.Then Rachel said, “In my great struggles, I have wrestled with my sister and won.” So she named him Naphtali.
• Genesis 30:14
  And Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them unto his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, Give me, I pray thee, of thy son’s mandrakes.Now during the wheat harvest, Reuben went out and found some mandrakes in the field. When he brought them to his mother, Rachel begged Leah, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.”
• Genesis 30:15
  And she said unto her, Is it a small matter that thou hast taken my husband? and wouldest thou take away my son’s mandrakes also? And Rachel said, Therefore he shall lie with thee to night for thy son’s mandrakes.But Leah replied, “Is it not enough that you have taken away my husband? Now you want to take my son’s mandrakes as well?” “Very well,” said Rachel, “he may sleep with you tonight in exchange for your son’s mandrakes.”
• Genesis 30:22
  And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb.Then God remembered Rachel. He listened to her and opened her womb,
• Genesis 30:25
  And it came to pass, when Rachel had born Joseph, that Jacob said unto Laban, Send me away, that I may go unto mine own place, and to my country.Now after Rachel had given birth to Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, “Send me on my way so I can return to my homeland.
• Genesis 31:4
  And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock,So Jacob sent word and called Rachel and Leah to the field where his flocks were,
• Genesis 31:14
  And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him, Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father’s house?And Rachel and Leah replied, “Do we have any portion or inheritance left in our father’s house?
• Genesis 31:19
  And Laban went to shear his sheep: and Rachel had stolen the images that were her father’s.Now while Laban was out shearing his sheep, Rachel stole her father’s household idols.
• Genesis 31:32
  With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, let him not live: before our brethren discern thou what is thine with me, and take it to thee. For Jacob knew not that Rachel had stolen them.If you find your gods with anyone here, he shall not live! In the presence of our relatives, see for yourself if anything is yours, and take it back.” For Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen the idols.
• Genesis 31:33
  And Laban went into Jacob’s tent, and into Leah’s tent, and into the two maidservants’ tents; but he found them not. Then went he out of Leah’s tent, and entered into Rachel’s tent.So Laban went into Jacob’s tent, then Leah’s tent, and then the tents of the two maidservants, but he found nothing. Then he left Leah’s tent and entered Rachel’s tent.
• Genesis 31:34
  Now Rachel had taken the images, and put them in the camel’s furniture, and sat upon them. And Laban searched all the tent, but found them not.Now Rachel had taken Laban’s household idols, put them in the saddlebag of her camel, and was sitting on them. And Laban searched everything in the tent but found nothing.
• Genesis 33:1
  And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids.Now Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming toward him with four hundred men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two maidservants.
• Genesis 33:2
  And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost.He put the maidservants and their children in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph at the rear.
• Genesis 33:7
  And Leah also with her children came near, and bowed themselves: and after came Joseph near and Rachel, and they bowed themselves.Leah and her children also approached and bowed down, and then Joseph and Rachel approached and bowed down.
• Genesis 35:16
  And they journeyed from Beth–el; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour.Later, they set out from Bethel, and while they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel began to give birth, and her labor was difficult.
• Genesis 35:19
  And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Beth–lehem.So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).
• Genesis 35:20
  And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel’s grave unto this day.Jacob set up a pillar on her grave; it marks Rachel’s tomb to this day.
• Genesis 35:24
  The sons of Rachel; Joseph, and Benjamin:The sons of Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin.
• Genesis 35:25
  And the sons of Bilhah, Rachel’s handmaid; Dan, and Naphtali:The sons of Rachel’s maidservant Bilhah were Dan and Naphtali.
• Genesis 46:19
  The sons of Rachel Jacob’s wife; Joseph, and Benjamin.The sons of Jacob’s wife Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin.
• Genesis 46:22
  These are the sons of Rachel, which were born to Jacob: all the souls were fourteen.These are the sons of Rachel born to Jacob—fourteen in all.
• Genesis 46:25
  These are the sons of Bilhah, which Laban gave unto Rachel his daughter, and she bare these unto Jacob: all the souls were seven.These are the sons of Jacob born to Bilhah, whom Laban gave to his daughter Rachel—seven in all.
• Genesis 48:7
  And as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan in the way, when yet there was but a little way to come unto Ephrath: and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath; the same is Beth–lehem.Now as for me, when I was returning from Paddan, to my sorrow Rachel died along the way in the land of Canaan, some distance from Ephrath. So I buried her there beside the road to Ephrath” (that is, Bethlehem).

Ruth

• Ruth 4:11
  And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The Lord make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Beth–lehem:“We are witnesses,” said the elders and all the people at the gate. “May the LORD make the woman entering your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you be prosperous in Ephrathah and famous in Bethlehem.

1 Samuel

• 1 Samuel 10:2
  When thou art departed from me to day, then thou shalt find two men by Rachel’s sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou wentest to seek are found: and, lo, thy father hath left the care of the asses, and sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I do for my son?When you leave me today, you will find two men at Rachel’s tomb in Zelzah on the border of Benjamin. They will say to you, ‘The donkeys you seek have been found, and now your father has stopped worrying about the donkeys and started worrying about you, asking, “What should I do about my son?”’

Jeremiah

• Jeremiah 31:15
  Thus saith the Lord; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not.This is what the LORD says: “A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children, and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”

Matthew

• Matthew 2:18
  In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.“A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”

Notes

1. Names, family links and verses from STEPBible's Translators Individualised Proper Names (TIPNR), STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0.
2. Where several people share a name, which verses belong to which person, and the family links, follow STEPBible's identifications; some are uncertain and are marked so.