the same as רָחֵל; Rachel, a wife of Jacob; Rachel.
Transliteration:Râchêl
Pronunciation:raw-khale'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The name רָחֵל (Râchêl, `{{H7354}}`) is a proper noun, identifying a specific individual: Rachel, one of the matriarchs of Israel. It is directly derived from the common Hebrew noun רָחֵל (rachel, `{{H7353}}`), which means "ewe" or "female sheep." Therefore, the core meaning of the name Rachel evokes imagery associated with a ewe: gentleness, beauty, purity, and, ironically given her initial barrenness, potential for fruitfulness. As a proper noun, its semantic range is fixed to this specific historical personage, though her life story imbues the name with profound theological and symbolic layers.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
Rachel is a central figure in the patriarchal narratives of Genesis, particularly in the life of Jacob. Her introduction occurs in [[Genesis 29:6]], where Jacob first encounters her. Key occurrences and their contexts include:
* **Jacob's Love and Labor:** Jacob's deep love for Rachel is immediately evident, leading him to serve Laban for fourteen years to marry her ([[Genesis 29:18-30]]). This intense devotion sets the stage for much of the family drama.
* **Barrenness and Rivalry:** Rachel's initial barrenness is a significant theme, causing her great distress and creating intense rivalry with her fertile sister, Leah ([[Genesis 30:1, 30:7-8]]). Her desperate plea, "Give me children, or I shall die!" ([[Genesis 30:1]]), underscores her anguish and the cultural importance of childbearing.
* **The Birth of Joseph:** After years of waiting and prayer, God "remembered Rachel" and opened her womb, leading to the birth of Joseph ([[Genesis 30:22-24]]). This miraculous intervention highlights divine sovereignty over human circumstances.
* **The Teraphim Incident:** Rachel's theft of Laban's household gods (teraphim) before Jacob's departure from Haran ([[Genesis 31:19, 31:34-35]]) adds complexity to her character, perhaps indicating a desire to secure inheritance rights or a lingering connection to her family's pagan practices.
* **Death and Burial:** Rachel tragically dies giving birth to her second son, Benjamin, near Bethlehem ([[Genesis 35:16-19]]). Her final act is naming him Ben-oni ("son of my sorrow"), a name Jacob changes to Benjamin ("son of my right hand"). Her tomb becomes a significant landmark, a "pillar upon Rachel's grave" ([[Genesis 35:20]]).
* **Prophetic Significance:** Centuries later, Rachel is invoked as a symbolic figure of maternal grief in [[Jeremiah 31:15]], weeping for her exiled children. This prophecy is famously quoted in [[Matthew 2:18]] to describe the lament over Herod's slaughter of the innocents in Bethlehem, linking Rachel's historical sorrow to a profound redemptive event.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **`{{H7353}}` רָחֵל (rachel):** The common noun for "ewe," the direct root of the name. This connection emphasizes the poignant irony of her struggle with barrenness.
* **`{{H3290}}` יַעֲקֹב (Ya'aqov):** Jacob, her husband, whose life and family structure are deeply intertwined with his love for Rachel.
* **`{{H3130}}` יוֹסֵף (Yoseph) & `{{H1121}}` בִּנְיָמִין (Binyamin):** Her two sons, Joseph and Benjamin, who become central figures in the unfolding history of Israel.
* **Barrenness and Divine Intervention:** Rachel's story is one of several biblical narratives (e.g., Sarah, Rebekah, Hannah) that highlight the theme of barrenness overcome by God's miraculous intervention, underscoring His power and faithfulness in fulfilling covenant promises.
* **Covenant Promises:** Despite personal struggles and family strife, Rachel's life contributes to the fulfillment of God's covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob regarding numerous descendants and the formation of a great nation.
### Theological Significance
Rachel's narrative is rich with theological import. Her initial barrenness and subsequent miraculous conception of Joseph powerfully demonstrate God's sovereignty over human limitations, revealing His capacity to open the womb and fulfill His promises of a numerous offspring, even when human efforts fail ([[Genesis 30:22]]). Her life, marked by deep longing, rivalry, and eventual triumph, showcases the complexities of human relationships within God's overarching redemptive plan. The divine election often works through imperfect human vessels and challenging circumstances.
Furthermore, Rachel's transformation into a prophetic archetype in [[Jeremiah 31:15]] is profoundly significant. Her weeping for her children, initially symbolizing the sorrow of exile, is reinterpreted in [[Matthew 2:18]] as a lament for the innocent lives lost in Bethlehem. This elevates her beyond a mere historical figure, making her an enduring symbol of maternal grief and suffering, yet within a context that ultimately points to divine comfort, restoration, and the unfolding of God's redemptive purposes through Christ. Her death during childbirth, naming her son "Ben-oni," also foreshadows the pain and sacrifice inherent in the lineage leading to the Messiah.
### Summary
The Hebrew name רָחֵל (Râchêl, `{{H7354}}`), meaning "ewe," designates Rachel, Jacob's beloved wife and the mother of Joseph and Benjamin. Her life, as detailed in Genesis, is a profound narrative of divine faithfulness amidst human struggle. Initially marked by barrenness and intense rivalry with her sister Leah, Rachel's story culminates in God's miraculous intervention, opening her womb to fulfill the covenant promise of descendants. Her death during Benjamin's birth, and her final naming of him "Ben-oni," underscores the themes of sorrow and sacrifice inherent in the lineage of promise. Later, Rachel transcends her historical persona, becoming a powerful prophetic symbol in [[Jeremiah 31:15]] and [[Matthew 2:18]], representing maternal grief over suffering and loss, yet ultimately pointing to the hope of divine comfort and restoration within God's sovereign plan for His people.
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