Ῥεβέκκα

Rebecca

Definition

Ῥεβέκκα (Rebecca) is the Greek form of the Hebrew name רִבְקָה (Rivqah), referring to the matriarch Rebecca, wife of Isaac and mother of Jacob and Esau. In the New Testament, she is cited exclusively by Paul in Romans 9:10 as a key example in his argument about God's sovereign election. The reference points to the narrative in Genesis 25:21-26, where God's choice of Jacob over Esau was declared before their birth, establishing that divine election is based on God's purpose, not human works. Thus, the name evokes the entire biblical story of Rebecca, highlighting her role in the patriarchal lineage and as an instrument of God's covenantal plan.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the New Testament, in Romans 9:10. Paul employs Rebecca as a specific historical figure to illustrate the principle of God's unconditional election within the covenant family. The context is Paul's theological discourse on Israel's status and God's faithfulness, where he references the Genesis account to show that God's choice (of Jacob over Esau) was made prior to any moral action, underscoring divine sovereignty in salvation history.

Etymology

Derived from the Hebrew name רִבְקָה (Rivqah), meaning 'to tie' or 'to bind,' possibly suggesting beauty or connection. The Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament) transliterated it as Ῥεβέκκα, which was then adopted directly into the New Testament. It is a proper noun with no further Greek morphological derivation, serving as a direct link to the Old Testament figure.

Semantic Range

Rebecca is theologically significant as Paul uses her story to teach the doctrine of divine election and God's sovereign choice in salvation (Romans 9:10-13). Understanding this Greek name connects readers to the Old Testament narrative, emphasizing that God's promises are fulfilled through His purposeful selection, independent of human merit. This enriches Bible reading by showing the continuity between the Testaments and highlighting themes of grace, covenant, and God's mysterious will.

In the original cultural setting, Rebecca was a well-known matriarch from Genesis, revered in Jewish tradition as the wife of Isaac and mother of the Israelite and Edomite nations. Paul's audience, familiar with the Greek Old Testament (Septuagint), would immediately recall her story, including the oracle about her twins (Genesis 25:23). The cultural understanding emphasized her role in the ancestral line, making her a potent example in discussions of lineage and divine promise.

Σάρρα (Sarra, G4564) — Another matriarch, Sarah, wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac, representing an earlier generation of the covenant promise.

Word Details

Scripture References