Who Was Rachel in the Bible — Meaning Explained

Rachel was the beautiful younger daughter of Laban, whom Jacob loved at first sight. He served seven years for her, 'which seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.' On their wedding night, Laban deceived Jacob by substituting Leah, so Jacob served another seven years for Rachel. For years Rachel was barren while Leah bore many children. In her jealousy, Rachel gave her maid Bilhah to Jacob as a surrogate and later did the same with her maid Zilpah. Finally God remembered Rachel, and she bore Joseph — 'God hath taken away my reproach.' Years later, on the journey to Bethlehem, Rachel died giving birth to Benjamin, whom she named Ben-oni ('son of my sorrow'). Jacob renamed him Benjamin ('son of my right hand'). Rachel was buried near Bethlehem, and her tomb became a landmark. She was the ancestress of the two tribes — Ephraim and Manasseh through Joseph, and Benjamin — and her tomb is still visited today.