Bethuel בְּתוּאֵל
Father of Rebekah, Isaac's wife
Who is Bethuel in the Bible?
Bethuel was the son of Nahor and Milcah, making him a member of Abraham's extended family in Paddan-aram (Genesis 22:22-23). He is best known as the father of Rebekah, who became the wife of Isaac and thus a crucial link in the covenant line (Genesis 24:15, 24). When Abraham's servant was sent to find a wife for Isaac, he encountered Rebekah at a well, and Bethuel, along with his son Laban, consented to the marriage arrangement (Genesis 24:50-51). Bethuel's significance lies in his role as the father of Rebekah, whose marriage to Isaac ensured the continuation of God's promise to Abraham that his descendants would inherit the covenant blessings (Genesis 25:20, 28:2-5). Though he appears only briefly in the biblical narrative, Bethuel represents the fulfillment of God's purpose to preserve the family line through which Christ would eventually come.
Biography
Bethuel was the son of Nahor, Abraham's brother, and Milcah, the daughter of Haran (Gen. 22:22-23). He lived in Paddan-aram, the region where Abraham's family originated. Bethuel was the father of Rebekah, who became the wife of Isaac, Abraham's son (Gen. 24:15, 24, 47). When Abraham's servant was sent to find a wife for Isaac, he was led to Rebekah, and Bethuel, along with his son Laban, agreed to the marriage (Gen. 24:50-51). Bethuel's lineage is significant, as it demonstrates the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham that his descendants would come from his own family line (Gen. 17:4-7). Rebekah's marriage to Isaac ensured the continuation of the covenant promise through the next generation (Gen. 25:20; 28:2, 5).
Family
Parents
Siblings
- Uz Early PatriarchGrandson of ShemSon of Aram, grandson of ShemView full profile →
- Buz Tribe of GadFather of JahdoDescendant of Gad, son of AbdielView full profile →
- Kemuel MaleFather of HashabiahA Levite leader during David's reignView full profile →
- Chesed Early PatriarchSon of NahorSon of Nahor, Abraham's nephewView full profile →
- Hazo Early PatriarchSon of NahorA son of Nahor, Abraham's brother.View full profile →
- Pildash Early PatriarchSon of NahorNephew of AbrahamView full profile →
- Jidlaph Early PatriarchSon of NahorSon of Nahor and MilcahView full profile →
- Tebah Early PatriarchSon of NahorSon of Nahor and ReumahView full profile →
- Gaham Early PatriarchSon of NahorSon of Nahor and Reumah.View full profile →
- Tahash Early PatriarchSon of NahorSon of Nahor and ReumahView full profile →
- Maacah MaleFather of warriorFather of Hanan, one of David's mighty menView full profile →
In Scripture
1 biblical book ; 1 with study contentGenesis 5 verses
- Genesis 22:22
"Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel.”"
Study Genesis → - Genesis 22:23
"And Bethuel became the father of Rebekah. Milcah bore these eight sons to Abraham’s brother Nahor."
Study Genesis → - Genesis 24:15
"Before the servant had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah, the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor."
Study Genesis → - Genesis 24:24
"She replied, “I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son that Milcah bore to Nahor.”"
Study Genesis → - Genesis 24:47
"Then I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She replied, ‘The daughter of Bethuel son of Nahor, whom Milcah bore to him.’ So I put the ring on her nose and the bracelets on her wrists."
Study Genesis →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | בְּתוּאֵל |
Bethuel (1)
sRef="Bible:Gen.24.24">24,47,50; 25:20; 28:2,5). In the last-named passage, he is surnamed "the Syrian." The only place where he appears as a leading character in the narrative is in connection with Rebekah's betrothal to Isaac; and even here, his son Laban stands out more prominently than he--a fact explainable on the ground of the custom which recognized the right of the brother to take a special interest in the welfare of the sister (compare Ge 34:5,21,25; 2Sa 13:20,22). Ant, I, xvi, 2 states that Bethuel was dead at this time.
Frank E. Hirsch
be-thu'-el, beth'-u-el (bethu'el, "destroyed of God"): A town of Simeon (1Ch 4:30), the same as Bethul (Jos 19:4), and, probably, as the Be