Brief Overview of Ῥεβέκκα (Strong’s G4479: Rhebekka)

Strong’s G4479: A proper noun of Hebrew origin (רִבְקָה), meaning “ensnarer” or “captivating,” referring to Rebekah, wife of Isaac and mother of Jacob and Esau. In the New Testament, Paul uses her story to illustrate God’s sovereign choice and the doctrine of election through the twins she bore.

U- Unveiling the Word

Ῥεβέκκα carries significant theological weight in both Old and New Testament contexts. In the New Testament, Paul specifically references her story to illustrate divine sovereignty in salvation. Her pregnancy with twins becomes a powerful metaphor for God’s elective purposes, demonstrating that His choices are not based on human merit or works. Early church fathers, including Augustine and Chrysostom, frequently used her story to discuss predestination, divine sovereignty, and human responsibility. Today, her narrative continues to illuminate discussions about God’s sovereign choices and their implications for salvation history.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: Ῥεβέκκα, Rhebekka, /hreh-bek-kah/
• Detailed pronunciation: hreh-BEK-kah (with emphasis on second syllable)
• Part of Speech: Proper Noun (feminine)

Etymology:

• Hebrew origin: רִבְקָה (ribqah)
• Root connected to the concept of “tying” or “securing”
• Transliterated into Greek with rough breathing mark (Ῥ) representing Hebrew ר (resh)

D – Defining Meanings

• The proper name of Isaac’s wife
• A biblical example of divine election
• A matriarch of Israel

For compound words:
This is not a compound word, but a transliteration from Hebrew.

Translation Options:

• “Rebekah” – standard English transliteration
• “Rebecca” – common alternative English spelling
• “Rhebekka” – closer to Greek pronunciation

E – Exploring Similar Words

• διδυμος (didymos) /did-oo-mos/ – meaning “twin,” referring to her twin sons
  See G1324
• ἐκλογή (eklogē) /ek-log-ay/ – meaning “election,” associated with her story in Romans
  See G1589

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Morphological features as a proper noun:

• Case: Nominative, Genitive, Dative, Accusative
• Number: Singular only (as a proper name)
• Gender: Feminine
• Indeclinable (remains unchanged in different cases)

Being a proper noun of Hebrew origin, Ῥεβέκκα is indeclinable in Greek, maintaining the same form regardless of its grammatical function.

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG identifies Ῥεβέκκα as Isaac’s wife and connects her to Paul’s theological argument in Romans. Thayer’s emphasizes her role in salvation history. LSJ notes the Hebrew origin of the name. Vine’s highlights her significance in Paul’s discussion of divine election. Strong’s connects her name to the concept of “ensnaring by beauty.” Moulton and Milligan note the name’s usage in early Christian literature discussing God’s sovereign choice.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
“And not only so, but also when [Ῥεβέκκα] Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac,” Romans 9:10

Additional References:
None in the New Testament

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

Ῥεβέκκα stands as a powerful testament to God’s sovereign work in salvation history. Her story, particularly as used by Paul, proclaims the good news that salvation depends not on human effort or merit but on God’s gracious choice. Through her narrative, we see that King Jesus’s kingdom advances not by human will or exertion, but by God’s mercy, demonstrating that our salvation rests securely in His sovereign purposes.

D – Did You Know?

1. Rebekah’s name appears in ancient Jewish marriage blessings, symbolizing an ideal wife.
2. Early Christian writers often saw in Rebekah’s deception of Isaac a type of divine providence working through human means.
3. Her story influenced early Christian discussions about the relationship between divine sovereignty and human responsibility.

Strong’s G4479: A proper noun of Hebrew origin (רִבְקָה), meaning “ensnarer” or “captivating,” referring to Rebekah, wife of Isaac and mother of Jacob and Esau. In the New Testament, Paul uses her story to illustrate God’s sovereign choice and the doctrine of election through the twins she bore.

Part of speech: Proper Noun (feminine)

Tags: Rebekah, Isaac’s wife, divine election, sovereignty, twins, Jacob and Esau, matriarch, Romans, Paul’s theology, predestination, salvation history, God’s choice​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​