Rachel

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The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Table of Contents Quick Facts Notable Family Members: spouse Jacob sister Leah (Show more)

Rachel, in Genesis, the first book of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), one of the two wives of the patriarch Jacob. Forced to serve Rachel’s father, Laban, for seven years to win her, Jacob was tricked at the end of that time into marrying her sister, Leah. He was then allowed to marry Rachel as well, in return for seven more years of labour. At first childless, Rachel eventually gave birth to Joseph and died giving birth to Benjamin.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Alison Kendall.