"So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her. … Then God remembered Rachel; he listened to her and enabled her to conceive. … This is what the Lord says: "A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.""
— Genesis 29:20; 30:22; Jeremiah 31:15 (NIV)
People who search bible verses about Rachel want Scripture on Rachel — the shepherdess Jacob met at the well, served seven years for that "seemed like only a few days," who waited for children, was remembered by God, gave birth to Joseph and Benjamin, and is pictured weeping for her children in Jeremiah — not only love alone. This page is a numbered list of twelve passages with the NIV text and a short note on each. Related lists: Bible verses about Jacob, Bible verses about Joseph, Bible verses about love, Bible verses about waiting, Bible verses about jealousy, Bible verses about sisters, Bible verses about mourning, Bible verses about hope, and Bible verse of the day. Rachel here means the daughter of Laban and wife of Jacob — distinct from generic love lists.
Word study (lead theme). In Hebrew, רָחֵל Rachel (Strong's H7354; Bible Hub H7354) — Rachel, from the word for "ewe." She first appears in Genesis 29 coming with her father's sheep. This list tracks that Rachel inventory — not a love-alone twelve.
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Genesis 29 dwells on Jacob's meeting with Rachel at the well and the years of service that followed (Bible Hub MHC Genesis 29; Blue Letter Bible, Matthew Henry on Genesis 29). (Love and waiting pages live elsewhere; this list centers Rachel the woman.)
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12 Bible verses about Rachel
Genesis 29:9-11. "While he was still talking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she was a shepherd. When Jacob saw Rachel daughter of his uncle Laban, and Laban's sheep, he went over and rolled the stone away from the mouth of the well and watered his uncle's sheep. Then Jacob kissed Rachel and began to weep aloud." At the well — a shepherdess. See Bible verses about Jacob.
Genesis 29:18. "Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, "I'll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel."" Seven years offered.
Genesis 29:20. "So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her." Only a few days — because of love. See Bible verses about love.
Genesis 29:30. "Jacob made love to Rachel also, and his love for Rachel was greater than his love for Leah. And he worked for Laban another seven years." Fourteen years in all.
Genesis 30:1. "When Rachel saw that she was not bearing Jacob any children, she became jealous of her sister. So she said to Jacob, "Give me children, or I'll die!"" Jealous of her sister. See Bible verses about jealousy and Bible verses about sisters.
Genesis 30:22-24. "Then God remembered Rachel; he listened to her and enabled her to conceive. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son and said, "God has taken away my disgrace." She named him Joseph, and said, "May the Lord add to me another son."" God remembered Rachel. See Bible verses about waiting and Bible verses about Joseph.
Genesis 35:18. "As she breathed her last—for she was dying—she named her son Ben-Oni. But his father named him Benjamin." Ben-Oni renamed Benjamin.
Genesis 35:19-20. "So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). Over her tomb Jacob set up a pillar, and to this day that pillar marks Rachel's tomb." Buried on the way to Bethlehem. See Bible verses about mourning.
Ruth 4:11. "Then the elders and all the people at the gate said, "We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the family of Israel."" Rachel and Leah — the family of Israel. See Bible verses about Ruth.
Jeremiah 31:15. "This is what the Lord says: "A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more."" Rachel weeping for her children.
Jeremiah 31:16-17. "This is what the Lord says: "Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for your work will be rewarded," declares the Lord. "They will return from the land of the enemy. So there is hope for your descendants," declares the Lord. "Your children will return to their own land."" There is hope. See Bible verses about hope.
Matthew 2:18. "A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more." Matthew quotes Jeremiah at Bethlehem.
How to use these verses
Pick one verse when you need Rachel — not twelve as a grind. If you are reading about love that waits, start at Genesis 29:18–20. If you are struggling with comparison, open Genesis 30:1. If you have waited long for an answer, open Genesis 30:22–24. If you are grieving, open Jeremiah 31:15–17. For love in general, open Bible verses about love. For her husband's story, open Bible verses about Jacob. For a daily verse, open Bible verse of the day.
Questions people ask
What is a good Bible verse about Rachel?
Genesis 29:20 — seven years "seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her" — is the clear starting place; Genesis 30:22 says "God remembered Rachel."
How long did Jacob work for Rachel?
Fourteen years. He served seven years for her (Genesis 29:20), was given Leah instead, and then worked another seven years (Genesis 29:30).
What Hebrew word sits under Rachel?
Rachel (H7354) — Rachel, from the word for "ewe."
Who were Rachel's sons?
Joseph (Genesis 30:22–24) and Benjamin, whom she named Ben-Oni as she was dying (Genesis 35:18).
What does "Rachel weeping for her children" mean?
In Jeremiah 31:15 the prophet pictures Rachel mourning her descendants taken away, and the Lord answers in 31:16–17 that "there is hope." Matthew 2:18 quotes the verse at Bethlehem.
