Deborah, Rebekah's Nurse
A person in the Bible. Also called Deborah the nurse, Rebekah's nurse, Deborah (Genesis 35:8).
| Classification | Biblical figure |
|---|---|
| Era | Patriarchal period (dating varies among scholars) |
| Related Figures | Rebekah, Jacob, Isaac |
| Biblical References | Genesis 35:8 (many identify her with the unnamed nurse of Genesis 24:59) |
Deborah, Rebekah's nurse, is a figure in the Book of Genesis who died while Jacob's household was staying at Bethel. She was buried beneath an oak below Bethel, and the tree was named Allon-bachuth.
About this articleAI draft from a Korean source. Notes on Korean Protestant practice. No sources listed. Not yet reviewed by a person.
- Origin
Drafted by AI from the Korean church.wiki article, then translated and adapted for English readers on 5 November 2026.
- Perspective
Includes notes on Korean Protestant practice; other traditions are noted where they differ.
- Sources
None listed yet. The article draws on the biblical text and general reference works. Add a source
- Review
Not yet reviewed by a person. Last edited by a person: never. Translation updated 5 November 2026. Edit history
Biblical Record
She is named in only one passage, Genesis 35:8. At God's command, Jacob went up to Bethel and built an altar there. The verse comes immediately after the account of his naming the place "El-beth-el" ("the God of Bethel"). It reads: "But Deborah Rebekah's nurse died, and she was buried beneath Bethel under an oak: and the name of it was called Allonbachuth." The name Allon-bachuth is generally understood to mean "oak of weeping" in Hebrew. A nurse was a woman who suckled or cared for the children of the household she served.
Genesis 24:59 records that when Rebekah left home to marry Isaac, her family sent "her nurse" with her. This nurse is not named.
Significance Within Scripture
The patriarchal narratives seldom record the death and burial place of a servant or nurse. For this reason, the verse is often read as evidence that Deborah was treated almost as a member of Jacob's family. The naming of the site for "weeping" after her burial likewise suggests the depth of the household's grief. The same chapter goes on to record the death of Rachel (Genesis 35:16-20) and the death of Isaac (Genesis 35:28-29) in close succession, and chapter 35 is therefore sometimes read as marking a transition between generations in Jacob's family. The New Testament does not mention her.
Interpretations and Debated Questions
- Is she the same nurse as in Genesis 24? Many commentators identify the nurse who departed with Rebekah as Deborah. Because the text does not explicitly connect the two accounts, however, this identification remains an inference.
- Why was she with Jacob's household? Scripture does not say how a nurse who had served Rebekah came to be among Jacob's company. Suggestions that she came to Jacob after Rebekah's death, or that Jacob brought her with him, are conjectural.
- Connection to Rebekah's death: The Bible does not record Rebekah's death. Some strands of Jewish midrash (rabbinic interpretation of Scripture) are reported to interpret this "weeping" as also encompassing mourning over news of Rebekah's death. This interpretation lies outside the biblical text.
- Distinction from the other Deborah: She is a different person from Deborah, the prophetess and judge of Judges 4–5.
Perspective: Korean Protestant practiceHow this figure is used in Korean churches, kept from the original Korean article.
In Korean Protestant churches, she is not a figure often addressed in sermons or Sunday school. When she is mentioned, she is usually treated briefly within the passage about Jacob's return to Bethel. To avoid confusion with Deborah the judge, Korean churches commonly refer to her specifically as "Deborah, Rebekah's nurse."
See also 7
Is there a problem with this article? Report it
Log in to report. Reports are reviewed within 24 hours.
Discussion 0
Share corrections, other viewpoints or questions about this article.