Rebekah - as a chosen agent of God

Celarc, Matjaž (author)

This paper examines the character of Rebekah within the biblical narrative, highlighting her role as a pivotal agent in the fulfilment of the Abrahamic covenant. Through a close reading of the Genesis texts, particularly the Jacob cycle (Gen 24–27), this article explores how Rebekah, despite appearing marginalized by her cultural context, exerts significant influence over the transmission of the divine blessing. The analysis focuses on the narrative structure, Rebekah’s characterization, and her unique relationship with God, which enables her to navigate complex familial dynamics and ensure the continuation of God’s plan through her son Jacob. Additionally, the paper discusses the typological connections between Rebekah and Abraham, as well as the broader implications of her story in Christian theology, especially in relation to divine election as articulated by Paul in Romans 9. Rebekah’s narrative is thus presented as a profound example of the interplay between divine sovereignty and human agency, demonstrating how Rebekah plays a crucial role in the fulfilment of covenantal promises.

• Language: English
• Keywords: Rebekah, human agency, divine sovereignty and election, typology
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: TEOF - Theological Faculty
• Publication status: In print
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2024
• Number of pages: Str. 459-474
• Numbering: št. 3, 2024
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-166248
• UDC: 27-277-242
• ISSN on article: 0006-5722
• DOI: 10.34291/BV2024/03/Celarc
• COBISS.SI-ID: 220493571
• Publication date in RUL: 30.12.2024

CELARC, Matjaž, 2024, Rebekah - as a chosen agent of God. Bogoslovni vestnik : glasilo Teološke fakultete v Ljubljani [online]. 2024. Vol. 3, no. 2024, p. 459–474. [Accessed 13 March 2025]. DOI 10.34291/BV2024/03/Celarc. Retrieved from: https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/IzpisGradiva.php?lang=eng&id=166248

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Bogoslovni vestnik : glasilo Teološke fakultete v Ljubljani
• Shortened title: Bogosl. vestn.
• Publisher: Teološka fakulteta
• ISSN: 0006-5722
• COBISS.SI-ID: 8745472

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Rebeka - kot izvoljena Božja predstavnica

Abstract

Članek obravnava lik Rebeke v svetopisemski pripovedi in izpostavlja njeno vlogo osrednjega akterja pri izpolnitvi Abrahamove zaveze. Z natančnim branjem besedil prve Mojzesove knjige, zlasti Jakobovega cikla (1 Mz 24–27), ta članek raziskuje, kako ima Rebeka kljub temu, da se zdi v svojem kulturnem kontekstu marginalizirana, pomemben vpliv na prenos Božjega blagoslova. Analiza se osredotoča na pripovedno strukturo, Rebekino karakterizacijo in njen edinstven odnos z Bogom, ki ji omogoča, da se znajde v zapleteni družinski dinamiki in zagotovi nadaljevanje Božjega načrta prek svojega sina Jakoba. Poleg tega članek obravnava tipološke povezave med Rebeko in Abrahamom ter širše posledice njene zgodbe v krščanski teologiji, zlasti v povezavi z izvolitvijo, kot jo Pavel izrazi v Rim 9. Rebekina pripoved je tako predstavljena kot globok primer prepletanja med Božjo suverenostjo in človeškim delovanjem, le–ta prikazuje, kako ima Rebeka ključno vlogo pri izpolnitvi obljub zaveze.

• Keywords: Rebeka, človeško delovanje, božja suverenost in izvolitev, tipologija

Projects

• Funder: ARIS - Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency
• Project number: P6-0262
• Name: Vrednote v judovsko-krščanskih virih in tradiciji ter možnosti dialoga

• Funder: ARIS - Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency
• Project number: J6-50212
• Name: Moč čustev in status ženskih likov v različnih literarnih žanrih Stare zaveze