Ῥαχήλ (Rhachēl)
Rhachēl
Rachel
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The name Rhachēl, derived from the Hebrew for "ewe" or "sheep," appears in the New Testament only once, in Matthew 2:18. It refers to Rachel, the beloved wife of Jacob and mother of Joseph and Benjamin, whose story is a central part of Israel’s patriarchal history.
Matthew cites her name while quoting Jeremiah 31:15 to describe the weeping mothers in Ramah after Herod’s massacre of the infants. By invoking Rachel, the Gospel writer connects the ancient grief of the matriarch, who died near Bethlehem and was buried on the way to Ephrath, with the contemporary tragedy under Roman rule.
This single reference serves as a poignant theological bridge. It reminds readers that the suffering of God’s people is not new, yet it also points toward the hope promised in Jeremiah: that Rachel will cease weeping because there is hope for her offspring. The name thus carries both the weight of historical sorrow and the promise of future restoration.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Rachel appears in the New Testament within a scene of profound sorrow. In Matthew’s Gospel, we find her mentioned during the tragic events surrounding Herod’s cruelty. This reference connects the ancient matriarch to the pain of mothers living under Roman rule. It shows that grief is not something God ignores or fails to see.
Yet this mention carries more than just sadness. The story behind it points toward a future where tears are wiped away. For those who feel overwhelmed by loss, this word reminds us that our suffering is held within a larger history of faith. We are not alone in our pain, and there is hope beyond the current darkness.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Rachel1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- Ῥαχὴλ1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 2:18
“A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; she wouldn’t be comforted, because they are no more.”
This verse uses Rachel’s name to link ancient patriarchal history with the immediate tragedy of Herod’s massacre, showing how God remembers the grief of His people across generations.