Rachel’s Tomb — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

Landmark set up by Jacob at the site of Rachel’s grave (Gn 35:19-20) that was still in existence at the time of Samuel (1 Sm 10:2). Two persisting traditions make its original location still questionable. The older tradition locates the tomb near Bethlehem, south of Jerusalem (Gn 35:19; 48:7; Mt 2:18). This option has won the impressive historical support of Josephus, Eusebius, Jerome, Origen, and the Talmudists. A second site is Ephrath (Gn 35:19), which was on the northern border of Benjamin, 10 miles (16.1 kilometers) north of Jerusalem (1 Sm 10:2; Jer 31:15), near ancient Bethel.

Show passage in OET: GEN 35:19–20

OET-RV GEN 35:19

19 Thus Rahel died and was buried on the path to Efrat (which is now called Beyt -Lehem (Bethlehem)).

OET-RV GEN 35:20

20 Ya’akov set up a stone pillar over her grave—that’s the pillar of Rahel’s grave to this day.

OET-LV GEN 35:19

19 And_ Rāḩēl _she _died and_she _was _buried on_the _way _of ʼEfrātāh that is_Bēyt- leḩem.

OET-LV GEN 35:20

20 And_ Yaˊₐqoⱱ/(Jacob) _he _set _up a _pillar over grave _of_her it is_the _pillar _of the _grave _of Rāḩēl until the_day.

Show passage in OET: SA1 10:2

OET-RV SA1 10:2

2 After you leave me today and get back to Benyamite territory, then you’ll see two men near Rahel’s (Rachel’s) tomb in Tseltsah, and they’ll say to you, ‘The donkeys that you went to look for have been found. But, wow, your father has stopped worrying about the donkeys and now he’s worried about you and trying to figure out what he should do.’

OET-LV SA1 10:2

2 When_go_you the_day from_with_me and_you _will _find two _of men near the _grave _of Rāḩēl in_the _territory _of Binyāmīn at_Tselʦaḩ/(Zelzah) and_they _will _say to_you the_she-asses which you _went to_seek they _have _been _found and_BEHOLD/LO/SEE father _of_your he _has _abandoned DOM the _matter(s)_of the _she-asses and_he _is _anxious to/for_you(pl) to_say what will _I _do for_son _of_my.

Show passage in OET: GEN 35:19

OET-RV GEN 35:19

19 Thus Rahel died and was buried on the path to Efrat (which is now called Beyt -Lehem (Bethlehem)).

OET-LV GEN 35:19

19 And_ Rāḩēl _she _died and_she _was _buried on_the _way _of ʼEfrātāh that is_Bēyt- leḩem.

Show passage in OET: GEN 48:7

OET-RV GEN 48:7

7 As for me, when I was coming into Kena’an from Padan, Rahel (Rachel) died beside on the way when we were still quite some distance from Efrat, and I buried her there beside the road of Efrat (which is Beyt -Lehem (Bethlehem)).”

OET-LV GEN 48:7

7 And_I when_came_I from_Paddan she _died on_me Rāḩēl in_land of _Kənaˊan/(Canaan) on_journey at_yet a _distance _of land to_go ʼEfrātāh and_I_buried _her there on_the _journey _of ʼEfrāt that is_Bēyt- leḩem.

Show passage in OET: MAT 2:18

OET-RV MAT 2:18

18 The sound of terrible weeping and mourning was heard in Ramah;
⇔ Rahel (Rachel) weeping for her children, and she didn’t want to be comforted,
⇔ because her children were no more.

OET-LV MAT 2:18

18 A_voice in Ɽama/(Rāmāh) was _heard, weeping and great mourning, Ɽaⱪaʸl/(Rāḩēl) weeping for _the children of _her, and was_ not _wanting to _be _comforted, because they _are not.

Show passage in OET: JER 31:15

OET-RV JER 31:15

15 Yahweh says this,
⇔ “A voice is heard in Ramah, wailing,
⇔ bitter weeping.
⇔ Rahel (Rachel) is weeping over her sons.
⇔ She refuses to be comforted over her sons,
⇔ because he is no more.”

OET-LV JER 31:15

15 Thus YHWH he _says a _voice in_Rāmāh is_heard a _wailing weeping _of bitterness(es) Rāḩēl is_weeping on her/its_sons/descendants she _has _refused to_be _comforted on her/its_sons/descendants if/because he_is_not.

Jump to OET GEN 35:19–20 section.

Jump to OET SA1 10:2 section.

Jump to OET GEN 35:19 section.

Jump to OET GEN 48:7 section.

Jump to OET MAT 2:18 section.

Jump to OET JER 31:15 section.

Rachel’s tomb is the first recorded instance in the Bible of a sepulchral monument. A picture of the tomb is a common decorative piece in Jewish homes throughout the world.