Lexical Summary
Bthuw'el: Bethuel
Original Word: בְּתוּאֵל
Part of Speech: proper name, masculine; proper name, of a location
Transliteration: Bthuw'el
Pronunciation: beth-oo-ale'
Phonetic Spelling: (beth-oo-ale')
KJV: Bethuel
Word Origin: [apparently from the same as H1326 (בָּתָה - waste) and H410 (אֵל - God)]
1. destroyed of God
2. Bethuel, the name of a nephew of Abraham, and of a place in Israel
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Bethuel
Apparently from the same as bathah and 'el; destroyed of God; Bethuel, the name of a nephew of Abraham, and of a place in Palestine -- Bethuel. Compare Bthuwl.
see HEBREW bathah
see HEBREW 'el
see HEBREW Bthuwl
Brown-Driver-Briggs
I. (? =
man of God)
Genesis 22:22,23;
Genesis 24:15,24,47,50 (J) son of Nahor, nephew of Abraham, living in Aram-Naharaim, in city of Nahor;
Genesis 25:20;
Genesis 28:2,5 (P) Aramaean of Paddan-Aramaic
II. 1 Chronicles 4:30 = Joshua 19:4; Joshua 15:30; 1 Samuel 30:27 (see above); yet compare LagBN 64; site unknown.
see II. . above
see below , p. 124.
see .
(compare Arabic 👁 Image
sever, separate).
Topical Lexicon
Scriptural OccurrencesGenesis 22:22, Genesis 22:23, Genesis 24:15, Genesis 24:24, Genesis 24:47, Genesis 24:50, Genesis 25:20, Genesis 28:2, Genesis 28:5, 1 Chronicles 4:30.
Genealogical Context
Bethuel is introduced as the eighth son of Nahor (Abraham’s brother) and Milcah (Genesis 22:22–23). Through him come two pivotal figures in Israel’s story: Rebekah, wife of Isaac, and Laban, later the uncle and father-in-law of Jacob. Bethuel thus forms an essential link between the patriarchal family in Canaan and their Aramean relatives in Paddan Aram, a connection that God employs to preserve and advance the covenant line.
Bethuel and the Selection of Rebekah
Genesis 24 records Abraham’s servant seeking a wife for Isaac. The text repeatedly anchors Rebekah’s identity in her father:
• “Before he had finished praying, behold, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah, the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor.” (Genesis 24:15)
Bethuel’s household embodies hospitable faithfulness; they provide water, lodging, and eventually consent to the marriage. Although Laban speaks most, Bethuel’s authority is acknowledged when both men affirm the servant’s request:
• “Then Laban and Bethuel answered, ‘This is from the LORD; we have no choice in the matter.’” (Genesis 24:50)
Through this scene Bethuel becomes a silent but decisive witness to God’s providence, his acquiescence allowing Rebekah to join Isaac and secure the promised lineage.
Interplay with the Covenant Promises
Bethuel’s place in Scripture illustrates how the LORD’s redemptive plan weaves through ordinary family decisions. Rebekah’s union with Isaac leads directly to Jacob, and Jacob’s twelve sons form the tribes of Israel. The Apostle Paul later cites Rebekah when discussing divine election (Romans 9:10–12), underscoring how Bethuel’s family stands at the heart of salvation history.
Descendants and Future Generations
Laban, Bethuel’s son, shelters Jacob and fathers Leah and Rachel. Thus every Israelite traces ancestry to Bethuel through either Jacob and Leah or Jacob and Rachel, making him a patriarchal forebear for the entire nation. By extension, the Messiah comes from the tribe of Judah, descended through Leah; Bethuel’s line therefore contributes to the incarnational arrival of Jesus Christ.
Bethuel in Simeonite Territory
A second use of the name appears among the towns allotted to Simeon after the Conquest:
• “Bethuel, Hormah, Ziklag…” (1 Chronicles 4:30)
This settlement, situated in the Negev of Judah, bears the same name but is unrelated genealogically. Its presence reminds readers that personal names often became place names, commemorating God’s dealings with families and lands alike.
Theological Observations
1. Divine Sovereignty and Human Agency: Bethuel’s free consent coincides with God’s predestined plan, exemplifying the harmonious cooperation of providence and responsible choice.
2. Faith Transmitted Through Generations: Nahor’s household may have lacked full covenant revelation, yet they still recognized “the LORD” (Genesis 24:50). Their acknowledgment shows the spread of patriarchal faith beyond Canaan.
3. Marriage within the Family of Faith: Isaac’s marriage to a woman from Abraham’s kin preserves spiritual identity and foreshadows New Testament exhortations about shared faith in marriage (2 Corinthians 6:14).
Ministerial Reflections
• Parents remain influential in guiding their children toward godly marriages, as Bethuel quietly models.
• God often works through family networks; cultivating Christ-centered households today lays groundwork for future ministry impact.
• Like Bethuel’s town in Simeon, congregations and communities can bear names or memorials that remind succeeding generations of God’s past faithfulness.
Forms and Transliterations
בְּתוּאֵ֖ל בְּתוּאֵֽל׃ בְּתוּאֵל֙ בְתוּאֵ֖ל בתואל בתואל׃ וּבְתוּאֵ֖ל וּבְתוּאֵל֙ וּבִבְתוּאֵ֥ל ובבתואל ובתואל לִבְתוּאֵ֣ל לבתואל bə·ṯū·’êl ḇə·ṯū·’êl bəṯū’êl ḇəṯū’êl betuEl liḇ·ṯū·’êl liḇṯū’êl livtuEl ū·ḇə·ṯū·’êl ū·ḇiḇ·ṯū·’êl ūḇəṯū’êl ūḇiḇṯū’êl uvetuEl uvivtuEl vetuEl
Links
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