Rachael

Rachael is another English spelling of the Hebrew Rachel (probably inspired by Michael). The name Rachel is borne from the Hebrew Bible and Christian Old Testament; coming from a Hebrew word meaning “ewe”. We are introduced to Rachel as the strikingly beautiful shepherdess in Genesis 29:1-30. The second Jacob laid eyes on her, it was love at first sight. In order to gain Rachel’s hand in marriage, Jacob was first required to labor seven years for her father, Laban. At the end of seven years, however, Laban tricked Jacob into marrying Rachel’s older sister Leah first. In order to win Rachel’s hand (again) Jacob had to put in another seven years work for Laban. This time, Laban keeps his promise and Rachel becomes Jacob’s second wife (also his favorite). Poor Leah was nowhere near as pretty as her sister Rachel, but she was one fertile lady who bore Jacob several sons (Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar and Zebulun). Rachel on the other hand had a terrible time conceiving (which in Biblical times was a great source of shame). The Lord finally takes pity on Rachel and so she finally conceives and bears Jacob two of his twelve sons (i.e., the Twelve Tribes of Israel). Her first son is Joseph who, like his mother, became Jacob’s favorite son and to whom he gave a “coat of many colors”. Sadly, Rachel died in childbirth while delivering her second son (Benjamin) whom she named “Ben-oni” or “son of my sorrow”. Jacob later changed the boy’s name to Benjamin (“son of my old age”), undoing the unfortunate stigma left by his mother. Traditionally, Rachel has always been considered a Jewish name given her status as the favorite wife of Jacob and the mother of Joseph and Benjamin. Then the Puritans adopted the name Rachel during the Reformation and it eventually spread among Gentiles, as well. Rachael is the much, much less popular spelling of Rachel but it is in circulation among English-speaking countries.