What is the significance of Rehoboth in the Bible?

Rehoboth is a location or place name meaning “broad places,” “spacious place,” “plaza,” or “room.” The Hebrew literally means “the wide spaces of the city.” The Bible mentions Rehoboth in four passages (Genesis 10:11; 26:22; 36:37; and 1 Chronicles 1:48).

Rehoboth-Ir

The first reference to Rehoboth, in Genesis 10, is Rehoboth-Ir, a town associated with Cush’s son Nimrod, a descendant of Noah through his son Ham. Nimrod built many cities, including Rehoboth-Ir: “Cush was also the ancestor of Nimrod, who was the first heroic warrior on earth. Since he was the greatest hunter in the world, his name became proverbial. People would say, ‘This man is like Nimrod, the greatest hunter in the world.’ He built his kingdom in the land of Babylonia, with the cities of Babylon, Erech, Akkad, and Calneh. From there he expanded his territory to Assyria, building the cities of Nineveh, Rehoboth-ir, Calah, and Resen (the great city located between Nineveh and Calah)” (Genesis 10:8–12, NLT).

Rehoboth-Ir was situated somewhere in Assyria, either between Nineveh and Calah or, more likely, as part of Ninevah. Ninevah was gigantic—“a city so large that it took three days to see it all” (Jonah 3:3, NLT). Since Rehoboth-Ir is not mentioned anywhere in Assyrian historical literature, it’s possible that it referred to a separate, open area on the outskirts or suburbs of Nineveh. It’s also possible that Rehoboth-Ir was an expansive space, broad street, or wide-open plaza within Ninevah proper.

Rehoboth of Isaac’s Well

The next mention of Rehoboth is in Genesis 26, in the context of Isaac’s story As Isaac the son of Abraham became a wealthy man, he encountered disputes over water wells with the Philistines, who were jealous of him. Eventually, King Abimelech ordered Isaac to leave the country. So, Isaac moved to the vast open space of the Gerar Valley in the Negeb, where he set up tents and settled down. Here, Isaac was eventually able to dig a well that no one fought over: “So Isaac named the place Rehoboth (which means ‘open space’), for he said, ‘At last the Lord has created enough space for us to prosper in this land’” (Genesis 26:22, NLT).

The naming of that area represented divine provision for God’s people. The name Rehoboth affirmed that God had made room for Abraham’s descendants and provided them with a peaceful place to dwell without conflict in Canann. Some biblical archeologists pinpoint this well’s location in the valley of Gerar, near Esek and Sitnah and probably about 20 miles southwest of Beersheba.

Rehoboth on the River

The last two citations of Rehoboth in the Bible are regarding an Edomite city (Genesis 36:37; 1 Chronicles 1:48). Scripture distinguishes this city as “Rehoboth on the river” (NIV, KJV, NLT), with some translations identifying it as “Rehoboth on the Euphrates River” (ESV, NASB, CSB). This Rehoboth was the hometown of the Edomite ruler Shaul. A vast distance separates Edom and the Euphrates, and many scholars doubt the likelihood of Edomite control extending all the way to the Euphrates River. Therefore, some suggest the principal stream in Edom, named Zered Brook (Wâdī er-Riḥāb), as a more probable site for Rehoboth on the River.

The exact locations of Rehoboth-Ir, Rehoboth of Isaac’s well, and Rehoboth on the River are all undetermined. However, the primary significance of the name Rehoboth in the Bible indicates God’s faithfulness in caring for His people and keeping His promises.