fem. proper name, biblical wife of Isaac, mother of Jacob and Esau, from Late Latin Rebecca, from Greek Rhebekka, from Hebrew Ribhqeh, literally "connection" (compare ribhqah "team"), from Semitic base r-b-q "to tie, couple, join" (compare Arabic rabaqa "he tied fast"). Rebekah, the form of the name in the Authorized Version, was taken as the name of a society of women (founded 1851 in Indiana, U.S.) as a complement to the Odd Fellows.

small medieval three-stringed musical instrument with a pear-shaped sound box, played with a bow, early 15c., rebekke, from Old French rebec (15c.), an unexplained alteration (perhaps somehow influenced by bec "beak") of ribabe (13c.), which is ultimately from Arabic rebab.

Compare Old Provençal rebec, also, with random alterations, Middle English ribibe (c. 1400), ribible (early 14c.), Italian ribeca, ribebla, Portuguese arrabil, Spanish rabel. The same word also was used disparagingly for "old woman, crone," but the connection is unclear and it might involve the name Rebecca.

masc. proper name; Old Testament patriarch, son of Isaac and Rebecca and father of the founders of the twelve tribes, from Late Latin Iacobus, from Greek Iakobos, from Hebrew Ya'aqobh, literally "one that takes by the heel; a supplanter" (Genesis xxv.26), a derivative of 'aqebh "heel."

In Spanish as Jago, Iago, also Diego; with alterations as Italian Giacomo, James, and (contracted) Spanish Jaime. Old French Jacques is from a diminutive of Iacobus (see Jack). The most popular name for boys born in the U.S. from 1999 through 2008. Jacob's ladder, in various transferred uses is attested by 1733, is from Genesis xxviii.12.

biblical son of Isaac and Rebecca, elder twin who sold his birthright to his brother Jacob for "a mess of pottage" (Genesis xxv), hence "used symbolically for: one who prefers present advantage to permanent rights or interests" [OED].