And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them.
GENESIS 24:60KJVWhat does Genesis 24:60 mean?
Genesis 24:60 records Rebekah’s family blessing her as she leaves to marry Isaac, wishing that she would become the mother of countless descendants and that her offspring would be victorious over their enemies. The blessing expresses hope for Rebekah’s future influence and the success of her family line.
In this verse, Rebekah’s relatives are speaking to her just before she departs with Abraham’s servant to join Isaac in Canaan. Their words reflect both affection (“Thou art our sister”) and a traditional hope for fruitfulness and strength. The blessing about her “seed possessing the gate of those which hate them” is a wish for her descendants to be strong and secure, able to overcome opposition.
The Hebrew behind Genesis 24:60
- The word “blessed” (בָּרַךְ, barakh) means to speak a good word or invoke favor; here, it shows the family’s heartfelt wish for Rebekah’s future.
- “Thousands” (אֶלֶף, eleph) and “millions” (רְבָבָה, revavah) both point to an enormous number, emphasizing the hope for a vast family line.
- “Seed” (זֶרַע, zera‘) refers to descendants or offspring, a common biblical way to talk about future generations.
- “Possess the gate” (יָרַשׁ שַׁעַר, yarash sha‘ar) is a phrase that means to control or have victory over a city or enemy, since the city gate was the place of authority and defense.
Why Genesis 24:60 matters
- This blessing connects to earlier promises God made to Abraham about his descendants becoming a great nation, showing that Rebekah is now part of that promise.
- The wish for Rebekah’s “seed” to possess the gate of their enemies foreshadows the future strength and influence of Israel.
- The verse highlights the importance of family blessings and the role of women like Rebekah in the unfolding story of God’s people.