And Rebekah said to Isaac, I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth: if Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these which are of the daughters of the land, what good shall my life do me?

GENESIS 27:46KJV
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Genesis 27:46 (KJV)

What does Genesis 27:46 mean?

Genesis 27:46 shows Rebekah telling Isaac that she is deeply troubled by the local Hittite women ("daughters of Heth") and does not want their son Jacob to marry one of them, saying her life would feel pointless if he did. Rebekah’s words reveal her strong feelings about the kind of wife Jacob should have and her distress over the family’s future.

Rebekah is speaking to her husband Isaac after their son Esau has already married Hittite women, which has caused her much grief. She uses strong language, saying she is "weary of my life," to express just how upsetting she finds the idea of Jacob marrying a local woman. This verse sets up the next steps in the story, where Isaac will send Jacob away to find a wife from their own relatives.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 27:46

  • The word for "weary" is קוּץ (qūṣ), which means to be deeply disturbed or disgusted. Rebekah is not just mildly upset; she feels a strong aversion to the situation.
  • "Life" is חַי (ḥay), meaning her whole existence or well-being, showing that this issue affects her very deeply.
  • "Daughters" is בַּת (bat), and "Heth" is חֵת (ḥēt), referring specifically to women from the Hittite people living in Canaan. This highlights the cultural and religious differences that concerned Rebekah.
  • The phrase "what good shall my life do me?" uses מָה (mah, "what") and חַי (ḥay, "life"), stressing that Rebekah feels her life would lose its value if Jacob marries a Hittite woman.

Why Genesis 27:46 matters

  • This verse explains why Jacob is later sent away to find a wife, connecting the family’s decisions to Rebekah’s deep concerns about their heritage and faith.
  • It shows the tension between the family’s values and the surrounding culture, highlighting why marrying within their own people was so important to them.
  • Rebekah’s strong feelings also help explain the family dynamics and the lengths she is willing to go to protect Jacob’s future.

Where else these words appear

“weary” Hebrew H6973 · used in 9 verses

  • Exodus 1:12 But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel.
  • Numbers 21:5 And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.
  • Proverbs 3:11 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:

“Heth” Hebrew H2845 · used in 12 verses

  • Genesis 10:15 And Canaan begat Sidon his firstborn, and Heth,
  • Genesis 23:7 And Abraham stood up, and bowed himself to the people of the land, even to the children of Heth.
  • Genesis 23:20 And the field, and the cave that is therein, were made sure unto Abraham for a possession of a buryingplace by the sons of Heth.

“good” Hebrew H4100 · used in 27 verses

  • Genesis 4:10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.
  • Joshua 7:25 And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? the LORD shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones.
  • Psalms 78:40 How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert!

“Rebekah” Hebrew H7259 · used in 29 verses

  • Genesis 22:23 And Bethuel begat Rebekah: these eight Milcah did bear to Nahor, Abraham's brother.
  • Genesis 24:60 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 26:35 Which were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah.