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.