Genesis 24:60

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

And they blessed {H1288} Rebekah {H7259}, and said {H559} unto her, Thou {H859} art our sister {H269}, be thou {H1961} the mother of thousands {H505} of millions {H7233}, and let thy seed {H2233} possess {H3423} the gate {H8179} of those which hate {H8130} them.

Complete Jewish Bible

They blessed Rivkah with these words: "Our sister, may you be the mother of millions, and may your descendants possess the cities of those who hate them."

Berean Standard Bible

And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, “Our sister, may you become the mother of thousands upon thousands. May your offspring possess the gates of their enemies.”

American Standard Version

And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of ten thousands, and let thy seed possess the gate of those that hate them.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Genesis 24:60 captures the profound farewell blessing bestowed upon Rebekah by her family as she departs to become Isaac's wife. This powerful pronouncement aligns her future directly with the Abrahamic covenant, foretelling an innumerable progeny and the ultimate triumph of her descendants over their adversaries, thereby signifying divine favor and ensuring the continuation of God's redemptive plan through her lineage.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Genesis 24 meticulously details Abraham's strategic mission to secure a wife for Isaac from his own kindred, avoiding the Canaanites. The narrative highlights the trusted servant's journey, his prayer for divine guidance, and God's clear providence in leading him to Rebekah at a well in Mesopotamia. After confirming her identity and the divine leading, the servant returns with Rebekah to her family to obtain their formal consent for her marriage to Isaac. The preceding verse, [Genesis 24:59](/genesis/24-59 "Rebekah's departure from her family"), describes Rebekah and her nurse being sent away, setting the immediate scene for this pivotal blessing as she prepares to leave her familial home for a new life.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, marriage was not merely a personal union but a crucial family and tribal affair, often arranged to secure alliances, preserve lineage, and ensure inheritance. Familial blessings, particularly upon departure for marriage, carried immense weight, functioning as both a farewell and a prophetic declaration of hope and destiny. The "gate" of a city was its most vital point—the center for commerce, legal proceedings, and defense—making the concept of "possessing the gate" a potent symbol of complete victory and dominion. The emphasis on numerous descendants was also paramount, reflecting the cultural value placed on large families as a sign of prosperity and divine favor, especially within the context of covenant promises.
* **Key Themes:** This verse significantly contributes to several overarching themes in Genesis and the broader biblical narrative. It underscores **Divine Providence**, demonstrating God's meticulous orchestration of events to fulfill His promises, even in seemingly ordinary human affairs like finding a spouse. It is a direct affirmation of **Covenant Fulfillment**, as Rebekah is explicitly blessed with the very promises of multitudinous descendants and dominion over enemies that God had made to Abraham (e.g., [Genesis 12:2](/genesis/12-2 "God's promise to make Abraham a great nation") and [Genesis 22:17](/genesis/22-17 "God's promise to Abraham of numerous descendants")). The passage also highlights the theme of **Generational Blessing**, showing how covenant promises are passed down and affirmed through the family line, ensuring the continuity of God's redemptive plan through chosen individuals and their "seed."

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
This verse records the solemn blessing pronounced upon Rebekah by her family, likely her mother and brother Laban, as she embarks on her journey to marry Isaac. This blessing is more than a customary farewell; it is a prophetic utterance that integrates Rebekah directly into the unfolding covenant narrative.

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Blessed (Hebrew, _bârak'_):** A primitive root meaning "to kneel"; by implication, "to bless God (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as a benefit)." In this context, it signifies the family's act of conferring divine favor and prosperity upon Rebekah, invoking God's blessing upon her future. It's a formal, weighty pronouncement of good fortune and fruitfulness.
* **Seed (Hebrew, _zeraʻ'_):** From a root meaning "to sow," this word primarily refers to "seed" in a literal sense, but figuratively denotes "fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity." In this context, especially when paired with the promise of "thousands of millions," it clearly refers to Rebekah's collective descendants—her offspring, who would grow into the future nation of Israel. This term is crucial throughout the Old Testament for the lineage of the covenant.
* **Possess (Hebrew, _yârash'_):** A primitive root meaning "to occupy (by driving out previous tenants, and possessing in their place)"; by implication, "to seize, to rob, to inherit." Here, it carries the strong connotation of taking control, dispossessing others, and asserting dominion. It implies not just inheriting a territory but actively conquering and maintaining control over it.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou [art] our sister":** This opening phrase establishes the familial context of the blessing. The act of "blessing" (H1288, _bârak_) is a formal and significant pronouncement, conveying good wishes and invoking divine favor. The affirmation "Thou art our sister" (H269, _ʼâchôwth_) highlights the deep familial bond and affection, acknowledging her identity within her birth family even as she transitions to a new one. This personal affirmation precedes the grand, prophetic declarations about her future.
* **"be thou [the mother] of thousands of millions":** This is a powerful, hyperbolic declaration of immense fruitfulness. The phrase "thousands of millions" translates the Hebrew "myriads of myriads" (H505, _ʼeleph_ and H7233, _rᵉbâbâh_), signifying an unimaginably vast and innumerable progeny. This directly echoes and applies the promises of multitudinous descendants made to Abraham, positioning Rebekah as a pivotal matriarch through whom God's covenant people would grow into a great nation, fulfilling the divine promise. The verb "be thou" (H1961, _hâyâh_) emphasizes this future state as a definitive reality.
* **"and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them":** This statement carries significant cultural, strategic, and prophetic weight. "Thy seed" (H2233, _zeraʻ_) refers to Rebekah's collective descendants—the future nation of Israel. To "possess the gate" (H3423, _yârash_ and H8179, _shaʻar_) of an ancient city was to gain complete victory, strategic control, and dominion over one's adversaries. The gate was the most vital and vulnerable point of a city, the center of its power and defense. Therefore, this part of the blessing anticipates the future triumphs of Israel over its enemies (H8130, _sânêʼ_), ensuring their security, ascendancy, and the successful inheritance of the land promised by God.

#### Literary Devices
The blessing in Genesis 24:60 employs several potent literary devices. **Hyperbole** is evident in the phrase "thousands of millions," which is a deliberate exaggeration to convey the immeasurable multitude of Rebekah's future descendants, emphasizing the vastness of God's promised blessing. **Symbolism** is powerfully used in "possess the gate," where the "gate" of a city symbolizes its strength, control, and strategic importance. To possess it signifies absolute victory, dominion, and authority over one's adversaries, extending beyond mere military conquest to encompass legal and administrative control. The entire verse functions as a **Prophetic Blessing**, a divinely inspired utterance that not only expresses good wishes but also foretells future events and outcomes, specifically the fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant promises through Rebekah's lineage. This prophetic element elevates the blessing from a simple farewell to a declaration of God's unfolding plan.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This blessing upon Rebekah is a profound theological statement, demonstrating God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant promises and His meticulous involvement in human history. It illustrates that God's grand redemptive plan is advanced not only through patriarchs but also through pivotal matriarchs, whose roles are divinely ordained and blessed. The emphasis on an innumerable "seed" and dominion over enemies directly links Rebekah's destiny to the promises made to Abraham, affirming that the covenant is being actively perpetuated through this new generation. This highlights the intergenerational nature of God's covenant and His commitment to establishing a people for Himself.

* [Genesis 12:2](/genesis/12-2 "God's promise to make Abraham a great nation")
* [Genesis 22:17](/genesis/22-17 "God's promise to Abraham of numerous descendants")
* [Psalm 127:3](/psalms/127-3 "Children are a heritage from the Lord")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Genesis 24:60 reminds us of the profound impact of spoken blessings and the enduring faithfulness of God to His promises across generations. Just as Rebekah's family, perhaps unknowingly, spoke a future of fruitfulness and victory over her, we are called to speak words of life, faith, and encouragement over others, particularly our children, family members, and spiritual descendants, aligning our declarations with God's revealed will and promises. This passage also serves as a powerful reminder that God is meticulously at work behind the scenes, orchestrating circumstances to fulfill His purposes. It provides assurance that His plans for us will prevail, even through seemingly ordinary life events like marriage and family formation. We can trust that God is sovereignly guiding our paths, ensuring that His ultimate redemptive purposes are achieved through our lives, just as He did for Rebekah and her lineage.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does this blessing on Rebekah affirm God's faithfulness to the Abrahamic covenant, and what does that mean for God's promises to us today?**
* **In what ways can we, like Rebekah's family, intentionally speak words of blessing and life into the lives of others, especially those embarking on new journeys or seasons?**
* **Considering the significance of "possessing the gate," how does this imagery encourage us in our spiritual battles and our pursuit of God's kingdom?**

### FAQ

**What is the significance of the phrase "thousands of millions"?**

Answer: The Hebrew phrase *ribbōṯ ribbāh* (literally "myriads of myriads," from H505, _ʼeleph_ for "thousands" and H7233, _rᵉbâbâh_ for "millions") is a hyperbolic expression signifying an incredibly vast, innumerable multitude. It directly echoes God's covenant promise to Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars of heaven or the sand on the seashore ([Genesis 22:17](/genesis/22-17 "God's promise to Abraham of numerous descendants")). For Rebekah, it meant she would be a key matriarch in the lineage that would grow into the great nation of Israel, fulfilling the divine promise of a vast posterity.

**What does it mean to "possess the gate of those which hate them"?**

Answer: In ancient Near Eastern culture, the city gate (H8179, _shaʻar_) was the most crucial and vulnerable point of a city, serving as the center for legal, commercial, and defensive activities. To "possess the gate" (H3423, _yârash_) of an enemy meant to conquer them completely, gaining full control over their city, their people, and their strategic power. It signifies absolute victory, dominion, and the ability to control access and exert authority over adversaries. This was a powerful prophetic declaration of the future triumph of Israel over its foes.

**Who are "those which hate them" in this context?**

Answer: "Those which hate them" (from H8130, _sânêʼ_) refers to the adversaries and enemies of Rebekah's future descendants, the nation of Israel. Throughout their history, Israel faced numerous hostile nations and peoples who opposed their existence and God's purposes for them. This blessing is a prophetic declaration of God's intention to grant His people victory and dominion over their foes, ensuring their security and the ultimate fulfillment of the covenant promises, including their secure inheritance of the land.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The blessing given to Rebekah in [Genesis 24:60](/genesis/24-60 "Rebekah's family blessing") finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the singular "seed" of Abraham and Rebekah through whom all nations are blessed. The promise of "thousands of millions" of descendants is spiritually realized not merely in a physical nation, but in the vast, innumerable multitude of believers from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation who are united in Christ, forming the spiritual Israel, the church ([Revelation 7:9](/revelation/7-9 "A great multitude from every nation")). Furthermore, the declaration that her "seed possess the gate of those which hate them" culminates in Christ's decisive victory over sin, death, and the powers of darkness. Through His crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus has definitively disarmed spiritual principalities and powers, making a public spectacle of them ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Christ's triumph over principalities and powers")), and possessing the "gates of hell" which shall not prevail against His church ([Matthew 16:18](/matthew/16-18 "The gates of hell shall not prevail")). Believers, as those "in Christ," share in His victory and are granted spiritual dominion over their adversaries, standing firm against the schemes of the devil ([Ephesians 6:11](/ephesians/6-11 "Putting on the full armor of God")). Thus, Rebekah's blessing foreshadows the global, spiritual triumph secured by Christ for His redeemed people.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Genesis 22:17

That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which [is] upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;

Genesis 17:16

And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be [a mother] of nations; kings of people shall be of her.

Ruth 4:11

And all the people that [were] in the gate, and the elders, said, [We are] witnesses. The LORD make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem:

Ruth 4:12

And let thy house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of the seed which the LORD shall give thee of this young woman.

Genesis 28:3

And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people;

Genesis 48:15

And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day,

Genesis 48:16

The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.