Genesis 24:60

60 And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, “Our sister, may you ¹become thousands of ten thousands, and ²may your offspring possess the gate of those who hate him! ” ^[a]

Genesis 24:60 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 24:60

And they blessed Rebekah
That is, her parents and her friends, they wished the best and choicest of blessings might descend upon her: and said unto her, thou [art] our sister;
the Targum of Jonathan is,

``hitherto thou hast been our sister,''

as if the relation now ceased, having entered into another; and especially as she was going away from them into a distant country, and might never see her more, it was as if she was no more to them or to be enjoyed by them: be thou [the mother] of thousands of millions;
as she was, the Edomites and Israelites both springing from her: and let thy seed possess the gate of those that hate them;
exercise dominion and authority over their enemies: let them not only be numerous, but powerful and victorious, as both the nations were at times, and especially the latter; and particularly this had its accomplishment in Christ, who sprung from her in the line of Jacob, ( Matthew 1:2 ) ( Luke 3:34 ) ; some respect seems to be had to the promise made to Abraham, ( Genesis 22:17 ) ; of which this family might have knowledge from Abraham's servant, who might report not only how great his master was, but what promises were made to him with respect to his posterity.

Genesis 24:60 In-Context

58 And they called Rebekah and said to her, “Will you go with this man? ” She said, “I will go. ”

59 So they sent away Rebekah their sister and her nurse, and Abraham’s servant and his men.

60 And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, “Our sister, may you become thousands of ten thousands, and may your offspring possess the gate of those who hate him! ”

61 Then Rebekah and her young women arose and rode on the camels and followed the man. Thus the servant took Rebekah and went his way.

62 Now Isaac had returned from Beer-lahai-roi and was dwelling in the Negeb.

Cross References

• 1. 24:60 ch. 17:16
• 2. 24:60 ch. 22:17

Footnotes

• [a] 24:60 Or 'hate them'