Genesis 24:60

60 Wishing prosperity to their sister, and saying: Thou art our sister, mayst thou increase to thousands of thousands; and may thy seed possess the gates of their enemies.

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 her, and when she was come, they asked: Wilt thou go with this man? She said: I will go.
59 So they sent her away, and her nurse, and Abraham’s servant, and his company.
60 Wishing prosperity to their sister, and saying: Thou art our sister, mayst thou increase to thousands of thousands; and may thy seed possess the gates of their enemies.
61 So Rebecca and her maids, being set upon camels, followed the man: who with speed returned to his master.
62 At the same time, Isaac was walking along the way to the well which is called Of the living and the seeing: for he dwelt in the south country:
The Douay-Rheims Bible is in the public domain.