Genesis 24:60

“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 it.””
Genesis 24:60 · direct translation from the Hebrew

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With the Hebrew beneath

They blessedוַיְבָרֲכוּRebekahאֶת רִבְקָהand saidוַיֹּאמְרוּto her,לָהּ“Our sister,אֲחֹתֵנוּmay youאַתְּbecomeהֲיִיthousandsלְאַלְפֵיof ten thousands,רְבָבָהand may your offspringוְ זַרְעֵךְpossessיִירַשׁthe gateאֵת שַׁעַרof those who hate it.”שֹׂנְאָיו

Allusion · Genesis 22:17

Go to Genesis 22:17

Both verses say that the offspring “will possess the gate” of its enemies: in 22:17 YHWH promises it to Abraham; in 24:60 her family wishes it for Rebekah.

They share words that are rare in the original, without a quotation.

יִירַשׁyirashH3423יִרַשׁyirashH3423“possess; drive out”
שַׁעַרshaarH8179שַׁעַרshaarH8179“gate (of the city)”
זַרְעֵzareH2233זַרְעֲzaraH2233“seed; offspring; semen”

Genesis 24:60, word by word

They blessedיְבָרֲכוּyevarachu

greet

To wish someone God's good; to greet.

Where else “yevarachu” appears

Rebekahרִבְקָהrivka

Rebekah

Rebekah, daughter of Bethuel, wife of Isaac; mother of Esau and Jacob.

Where else “rivka” appears

and saidיֹּאמְרוּyomru

say

To say with the mouth to someone what one thinks or wants, or to answer him.

Where else “yomru” appears

“Our sisterאֲחֹתֵachote

sister

A woman who has the same parents as another person, or belongs to their family.

Where else “achote” appears

becomeהֲיִיhayi

become

To turn into something new, or fall upon someone.

Where else “hayi” appears

thousandsאַלְפֵיalfe

thousand

One thousand: a large, round number.

Where else “alfe” appears

of ten thousandsרְבָבָהrevava

ten thousand, myriad

Ten thousand; a countless multitude.

Where else “revava” appears

and may your offspringזַרְעֵzare

offspring

The children, grandchildren and whole line that come from someone.

Where else “zare” appears

possessיִירַשׁyirash

possess

To occupy a land and make it one's own.

Where else “yirash” appears

the gateשַׁעַרshaar

gate

The entrance of a city or house, with doors that close.

Where else “shaar” appears

of those who hate itשֹׂנְאָיsonay

hate

To feel rejection and hostility toward someone, to the point of wishing him harm.

Where else “sonay” appears

The context

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

60 · This verse (above)

61Rebekah and her girls rose and rode on the camels and followed the man. So the servant took Rebekah and went.

Read all of Genesis 24

To study Genesis 24 in a group

1. What it says
What did Abraham’s servant ask of YHWH by the well, and what did Rebekah do (vv. 12-20)?
2. What it means
What does it show about the servant’s prayer that he asks YHWH for guidance in his task (vv. 12-14, 26-27)?
3. How I live it
In what pending decision can you ask Elohim for guidance and pay attention to what happens?

How to use it