King James Version

What Does Genesis 24:60 Mean?

Genesis 24:60 in the King James Version says “And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let t...” — study this verse from Genesis chapter 24 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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.”

Genesis 24:60 · KJV

Context

58

And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go.

59

And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his men.

60

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.

61

And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man: and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way.

62

And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahairoi; for he dwelt in the south country.

Read Genesis 24 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of... This passage is part of the Abrahamic narratives which shift from universal human history to God's particular covenant people. The Abraham cycle (Genesis 12-25) demonstrates God's sovereign election, covenant faithfulness, and the development of faith through testing and promise fulfillment.

Central themes include God's unconditional covenant promises (land, descendants, blessing to nations), the call to faith and obedience, the testing of faith through delays and impossibilities, the contrast between divine promises and human schemes, and God's gracious persistence despite human failures. Abraham emerges as the father of faith whose trust in God's promises becomes the model for all believers (Romans 4, Galatians 3, Hebrews 11).

Theologically, these narratives establish: (1) salvation by grace through faith rather than works; (2) covenant as God's gracious initiative binding Himself to His people; (3) the necessity of patient trust when promises seem impossible; (4) the consequences of attempting to fulfill God's promises through human effort; (5) the pattern of divine testing producing mature faith. The Abraham cycle foreshadows Christ as the ultimate seed through whom blessing extends to all nations (Galatians 3:16).

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Historical & Cultural Context

The patriarchal narratives (Genesis 12-50) reflect the cultural, social, and legal customs of the ancient Near East during the Middle Bronze Age (2000-1500 BCE). Archaeological discoveries including the Mari tablets, Nuzi tablets, and Egyptian records confirm many details: nomadic pastoralism, covenant-making ceremonies, marriage customs, property laws, and international travel patterns described in Genesis.

The cultural practices reflected include: treaty/covenant forms (Genesis 15), bride-price customs (Genesis 24, 29), inheritance laws favoring firstborn sons (Genesis 25, 27), adoption practices (Genesis 15, 30), levirate-type arrangements (Genesis 38), and Egyptian administrative systems (Genesis 41, 47). These parallels confirm Genesis's historical reliability while showing how God worked within ancient cultural frameworks to accomplish His purposes.

For later Israelites, these narratives established their identity as Abraham's descendants, explained their claim to Canaan, justified their possession of Joseph's bones (Exodus 13:19), and provided models of faith despite imperfection. The patriarchs' failures and God's faithfulness encouraged Israel that covenant relationship depended on God's grace rather than human merit. The movement from Mesopotamia to Canaan to Egypt set the stage for the Exodus and conquest narratives.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does this verse deepen our understanding of God's character and His relationship with creation?
  2. What obstacles prevent us from living out the truths presented in this verse?
  3. What connections can we trace from this verse to Jesus' life, death, and resurrection?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 15 words
וַיְבָרֲכ֤וּ1 of 15

“And they blessed”

H1288

to kneel; by implication to bless god (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as a benefit); also (by euphemism) to curse (god or the king, as

אֶת2 of 15
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

רִבְקָה֙3 of 15

“Rebekah”

H7259

ribkah, the wife of isaac

וַיֹּ֣אמְרוּ4 of 15

“and said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

לָ֔הּ5 of 15
H0
אֲחֹתֵ֕נוּ6 of 15

“art our sister”

H269

a sister (used very widely [like h0251], literally and figuratively)

אַ֥תְּ7 of 15

“unto her Thou”

H859

thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you

הֲיִ֖י8 of 15

“be thou”

H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

לְאַלְפֵ֣י9 of 15

“the mother of thousands”

H505

hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand

רְבָבָ֑ה10 of 15

“of millions”

H7233

abundance (in number), i.e., (specifically) a myriad (whether definite or indefinite)

וְיִירַ֣שׁ11 of 15

“possess”

H3423

to occupy (by driving out previous tenants, and possessing in their place); by implication, to seize, to rob, to inherit; also to expel, to impoverish

זַרְעֵ֔ךְ12 of 15

“and let thy seed”

H2233

seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity

אֵ֖ת13 of 15
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

שַׁ֥עַר14 of 15

“the gate”

H8179

an opening, i.e., door or gate

שֹֽׂנְאָֽיו׃15 of 15

“of those which hate”

H8130

to hate (personally)

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Genesis. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Genesis 24:60 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Genesis 24:60 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Genesis 22:17Genesis 17:16Ruth 4:11-12Genesis 28:3Genesis 9:1Genesis 1:28

Test Your Knowledge

Genesis 24 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapterGenesis Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

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