Genesis 24:60

Authorized King James Version

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.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וַיְבָרֲכ֤וּ
And they blessed
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
#2
אֶת
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
#3
רִבְקָה֙
Rebekah
ribkah, the wife of isaac
#4
וַיֹּ֣אמְרוּ
and said
to say (used with great latitude)
#5
לָ֔הּ
H0
#6
אֲחֹתֵ֕נוּ
art our sister
a sister (used very widely [like h0251], literally and figuratively)
#7
אַ֥תְּ
unto her Thou
thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you
#8
הֲיִ֖י
be thou
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
#9
לְאַלְפֵ֣י
the mother of thousands
hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand
#10
רְבָבָ֑ה
of millions
abundance (in number), i.e., (specifically) a myriad (whether definite or indefinite)
#11
וְיִירַ֣שׁ
possess
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
#12
זַרְעֵ֔ךְ
and let thy seed
seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity
#13
אֵ֖ת
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
#14
שַׁ֥עַר
the gate
an opening, i.e., door or gate
#15
שֹֽׂנְאָֽיו׃
of those which hate
to hate (personally)

Analysis

The creation and providence theme here intersects with the broader canonical witness to God's character and purposes. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of progressive revelation that finds its culmination in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine revelation contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's consistent character and purposes.

Historical Context

The literary and historical milieu of ancient Near Eastern narrative literature addressing origins and identity shapes this text's meaning. The development from creation to divine election established God's sovereign care over history Understanding a worldview where divine beings actively governed natural and historical processes helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes divine revelation in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection

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