Genesis 27:46

Authorized King James Version

And Rebekah said to Isaac, I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth: if Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these which are of the daughters of the land, what good shall my life do me?

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וַתֹּ֤אמֶר
said
to say (used with great latitude)
#2
רִבְקָה֙
And Rebekah
ribkah, the wife of isaac
#3
אֶל
near, with or among; often in general, to
#4
יִצְחָ֔ק
to Isaac
jitschak (or isaac), son of abraham
#5
קַ֣צְתִּי
I am weary
to be (causatively, make) disgusted or anxious
#6
חַיִּֽים׃
of my life
alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or livin
#7
מִפְּנֵ֖י
because
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
#8
מִבְּנ֣וֹת
of the daughters
a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)
#9
חֵ֤ת
of Heth
cheth, an indigenous canaanite
#10
אִם
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
#11
לֹקֵ֣חַ
take
to take (in the widest variety of applications)
#12
יַֽ֠עֲקֹב
if Jacob
jaakob, the israelitish patriarch
#13
אִשָּׁ֨ה
a wife
a woman
#14
מִבְּנ֣וֹת
of the daughters
a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)
#15
חֵ֤ת
of Heth
cheth, an indigenous canaanite
#16
כָּאֵ֙לֶּה֙
these or those
#17
מִבְּנ֣וֹת
of the daughters
a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)
#18
הָאָ֔רֶץ
of the land
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
#19
לָ֥מָּה
what good
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and
#20
לִּ֖י
H0
#21
חַיִּֽים׃
of my life
alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or livin

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 life contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's consistent character and purposes.

Historical Context

This passage must be understood within the tribal and clan-based society of the ancient Near East. The author writes to address the foundational narrative for Israel's identity and relationship with God, making the emphasis on creation and providence particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection

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