Rebekah’s comment shows her resolute faith in safeguarding the covenant, even when it requires bold steps.
“Rebekah said to Isaac, ‘I am tired of living because of the daughters of Heth; if Jacob takes a wife from the daughters of Heth, like these, from the daughters of the land, what good will my life be to me?’” (v.46). In this passage, Rebekah voices her deep concern regarding the local women (the daughters of Heth) in the region of Canaan, a land situated in the eastern Mediterranean area corresponding roughly to modern-day Israel and Palestinian territories. Genesis places Isaac (born around 2065 B.C.) in the land of Canaan, carrying on the family line started by Abraham when he left Ur for the land Yahweh promised (Genesis 12:1). Rebekah, likely living in the early second millennium B.C., expresses her weariness and fear that Jacob might follow Esau’s path by marrying within the local Hittite culture, which worshiped different gods than her own family worshiped (Genesis 26:34-35). Her dissatisfaction with Esau’s wives highlights the tension that arises when God’s people intermarry with those who do not share the same faith (2 Corinthians 6:14).
“I am tired of living because of the daughters of Heth” (v.46) reveals that Rebekah’s distress stems from a desire to keep Jacob from the same mistake Esau made. Historically, the “daughters of Heth” were part of the broad Hittite group inhabiting this region. Their inclusion in Rebekah’s statement underscores the bitter experience she has observed from Esau’s marriage choices. Rebekah’s anguish leads her to proactively protect Jacob, the younger son who would become Israel (Genesis 32:28), preserving the continuity of God’s covenant promise given to Abraham and passed down through Isaac’s lineage (Genesis 17:7).
“If Jacob takes a wife from the daughters of Heth, like these…what good will my life be to me?” (v.46) foreshadows Rebekah’s plan to send Jacob away so he can find a wife among her own relatives in Paddan-aram (Genesis 28:2). This decisive move not only spares Jacob from local cultural pressures but also ensures the family heir remains true to God’s covenant purpose. It reflects a consistent biblical theme: the people of God actively trusting and making decisions in line with God’s promises, ultimately pointing us toward the faithful lineage that leads to Jesus the Messiah (Matthew 1:2).
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Genesis 27:46 meaning
“Rebekah said to Isaac, ‘I am tired of living because of the daughters of Heth; if Jacob takes a wife from the daughters of Heth, like these, from the daughters of the land, what good will my life be to me?’” (v.46). In this passage, Rebekah voices her deep concern regarding the local women (the daughters of Heth) in the region of Canaan, a land situated in the eastern Mediterranean area corresponding roughly to modern-day Israel and Palestinian territories. Genesis places Isaac (born around 2065 B.C.) in the land of Canaan, carrying on the family line started by Abraham when he left Ur for the land Yahweh promised (Genesis 12:1). Rebekah, likely living in the early second millennium B.C., expresses her weariness and fear that Jacob might follow Esau’s path by marrying within the local Hittite culture, which worshiped different gods than her own family worshiped (Genesis 26:34-35). Her dissatisfaction with Esau’s wives highlights the tension that arises when God’s people intermarry with those who do not share the same faith (2 Corinthians 6:14).
“I am tired of living because of the daughters of Heth” (v.46) reveals that Rebekah’s distress stems from a desire to keep Jacob from the same mistake Esau made. Historically, the “daughters of Heth” were part of the broad Hittite group inhabiting this region. Their inclusion in Rebekah’s statement underscores the bitter experience she has observed from Esau’s marriage choices. Rebekah’s anguish leads her to proactively protect Jacob, the younger son who would become Israel (Genesis 32:28), preserving the continuity of God’s covenant promise given to Abraham and passed down through Isaac’s lineage (Genesis 17:7).
“If Jacob takes a wife from the daughters of Heth, like these…what good will my life be to me?” (v.46) foreshadows Rebekah’s plan to send Jacob away so he can find a wife among her own relatives in Paddan-aram (Genesis 28:2). This decisive move not only spares Jacob from local cultural pressures but also ensures the family heir remains true to God’s covenant purpose. It reflects a consistent biblical theme: the people of God actively trusting and making decisions in line with God’s promises, ultimately pointing us toward the faithful lineage that leads to Jesus the Messiah (Matthew 1:2).