Genesis 24

1 By now Abraham [a father of many nations] was old [advanced in years, well stricken in age] and well along in years [had entered into days], and the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] had blessed [praised, honored] him in every way [in all things, with every good thing]. word study 2 So Abraham [the father of faith] instructed the chief [eldest, most trusted] servant of his household [house, family], who managed [ruled over] all he owned [possessed, had dominion over], “Place [put, set] your hand [an open hand; strength, a side or share] under [beneath, underneath] my thigh [power, or a pledge], word study 3 and I will have you swear [make a solemn vow, promise] by the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God], the God [Elohim, the supreme Ruler] of heaven [the visible universe, the spiritual realm] and the God of earth [the land, the physical world], that you will not take [acquire, receive] a wife for my son [Isaac, my descendant] from the daughters [female children, women] of the Canaanites [the inhabitants of Canaan, a pagan nation] among whom I am dwelling [living, residing, in their midst], word study 4 but will go to my country [homeland, native land] and my kindred [relatives, family] to take [get, acquire] a wife [woman, female companion] for my son [child, descendant] Isaac [he laughs, son of Abraham].” word study 5 The servant [a bondservant, one who serves] asked him, “What if the woman [a female, a wife] is unwilling [does not consent, refuses] to follow me to this land [the promised territory, Canaan]? Shall I then take your son [a descendant, an heir] back to the land [the country, the region] from which you came [emigrated, departed from]?” word study 6 Abraham [the father of faith] replied, “Make sure [beware, take heed] that you do not [lest] take my son [my child, my descendant] back [to return, turn back] there [to that place, thither]. word study 7 The LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], the God [Elohim, the supreme God] of heaven [the visible universe and the abode of God], who brought me from my father’s house [the family home] and my native land [the land of my birth], who spoke to me [communicated with me] and promised me on oath [swore an oath to me], saying, ‘To your offspring [seed, descendants] I will give this land’—He will send His angel [messenger, representative] before you so that you can take a wife for my son [a female companion, a helpmate] from there [that place, the specified location]. word study 8 And if the woman [the female, wife, or bride] is unwilling [not consenting, refusing] to follow [to walk after, to accompany] you, then you are released [cleared, acquitted] from this [specific, particular] oath [promise, vow] of mine. Only [except, but] do not [never, under no circumstances] take my son [descendant, child] back [to return, to turn] there [to that place, thither].” word study 9 So the servant [bondslave, one who serves] placed his hand [an open hand; strength, a side or share] under the thigh [side] of his master Abraham [father of many] and swore [made a solemn promise, vowed] an oath [a promise or vow] to him concerning this matter [affair, thing, word]. word study 10 Then the servant [a faithful attendant, a slave] took ten of his master’s [lord, owner] camels and departed with all manner [variety, abundance] of good things [valuable gifts, blessings] from his master in hand [under his care, in his possession]. And he set out for Nahor’s [Abraham’s brother, a relative] hometown in Aram-naharaim [Mesopotamia, the land between the rivers]. word study 11 As evening [at sunset, the time of day when the sun goes down] approached, he made the camels [used for riding or carrying loads] kneel down near the well [a source of water, a spring] outside the town [a city or a place with a wall] at the time [a specific point in the day, an occasion] when the women went out to draw [to pull or fetch] water [a liquid, a source of refreshment]. word study 12 “O LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], God [Elohim, the supreme God] of my master [lord, one who has authority] Abraham,” he prayed, “please [I pray, I beseech] grant me success [good speed, prosperity] today [this day, at this time], and show kindness [mercy, loving actions] to my master [lord, one who has authority] Abraham [the father of many nations]. word study 13 Here I am [behold, look], standing [stationed, positioned] beside the spring [fountain, source of water], and the daughters [female children, young women] of the townspeople [men of the city, inhabitants] are coming out [going out, departing] to draw [to fetch, to obtain] water [liquid, source of refreshment]. word study 14 Now may it happen that the girl [maiden, young woman] to whom I say, ‘Please [I pray thee] let down your jar [water container] that I may drink [take a refreshment],’ and who responds, ‘Drink [take a drink], and I will water [give a drink to] your camels [riding animals] as well’—let her be the one You have appointed [chosen, decided] for Your servant [attendant, slave] Isaac [he laughs, son of Abraham]. By this I will know [understand, realize] that You have shown kindness [mercy, loving-kindness] to my master [lord, leader].” word study 15 Before [prior to, at an earlier time] the servant had finished [completed, brought to an end] praying [speaking to God, offering a petition], Rebekah [the mother of Esau and Jacob] came out [emerged, appeared] with her jar [water vessel, container] on her shoulder [upon her back, as a burden]. She was the daughter [child, female descendant] of Bethuel [man of God] son of Milcah [queen, wife of Nahor], the wife [woman, spouse] of Abraham’s [father of the faithful] brother [male sibling, relative] Nahor [rest, comfort]. word study 16 Now the girl [maiden, a young woman] was very [exceedingly, greatly] beautiful, a virgin [a bride, untouched] who had not had relations [known intimately] with any man [male person]. She went down [descended to a lower place] to the spring [fountain, source of water], filled her jar [container, vessel], and came up [ascended, rose] again. word study 17 So the servant [slave, bondservant] ran [hurried, rushed] to meet her and said, “Please [I pray thee, kindly] let me have a little [small amount, few sips] water [refreshment, liquid] from your jar [pitcher, vessel].” word study 18 “Drink [please have a drink, yes, have some], my lord [master, one having authority],” she replied, and she quickly [hastened, sped] lowered her jar [container, water vessel] to her hands [the open hand] and gave him a drink [watered him, provided for his thirst]. word study 19 After she had given him a drink [to quench his thirst, finished giving him water], she said, “I will also [too, as well] draw water [from the well, to water] for your camels [riding animals, beasts of burden], until they have had enough [finished drinking, satisfied] to drink [consume, swallow].” word study 20 And she quickly [hastened, with urgency] emptied her jar [pitcher, vessel] into the trough [watering place, drinking-trough] and ran [with haste, swiftly] back to the well [spring, source of water] to draw [to pull out, to fetch] water, until she had drawn [poured out, given] water for all [every, the entire group of] his camels. word study 21 Meanwhile, the man [a male person, individual] watched her silently [held his peace, to gaze in wonder] to see whether [if, to know] or not the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] had made his journey [way, path] a success [prosperous, to rush forward]. word study 22 And after the camels [used for riding or carrying loads] had finished drinking, he took out a gold [valuable metal] ring [nose-ring or earring, a piece of jewelry] weighing a beka [unit of weight, half a shekel], and two gold [precious, highly valued] bracelets [arm-clasps, used to enclose or protect] for her wrists [hands] weighing ten [a number of completion or perfection] shekels [a unit of weight or money]. word study 23 “Whose [whose person, to whom do you belong] daughter are you?” he asked [said, spoke]. “Please [I pray, I request] tell me, is there [does there exist, is available] room [a place, space] in your father’s [parent’s, ancestor’s] house [dwelling, family home] for us [me and my men] to spend the night [to lodge, stay overnight]?” word study 24 She replied [to him directly], “I am [myself, the one speaking] the daughter [female child, descendant] of Bethuel [man of God, nephew of Abraham], the son [descendant, male child] that Milcah [queen, Abraham’s niece] bore [gave birth to, brought forth] to Nahor [rest, comfort, Abraham’s brother].” word study 25 Then she added, “We have plenty of [dry grass or stubble, like straw for fodder] straw and [food or provisions, such as provender] feed, as well as a [place or location, like a dwelling] place [large enough, with room to spare] for you to spend the night [to lodge or rest, like a traveler].” word study 26 Then the man [a male person, individual] bowed down [with bent head, kneeled] and worshiped [showed respect, obeisance] the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], word study 27 saying, “Blessed [praised, worshiped] be the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], the God [Elohim, the supreme deity] of my master [lord, authority] Abraham, who has not withheld [refrained from, left off] His kindness [lovingkindness, mercy] and faithfulness [truth, stability] from my master. As for me, the LORD [Yehovah] has led [guided, directed] me on the journey [path, way] to the house [dwelling place, family] of my master’s relatives [brothers, kin].” word study 28 The [young, unmarried] girl [maiden, servant] ran [quickly, with haste] and told [declared openly, shared] her [female parent’s, maternal figure’s] mother’s [family] household [dwelling place, home] about [concerning, regarding] these [specific, particular] things [events, words, matters]. word study 29 Now Rebekah [the wife of Isaac, mother of Esau and Jacob] had a brother [close relative, male sibling] named Laban, and he rushed out [ran quickly, hastened] to the man [male person, individual] at the spring [fountain, source of water]. word study 30 As soon as he saw the ring [nose-ring or earring], and the bracelets [arm-clasps or ornaments] on his sister’s wrists [hands], and heard Rebekah’s words [saying, explaining], “The man [male person, individual] said this to me,” he went and found the man [male person, individual] standing by the camels [used for riding or carrying loads] near the spring [fountain, source of water]. word study 31 “Come [approach, draw near], you who are blessed [highly favored, having God’s blessing] by the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God],” said Laban [the one who speaks kindly]. “Why [what reason, for what purpose] are you standing [remaining, waiting] out here [outside, in the open]? I have prepared [made ready, arranged] the house [the dwelling place, the home] and a place [a location, a space] for the camels [the riding animals, the beasts of burden].” word study 32 So the man [a male person, an individual] came to the house [a dwelling place, a home], and the camels [riding animals, beasts of burden] were unloaded [given rest, freed from their loads]. Straw [dry grass, fodder] and feed [provisions, sustenance] were brought to the camels, and water [a liquid, a source of refreshment] to wash [cleanse, purify] his feet [the lowest part of the body] and the feet [the lowest part of the body] of his companions [those who accompanied him, his attendants]. word study 33 Then a meal [food to eat, set before him] was set [placed, appointed] before the man, but he said, “I will not eat [devour, consume] until I have told [spoken, communicated] you what I came [arrived, appeared] to say [speak, declare].” So Laban said, “Please [speak on, tell us] speak [communicate, declare].” word study 34 “I [the speaker himself] am Abraham’s [father of the faithful, a key figure] servant [a bondservant or slave, one who serves],” he replied [said, spoke, or declared]. word study 35 “The LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] has greatly [exceedingly, to a high degree] blessed my master, and he has become [grown, increased] rich [wealthy, prosperous]. He has given him sheep [flocks, a group of sheep or goats] and cattle [domesticated animals, oxen], silver [money, payment] and gold [a valuable metal], menservants [male slaves, servants] and maidservants [female slaves, servants], camels [riding animals, beasts of burden] and donkeys [asses, domesticated animals]. word study 36 My master’s wife [noblewoman] Sarah has borne [given birth to, beget] him a son [descendant, male child] in her old age [later years, seniority], and my master [lord, leader] has given [bestowed, entrusted] him everything [all, the whole] he owns [possesses, has]. word study 37 My master [lord, ruler] made me swear [take an oath, solemnly promise] an oath and said, ‘You shall not take [get, acquire] a wife [woman, bride] for my son [child, descendant] from the daughters [female children, women] of the Canaanites [inhabitants of Canaan, unbelievers] in whose land [territory, region] I dwell [live, reside], word study 38 but you shall go [to visit, to proceed] to my father’s [ancestral, paternal] house [dwelling place, family home] and to my kindred [relatives, family ties] to take [to receive, to acquire] a wife [a female partner, a spouse] for my son [my child, my descendant].’ word study 39 Then I asked [said unto, spoke to] my master [lord, leader], ‘What if [peradventure, perhaps] the woman [female, wife] will not [perhaps not, is unwilling to] come back [follow, walk after] with me [after me, in my company]?’ word study 40 And he told me, ‘The LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], before whom I have walked [lived my life, habitually], will send His angel [messenger, representative] with you and make your journey [way, path] a success [prosper, rush], so that you may take [get, obtain] a wife [woman, female] for my son [descendant, child] from my kindred [family, clan] and from my father’s [ancestral] house [dwelling place, family]. word study 41 And when you go [come or approach] to my kindred [family or clan], if they refuse [decline or deny] to give her to you, then you will be released [freed or cleared] from my oath [promise or vow, with serious consequences].’ word study 42 So when I came [to the fountain, the water-spring] to the spring today, I prayed: O LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], God [Elohim, the supreme God] of my master [lord, leader] Abraham, if only [if now, I pray] You would make [prosper, cause to succeed] my journey [way, path] a success [to rush, to prosper]! word study 43 Here I am [standing watchfully, waiting], standing beside this spring [fountain, source of water]. Now if a maiden [young, unmarried woman, virgin] comes out to draw water and I say to her, ‘Please [I pray thee, if you would be so kind] let me drink a little [small amount, brief refreshment] water from your jar [container, vessel],’ word study 44 and she replies [says to me], ‘Drink [take a drink, and I will get water for your camels], and I will draw [fetch] water for your camels [riding animals, beasts of burden] as well,’ may she be [let her be, may it be] the woman [female, wife, the one chosen] the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God] has appointed [chosen, decided, ordained] for my master’s [lord’s, my leader’s] son [child, descendant, offspring]. word study 45 And before [prior to, at an earlier time] I had finished [completed, brought to an end] praying [speaking to God, communicating with Him] in my heart [my inner being, my mind and emotions], there was Rebekah [the one who will be the wife of Isaac] coming out [emerging, appearing] with her jar [container, vessel] on her shoulder [her back], and she went down [descended, went to a lower place] to the spring [fountain, source of water] and drew [pulled up, obtained] water. So I said [spoke, communicated] to her, ‘Please [I pray, kindly] give me a drink [provide me with water, satisfy my thirst].’ word study 46 She quickly [with haste, in a hurry] lowered her jar [container, water vessel] from her shoulder and said, ‘Drink [take a sip, quench your thirst], and I will water [give drink to, provide for] your camels [riding animals, beasts of burden] as well [also, too].’ So I drank [took a drink, satisfied my thirst], and she also [in addition, likewise] watered [provided drink for, cared for] the camels. word study 47 Then I asked [inquired of, sought to know] her, ‘Whose daughter [child, female descendant] are you?’ She replied, ‘The daughter [child, female descendant] of Bethuel [man of God, worshiper of the true God] son of Nahor [rest, comfort], whom Milcah [counsel, advice] bore [gave birth to, brought forth] to him.’ So I put the ring [nose-ring, earring] on her nose [face, countenance] and the bracelets [arm-clasps, ornaments] on her wrists [hands, arms]. word study 48 Then I bowed down [with bent head, in reverence] and worshiped [prostrated myself, gave homage to] the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God]; and I blessed [praised, honored] the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], the God [Elohim, the supreme God] of my master [lord, leader] Abraham, who led me [guided, directed] on the right [true, faithful] road to take [receive, obtain] the granddaughter [daughter, female descendant] of my master’s brother for his son. word study 49 Now [at this time, in this moment] if you will show [demonstrate, extend] kindness [mercy, pity, loving actions] and faithfulness [truth, stability, reliability] to my master [lord, leader, one in authority], tell me [declare, inform, make known]; but if not [if it is not so, if you refuse], let me know [inform, make known], so that I may go elsewhere [turn to the right or left, choose a different path].” word study 50 Laban and Bethuel answered, “This [clearly, it is evident] is from the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God]; we have [are not able, cannot] no choice [say Yes or No, speak for or against] in the matter [thing, affair, circumstance]. word study 51 Rebekah [the mother of Esau and Jacob] is here before you [in your presence, face to face]. Take her [receive her as a gift] and go [journey, travel], and let her become [be established as] the wife [woman, companion] of your master’s [lord, ruler] son, just as [in accordance with, according to] the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] has decreed [spoken, commanded].” word study 52 When Abraham’s [faithful] servant [of God, bondservant] heard their words, he bowed down [in worship] to the ground before the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God]. word study 53 Then he brought out [precious and valuable] jewels of silver [or money, often referring to payment or wealth] and gold [a valuable metal, also used to describe something yellow or brilliant], and articles of clothing [or robes, garments], and he gave them to Rebekah [the wife of Isaac and mother of Esau and Jacob]. He also gave [bestowed, presented] precious gifts [or choice gifts, valuable things] to her brother [or male sibling, close relative] and her mother [or female parent, maternal figure]. word study 54 Then he and the men [individuals, males] with him [in his company, together] ate [consumed food, shared a meal] and drank [partook of beverages, refreshed themselves] and spent the night [lodged, rested] there. When they got up [rose, stood] the next morning [at dawn, with the break of day], he said, “Send me [let me depart, dismiss me] on my way [to my destination, journey] to my master [lord, the one I serve].” word study 55 But her brother [male sibling, close relative] and mother [female parent, maternal figure] said, “Let the girl [maiden, young woman] remain [dwell, sit] with us [in our company, near us] ten [a tenth] days or so [a few days, a short time]. After that [later, afterwards], she may go [walk, depart, leave].” word study 56 But he replied, “Do not [hinder] delay me, since the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] has made my journey [way, path] a success [prospered, rushed forward]. Send me on my way [depart, let me go] so that I may go to my master [lord, leader].” word study 57 So they said [in agreement, with one accord], “We will call [summon, invite] the girl [maiden, young woman] and ask [inquire, seek her opinion] her opinion [thoughts, feelings, will].” word study 58 They called [summoned, invited] Rebekah [the wife of Isaac and mother of Esau and Jacob] and asked her, “Will you go [walk, travel, proceed] with [together, in company, accompanied by] this [specific, particular] man [a male person, individual, husband]?” “I will go [proceed, journey, walk],” she replied [said, spoke, answered]. word study 59 So they sent [away, let go] their sister Rebekah [the wife of Isaac and mother of Esau and Jacob] on her way, along with her nurse [the one who suckled her, a caregiver] and Abraham’s [the father of faith] servant [a bondservant, one who serves] and his men [male attendants, companions]. word study 60 And they blessed [praised and honored] Rebekah and said to her, “Our sister [close relative, beloved one], may you become [grow into, increase as] the mother of thousands [a multitude, a large number] upon thousands [myriads, ten thousands]. May your offspring [seed, descendants] possess [take control of, occupy] the gates [entrances, strongholds] of their enemies [those who hate them, foes].” word study 61 Then Rebekah [the wife of Isaac, mother of Esau and Jacob] and her servant girls [maids, young women] got ready, mounted [rode upon] the camels [valuable riding animals], and followed [went after] the man [Abraham’s servant]. So the servant [faithful attendant] took [received, escorted] Rebekah and left [went his way, departed]. word study 62 Now Isaac [son of Abraham and Sarah, meaning ‘he laughs’] had just returned [come back, arrived] from Beer-lahai-roi [well of the Living One seeing me, a desert well], for he was living [dwelling, residing] in the Negev [the southern district, south country]. word study 63 Early in the evening [toward the eventide], Isaac [he laughs, son of Abraham] went out [to come out, to depart] to the field [open land] to meditate [think deeply], and looking up [lifting his eyes], he saw [behold, to perceive] the camels [valuable animals] approaching [coming, drawing near]. word study 64 And when Rebekah [the wife of Isaac, mother of Esau and Jacob] looked up [lifted up her eyes, gazing] and saw [perceived, became aware of] Isaac [the son of Abraham, the one who laughs], she got down [alighted, dismounted] from her camel [the beast of burden, a valuable animal] word study 65 and asked the servant [a bondservant, one who serves], “Who is that man [a male person, an individual] in the field [a land, a flat area] coming to meet us [to encounter, to befall us]?” “It is my master [lord, one who has authority],” the servant [one who serves] answered. So she took her veil [a shawl, a covering] and covered herself [to hide from view, to conceal]. word study 66 Then the servant [slave, bondservant] told Isaac [he laughs, son of Abraham] all [everything, the whole story] that he had done [accomplished, made]. word study 67 And Isaac [the son of Abraham, meaning ‘he laughs’] brought her into the tent [the dwelling place, tabernacle] of his mother Sarah [the noblewoman, matriarch] and took Rebekah [the wife of Isaac, mother of Esau and Jacob] as his wife [his female partner, companion]. And Isaac loved her [with affection, tenderly] and was comforted [consoled, relieved] after his mother’s [his female parent, the one who gave him life] death [the end of her earthly life, passing away]. word study