Genesis 24:57 — Word Study
WLCוַיֹּאמְר֖וּ נִקְרָ֣א לַֽנַּעֲרָ֑ וְנִשְׁאֲלָ֖ה אֶת־ פִּֽיהָ׃
BSASo they saidʼâmar▸ [in agreement, with one accord] We will callqârâʼ▸ [summon, invite] the girlnaʻărâh [maiden, young woman] and askshâʼal [inquire, seek her opinion] her opinionpeh [thoughts, feelings, will]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ | and they said | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine plural |
| נִקְרָ֣א | let us summon | Verb, Qal, imperfect first person common plural |
| לַֽנַּעֲרָ֑ | the young woman | Preposition, noun common feminine singular absolute |
| וְנִשְׁאֲלָ֖ה | and let us ask | Conjunction, verb qal infinitive construct first person common plural |
| אֶת־ | the object marker | Particle |
| פִּֽיהָ׃ | mouth her | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | So they said, “We will call the girl and ask her opinion.” |
| KJV | And they said, We will call the damsel, and enquire at her mouth. |
| ASV | And they said, We will call the damsel, and inquire at her mouth. |
| YLT | and they say, 'Let us call for the young person, and ask at her mouth;' |
| WEB | They said, “We will call the young lady, and ask her.” |
| BBE | And they said, We will send for the girl, and let her make the decision. |
Where they part company is לַֽנַּעֲרָ֑ — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence consists of a main clause followed by two infinitive phrases, outlining their actions clearly.
4 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbאָמַר
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Genesis 24:57
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Decision Regarding Rebekahgenerated
Genesis 24:57 captures a pivotal moment where the family of Rebekah decides to consult her before making a significant choice about her future. This follows a request from Abraham's servant, who has come to find a wife for Isaac. The decision reflects the importance of the girl's will in the matter, highlighting cultural practices of the time regarding marriage.
Cross References
The Key Word — נִשְׁאֲלָ֖ה, nish'alahgenerated
The word שָׁאַל (sha'al) means to ask or inquire, often in contexts of seeking information or requesting a favor. It conveys the act of seeking someone's thoughts or feelings, which is crucial in this verse as the family values Rebekah's opinion before proceeding with the marriage proposal.
This verb is in the first person common plural form, indicating that the family collectively expresses their intent to ask. The use of this form emphasizes their unity in decision-making and the importance they place on Rebekah's response.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ (and they said) governs the entire sentence, with two actions following: they will call and they will ask. This structure highlights the family's collective decision-making process.
The sentence is structured with a main clause followed by two infinitive phrases: נִקְרָ֣א (let us summon) and וְנִשְׁאֲלָ֖ה (and let us ask), clearly indicating their intentions.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ as εἶπαν (they said), which retains the same meaning as the Hebrew. This shows consistency in conveying the family's agreement.
For נִקְרָ֣א, the translation καλέσωμεν (let us call) aligns closely with the Hebrew meaning, emphasizing their action of summoning.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Genesis 24:57 shows the family deciding to call for Rebekah and ask her what she thinks about going with the servant. This moment is important as it reflects their desire to include her in the decision about her future.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
They want to include her opinion in the decision about her marriage, reflecting the importance of her choice.
The term 'girl' refers to a young, unmarried woman, indicating Rebekah's status and the cultural norms of the time.
Their agreement signifies respect for Rebekah's autonomy in a significant life decision, which was not always the case in ancient cultures.
This verse is part of the larger story where Abraham's servant seeks a wife for Isaac, emphasizing the importance of family involvement in marriage decisions.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways do I seek the opinions of those I care about before making important decisions?
- How can I ensure that I respect the autonomy of others in my relationships?
- What cultural practices regarding marriage do I see reflected in my own life or community?
- How can I better involve others in decisions that affect them?
Commentators on this verse — 4 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Genesis 24:57 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd they said, we will call the damsel,.... Who perhaps through modesty had withdrawn herself to her own apartment, while the man and her friends were discoursing on this subject: and inquire at her
Read John Gill on Genesis 24 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing the LORD hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master. No JFB commentary on these verses.
Read Robert Jamieson on Genesis 24 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Biblei.e. Understand her mind by her words, not so much concerning the marriage itself, in which she resigned up herself to the disposal of her parents and friends, and to which she had given an implicit consent by her acceptance of those presents which were made to her for that end, as concerning the hastiness of her departure.
Read Matthew Poole on Genesis 24 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsGenesis 24:57 And they said, We will call the damsel, and enquire at her mouth.Ver. 57. And inquire at her mouth.] Eve was not dragged, but brought by God to her husband. There must be a mutual consent, or it is not of God.
Read John Trapp on Genesis 24 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
So they said, “We will call the girl and ask her opinion.”
They said, “We will call the young lady, and ask her.”
So they said, “We will call the girl and ask her opinion.”
Then they said, “We’ll call the girl and find out what she wants to do.”
Tyndale line
And they said, We will call the damsel, and enquire at her mouth.
And they said, We will call the damsel, and inquire at her mouth.
And they said, We will call the damsel, and inquire at her mouth.
And they said, We will call the damsel, and inquire at her mouth.
Then they said, We will call the maide, and aske her consent.
Strictly literal
And they said, Let us call the maiden and inquire at her mouth.
and they say, 'Let us call for the young person, and ask at her mouth;'
and they say, “Let us call for the young person, and inquire of her mouth”;
And they said, We will call the maiden, and inquire her own decision.
They said, “We will call the young woman and ask her.”
From the Latin
And they said: Let us call the maid, and ask her will.
Simplified
“Let's call Rebekah and find out what she wants to do,” they suggested.
And they said, We will send for the girl, and let her make the decision.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint largely agree in wording, with five of the six words matching. However, the Samaritan Pentateuch differs in two words: it uses נערה (girl) and נשׁאל (ask), which reflects slight variations in terminology.
וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ נִקְרָ֣א לַֽנַּעֲרָ֑ וְנִשְׁאֲלָ֖ה אֶת־ פִּֽיהָ׃
5 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
ויאמרו נקרא לנערה ונשׁאל את פיה
2 words differ from the Masoretic Text: נערה (girl), נשׁאל (ask)
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Genesis 24:57
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
אָמַר (amar) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to say' or 'to utter,' with a broad range of uses including to promise, command, or even boast. It appears in various forms, such as in the Qal (to say), Niphal (to be told), and Hiphil (to avow). The entries highlight its versatility in both spoken and internal contexts, though no specific verse is noted.
אָמַר 5287 vb. utter, say
Qal
Say
Say in the heart (= think)
Promise
Command (esp. late)
Niph. be said, told
Hiph. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)
Hithp. act proudly, boast
base
H559 אָמַר utter, say .. Say
. Say in the heart (= think)
. Promise
. Command (esp. late)
. be said, told
. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)
. act proudly, boast
559 'amar aw-mar'
a primitive root; to say (used with great
latitude):--answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call,
certify, challenge, charge, + (at the, give) command(-ment),
commune, consider, declare, demand, X desire, determine, X
expressly, X indeed, X intend, name, X plainly, promise,
publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), X still, X
suppose, talk, tell, term, X that is, X think, use (speech),
utter, X verily, X yet.
אָמַר (a.mar) — to say.
1) to say, speak, utter
1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend
1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called
1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly
1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch
Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine pluralHc/Vqw3mp
The Hebrew word קָרָא (qara') is a primitive root meaning to call, proclaim, or read. It encompasses a range of actions including calling out, crying for help, reading aloud, and summoning. The word can also imply being called or named in various contexts. There are no significant disagreements among the lexicons regarding its meanings.
קָרָא 724 vb. call, proclaim, read
Qal
call, cry, utter a loud sound
call, cry
call unto some one
cry for help
proclaim
read aloud
read to oneself
summon
call = name
Niph.
reflex.
pass. be called
Pu. be called
base
H7121 קָרָא call, proclaim, read .. . call, cry, utter a loud sound
. call, cry
. . call unto some one
. cry for help
. proclaim
. . read aloud
. read to oneself
. summon
. call = name
. . reflex.
. pass. be called
. be called
7121 qara' kaw-raw'
a primitive root (rather identical with 7122 through the idea
of accosting a person met); to call out to (i.e. properly,
address by name, but used in a wide variety of
applications):--bewray (self), that are bidden, call (for,
forth, self, upon), cry (unto), (be) famous, guest, invite,
mention, (give) name, preach, (make) proclaim(- ation),
pronounce, publish, read, renowned, say.
see HEBREW for 07122
קָרָא (qa.ra) — to call: call to.
: call_to/invite/entreat
1) to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to call, cry, utter a loud sound
1a2) to call unto, cry (for help), call (with name of God)
1a3) to proclaim
1a4) to read aloud, read (to oneself), read
1a5) to summon, invite, call for, call and commission, appoint, call and endow
1a6) to call, name, give name to, call by
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to call oneself
1b2) to be called, be proclaimed, be read aloud, be summoned, be named
1c) (Pual) to be called, be named, be called out, be chosen
קָרָא (qa.ra) — to call: call by.
: call_by/name
1) to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to call, cry, utter a loud sound
1a2) to call unto, cry (for help), call (with name of God)
1a3) to proclaim
1a4) to read aloud, read (to oneself), read
V-Qal-Imperf-1cp — Verb · Qal · imperfect first person common pluralHVqi1cp
The Hebrew word נַעֲרָה (*na`arah*) means 'girl' or 'damsel' and refers to a young female from infancy to adolescence. It can also denote a young woman, including terms like maid or female servant. The entries indicate a range of meanings that include marriageable young women and even concubines or prostitutes.
נַעֲרָה n.f. girl, damsel
girl, damsel
of female attendants, maids
base
H5291 נַעֲרָה girl, damsel
5291 na`arah nah-ar-aw'
feminine of 5288; a girl (from infancy to
adolescence):--damsel, maid(-en), young (woman).
see HEBREW for 05288
נַעֲרָה (na.a.rah) — maiden.
1) girl, damsel, female servant
1a) girl, damsel, little girl
1a1) of young woman, marriageable young woman, concubine, prostitute
1b) maid, female attendant, female servant
Prep | N-fs — Preposition · noun common feminine singular absoluteHRd/Ncfsa
woom'-an ('ishshah, "a woman" (feminine of 'ish, "a man"]; gune, "a woman" "wife"):
I. IN THE CREATIVE PLAN
II. IN OLD TESTAMENT TIMES
1. Prominence of Women
2. Social Equality
3. Marriage Laws
4. Inheritance
5. Domestic Duties
6. Dress and Ornaments
7. Religious Devotion and Service
(1) in Idolatry and False Religion
(2) in Spiritual Religion
III. INTER-TESTAMENTAL ERA
IV. IN NEW TESTAMENT TIMES
1. Mary and Elisabeth
2. Jesus and Women
3. In the Early Church
4. Official Service
5. Widows
6. Deaconesses
IV. LATER TIMES
1. Changes in Character and Condition
2. Notable Examples of Christian Womanhood
3. Woman in the 20th Century
The generic term "man" includes woman. In the narrative of the creation (Ge 1:26,27) Adam is a collective term for mankind. It may signify human being, male or female, or humanity entire. "God said, Let us make man .... and let them"…
Woman
Was “taken out of man” (Gen. 2:23), and therefore the man has the preeminence. “The head of the woman is the man;” but yet honour is to be shown to the wife, “as unto the weaker vessel” (1 Cor. 11:3, 8, 9; 1 Pet. 3:7). Several women are mentioned in Scripture as having been endowed with prophetic gifts, as Miriam (Ex. 15:20), Deborah (Judg. 4:4, 5), Huldah (2 Kings 22:14), Noadiah (Neh. 6:14), Anna (Luke 2:36, 37), and the daughters of Philip the evangelist…
Is spoken of in Scripture as the beloved and honored companion and helpmeet, not the servant, of man, Ge 2:23,24, created as the necessary completion of man, Ge 3:16 1Co 11:3,8,9 14:34,35 1Ti 2:11-14, yet specially qualified for that sphere, and as necessary in it as man in his. Man and woman are indeed essentially one, the natural qualities of each so responding to those of the other as to lay the foundation of the most tender and abiding unity. The Bible thus raised the Jewish woman high above the woman of heathenism; and the Old Testament contains some of the finest portraitures of female character. But still greater is the contrast between the women of heathenism and…
שָׁאַל (sha'al) means to ask or inquire, often in the context of requesting a favor or borrowing. It covers a range of uses, including seeking counsel, consulting deities, and even begging. The verb can appear in different forms, such as asking for oneself or granting requests. There is a noted Aramaic equivalent, שְׁאֵל (she.el), meaning 'to ask'.
שָׁאַל 170 vb. ask, inquire
Qal
ask, ask for
specif. ask as a fovour, for temporary use, i.e. borrow
in weakened sense, seek, desire (late)
inquire of
inquire of, consult, deity, oracle, etc.
in weakened sense, seek, desire (late)
Niph. ask for oneself
Pi.
inquire carefully
beg, practise beggary
Hiph. (prop. let one ask [successfully], give, or lend, on request, then) grant, make over to (as a favour, with or without request)
base
H7592 שָׁאַל ask, inquire .. . ask, ask for
. specif. ask as a fovour, for temporary use, i.e. borrow
. in weakened sense, seek, desire (late)
. . inquire of
. inquire of, consult, deity, oracle, etc.
. in weakened sense, seek, desire (late)
. ask for oneself
. . inquire carefully
. beg, practise beggary
. (prop. let one ask [successfully], give, or lend, on request, then) grant, make over to (as a favour, with or without request)
7592 sha'al shaw-al'
or shael {shaw-ale'}; a primitive root; to inquire; by
implication, to request; by extension, to demand:--ask
(counsel, on), beg, borrow, lay to charge, consult, demand,
desire, X earnestly, enquire, + greet, obtain leave, lend,
pray, request, require, + salute, X straitly, X surely, wish.
שָׁאַל (sha.al) — to ask.
1) to ask, enquire, borrow, beg
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to ask, ask for
1a2) to ask (as a favour), borrow
1a3) to enquire, enquire of
1a4) to enquire of, consult (of deity, oracle)
1a5) to seek
1b) (Niphal) to ask for oneself, ask leave of absence
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to enquire, enquire carefully
1c2) to beg, practise beggary
1d) (Hiphil)
1d1) to be given on request
1d2) to grant, make over to, let (one) ask (successfully) or give or lend on request (then) grant or make over to
Aramaic equivalent: she.el (שְׁאֵל "to ask" H7593)
Conj | V-Qal-1cp — Conjunction · verb qal infinitive construct first person common pluralHC/Vqc1cp
ask (sha'al "to inquire," "to seek for counsel," "to demand"): It is the word commonly used in the Old Testament and is equivalent to eperotao, "to request," used in the New Testament. It does not imply any inferiority on the part of the person asking (Ps 2:8). It is the Son who is bidden to ask, and therefore the word expresses the request of an equal. It has also the meaning "to inquire": "Wherefore .... ask after my name?" (Ge 32:29) signifying, "Surely you must know who I am." "Ye shall ask me no question" (Joh 16:23), i.e. "about the true meaning of My words, for all will then be clear to you" (Dummelow). aiteo, is the word commonly used with reference to prayer. It means "to ask," "to implore," and presents the…
אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
base
H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
853 'eth ayth
apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of
entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more
definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or
namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).
see HEBREW for 0226
אֵת (et) — [Obj.].
sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative
Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
HTo — ParticleHTo
The Hebrew word פֶּה (*peh*) means 'mouth' and encompasses various meanings, including the mouth of a person or animal, as well as openings or orifices. It can also refer to speech, edges, and portions. Additionally, it denotes a weight equal to one third of a shekel, found in 1 Samuel 13:21.
פֶּה 485 n.m. mouth
mouth, of man, organ of eating and drinking
external organ
much oftener, as organ of speech, of man
as laughing; panting
of God
of idols
of musical instr. = sound
of animals; hence of edge of sword
mouth = opening, orifice
extremity, end
= portion
with preps.
base
H6310 פֶּה mouth . . mouth, of man, organ of eating and drinking
. external organ
. . much oftener, as organ of speech, of man
. as laughing; panting
. of God
. of idols
. of musical instr. = sound
. of animals
. mouth = opening, orifice
. . extremity, end
. = portion
. with preps.
6310 peh peh
from 6284; the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether
literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically
edge, portion or side; adverbially (with preposition)
according to:--accord(-ing as, -ing to), after, appointment,
assent, collar, command(-ment), X eat, edge, end, entry, +
file, hole, X in, mind, mouth, part, portion, X (should)
say(-ing), sentence, skirt, sound, speech, X spoken, talk,
tenor, X to, + two-edged, wish, word.
see HEBREW for 06284
פֶּה (peh) — lip.
: lip/mouth
peh
1) mouth
1a) mouth (of man)
1b) mouth (as organ of speech)
1c) mouth (of animals)
1d) mouth, opening, orifice (of a well, river, etc)
1e) extremity, end pim
2) a weight equal to one third of a shekel, occurs only in 1Sa 13:21
פֶּה (peh) — lip: edge.
: edge
peh
1) mouth
1a) mouth (of man)
1b) mouth (as organ of speech)
1c) mouth (of animals)
1d) mouth, opening, orifice (of a well, river, etc)
1e) extremity, end pim
2) a weight equal to one third of a shekel, occurs only in 1Sa 13:21
פֶּה (peh) — lip: word.
: word/command
peh
1) mouth
1a) mouth (of man)
1b) mouth (as organ of speech)
1c) mouth (of animals)
1d) mouth, opening, orifice (of a well, river, etc)
1e) extremity, end pim
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp3fs