Genesis chapter 24

English Standard Version

New International Version

New American Standard Bible

28Then the young woman ran and told her mother’s household about these things. 29Now Rebekah had a brother whose name was Laban; and Laban ran outside to the man at the spring. 30When he saw the ring and the bracelets on his sister’s wrists, and when he heard the words of his sister Rebekah, saying, 'This is what the man said to me,' he went to the man; and behold, he was standing by the camels at the spring. 31And he said, 'Come in, blessed of the Lord! Why do you stand outside, since I have prepared the house, and a place for the camels?' 32So the man entered the house. Then Laban unloaded the camels, and he gave straw and feed to the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him. 33But when food was set before him to eat, he said, 'I will not eat until I have stated my business.' And he said, 'Speak on.' 34So he said, 'I am Abraham’s servant. 35The Lord has greatly blessed my master, so that he has become rich; and He has given him flocks and herds, and silver and gold, and servants and slave women, and camels and donkeys. 36Now my master’s wife Sarah bore a son to my master in her old age, and he has given him all that he has. 37My master made me swear, saying, ‘You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live; 38but you shall go to my father’s house and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son.’ 39Then I said to my master, ‘Suppose the woman does not follow me.’ 40And he said to me, ‘The Lord, before whom I have walked, will send His angel with you to make your journey successful, and you will take a wife for my son from my relatives and from my father’s house; 41then you will be free from my oath, when you come to my relatives; and if they do not give her to you, you will be free from my oath.’
Christian Standard Bible

New Living Translation

King James Version

New King James Version

What does Genesis chapter 24 mean?

Genesis 24 describes in great detail how Rebekah came to be the wife of Abraham's son Isaac. The story begins with what sounds like a deathbed scene, though Abraham will apparently live another 35 years.

Abraham summons his oldest and most trusted servant and commissions the man with a specific mission: He must find for Isaac a wife from among Abraham's people back in Mesopotamia. Abraham is so urgent that he requires the servant to swear an oath binding himself to completing this task. More specifically, the servant must not allow Isaac to marry a Canaanite woman, but Isaac must not leave Canaan in order to marry a Mesopotamian woman (Genesis 24:1–4).

The servant receives a caveat: If he cannot find a woman willing to return to Canaan to marry Isaac, the servant will be released from his oath. Abraham, though, is confident God will make this happen, even sending an angel to guarantee success (Genesis 24:5–9).

The servant arrives in Mesopotamia at the town of Nahor, which shares the name of Abraham's own brother. Eager not to fail in his mission, the servant prays to Abraham's God and asks that if any of the young women coming to draw water at the town well offer to water his ten camels, she will be the one God has appointed for Isaac (Genesis 24:10–14).

Before the servant has finished his prayer, Rebekah enters the scene and does exactly as the servant has asked. He immediately gives expensive jewelry to Rebekah. He asks if her family has room to accommodate a visit from himself and his company, including their camels. He also asks who her father is (Genesis 24:15–23).

When Rebekah names her father, the servant knows exactly who she is. She is the granddaughter of Abraham's own brother Nahor. This is better even than the servant had hoped. He knows now that the Lord has led him to the exact young lady intended for Isaac. As Abraham has requested, he has found Abraham's kinsmen and identified a bride for Isaac. He immediately worships the Lord right in front of Rebekah (Genesis 24:24–27).

Rebekah hurries home and soon her brother rushes to the well to welcome this servant of their family member Abraham. Invited into the home of Rebekah's father Bethuel, the servant presents his mission, telling in great detail how the Lord led him to Rebekah. Finally, he asks if they will give Rebekah in marriage to his master Abraham's son Isaac. They agree, stating that they could do nothing else given what the servant has told them (Genesis 24:28–51).

After a brief negotiation the next morning, Rebekah agrees to leave that very day to travel with the servant to the land of Canaan. At the end of the journey, she meets Isaac, now 40, for the first time (Genesis 25:20). He allows her to live in the tent of his late mother Sarah, and soon they are happily wed (Genesis 24:52–67).
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