Genesis 24:2-48
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 24
2Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his household who was in charge of all that he owned, 'Please place your hand under my thigh, 3and I will make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I live; 4but you will go to my country and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son Isaac.' 5The servant said to him, 'Suppose the woman is not willing to follow me to this land; should I take your son back to the land from where you came?' 6Then Abraham said to him, 'Beware that you do not take my son back there! 7The Lord, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and from the land of my birth, and who spoke to me and who swore to me, saying, ‘To your descendants I will give this land’—He will send His angel ahead of you, and you will take a wife for my son from there. 8But if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be free of this oath of mine; only do not take my son back there.' 9So the servant placed his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham, and swore to him concerning this matter.
10Then the servant took ten camels from the camels of his master, and went out with a variety of good things of his master’s in his hand; so he set out and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor.
11He made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water when it was evening, the time when women go out to draw water.
12And he said, 'Lord, God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham.
13Behold, I am standing by the spring, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water;
14now may it be that the young woman to whom I say, ‘Please let down your jar so that I may drink,’ and who answers, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels also’— may she be the one whom You have appointed for Your servant Isaac; and by this I will know that You have shown kindness to my master.'
15And it came about, before he had finished speaking, that behold, Rebekah, who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor, came out with her jar on her shoulder.
16The young woman was very beautiful, a virgin; no man had had relations with her. She went down to the spring, filled her jar, and came up.
17Then the servant ran to meet her, and said, 'Please let me drink a little water from your jar.'
18And she said, 'Drink, my lord'; then she quickly lowered her jar to her hand, and gave him a drink.
19Now when she had finished giving him a drink, she said, 'I will also draw water for your camels until they have finished drinking.'
20So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough, and ran back to the well to draw, and she drew for all his camels.
21Meanwhile, the man was taking a close look at her in silence, to find out whether the Lord had made his journey successful or not.
22When the camels had finished drinking, the man took a gold ring weighing a half-shekel, and two bracelets for her wrists weighing ten shekels in gold,
23and he said, 'Whose daughter are you? Please tell me, is there room for us to stay overnight at your father’s house?'
24She said to him, 'I am the daughter of Bethuel, Milcah’s son, whom she bore to Nahor.'
25Again she said to him, 'We have plenty of both straw and feed, and room to stay overnight.'
26Then the man bowed low and worshiped the Lord.
27And he said, 'Blessed be the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned His kindness and His trustworthiness toward my master; as for me, the Lord has guided me in the way to the house of my master’s brothers.'
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.’
42So I came today to the spring, and said, ‘Lord, God of my master Abraham, if now You will make my journey on which I have been going successful;
43behold, I am standing by the spring, and may it be that the young unmarried woman who comes out to draw water, and to whom I say, 'Please let me drink a little water from your jar';
44and she says to me, 'You drink, and I will draw for your camels also'—let her be the woman whom the Lord has appointed for my master’s son.’
45Before I had finished speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder, and went down to the spring and drew water, and I said to her, ‘Please let me drink.’
46She quickly lowered her jar from her shoulder, and said, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels also’; so I drank, and she watered the camels also.
47Then I asked her, and said, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ And she said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bore to him’; and I put the ring on her nose, and the bracelets on her wrists.
48And I bowed low and worshiped the Lord, and blessed the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who had guided me in the right way to take the daughter of my master’s brother for his son.
King James Version
Chapter 24
2And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh: 3And I will make thee swear by the Lord, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell: 4But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.
6And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again.
7The Lord God of heaven, which took me from my father's house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.
8And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath: only bring not my son thither again.
9And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning that matter.
10And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor.
11And he made his camels to kneel down without the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, even the time that women go out to draw water.
12And he said, O Lord God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham.
13Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water:
14And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master.
15And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder.
16And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up.
17And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher.
18And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink.
19And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for thy camels also, until they have done drinking.
20And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels.
21And the man wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether the Lord had made his journey prosperous or not.
22And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold;
23And said, Whose daughter art thou? tell me, I pray thee: is there room in thy father's house for us to lodge in?
24And she said unto him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, which she bare unto Nahor.
25She said moreover unto him, We have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in.
26And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the Lord.
27And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I being in the way, the Lord led me to the house of my master's brethren.
28And the damsel ran, and told them of her mother's house these things.
29And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban: and Laban ran out unto the man, unto the well.
30And it came to pass, when he saw the earring and bracelets upon his sister's hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, Thus spake the man unto me; that he came unto the man; and, behold, he stood by the camels at the well.
31And he said, Come in, thou blessed of the Lord; wherefore standest thou without? for I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.
32And the man came into the house: and he ungirded his camels, and gave straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet, and the men's feet that were with him.
33And there was set meat before him to eat: but he said, I will not eat, until I have told mine errand. And he said, Speak on.
34And he said, I am Abraham's servant.
35And the Lord hath blessed my master greatly; and he is become great: and he hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and menservants, and maidservants, and camels, and asses.
36And Sarah my master's wife bare a son to my master when she was old: and unto him hath he given all that he hath.
37And my master made me swear, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife to my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell:
38But thou shalt go unto my father's house, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son.
39And I said unto my master, Peradventure the woman will not follow me.
40And he said unto me, The Lord, before whom I walk, will send his angel with thee, and prosper thy way; and thou shalt take a wife for my son of my kindred, and of my father's house:
41Then shalt thou be clear from this my oath, when thou comest to my kindred; and if they give not thee one, thou shalt be clear from my oath.
42And I came this day unto the well, and said, O Lord God of my master Abraham, if now thou do prosper my way which I go:
43Behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to pass, that when the virgin cometh forth to draw water, and I say to her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water of thy pitcher to drink;
44And she say to me, Both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy camels: let the same be the woman whom the Lord hath appointed out for my master's son.
45And before I had done speaking in mine heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down unto the well, and drew water: and I said unto her, Let me drink, I pray thee.
46And she made haste, and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: so I drank, and she made the camels drink also.
47And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter art thou? And she said, The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bare unto him: and I put the earring upon her face, and the bracelets upon her hands.
48And I bowed down my head, and worshipped the Lord, and blessed the Lord God of my master Abraham, which had led me in the right way to take my master's brother's daughter unto his son.
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 24
2Abraham said to his servant, the elder of his household who managed all he owned, "Place your hand under my thigh, 3and I will have you swear by the Lord, God of heaven and God of earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I live, 4but will go to my land and my family to take a wife for my son Isaac."
6Abraham answered him, "Make sure that you don’t take my son back there.
7The Lord, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and from my native land, who spoke to me and swore to me, ‘I will give this land to your offspring’ —he will send his angel before you, and you can take a wife for my son from there.
8If the woman is unwilling to follow you, then you are free from this oath to me, but don’t let my son go back there."
9So the servant placed his hand under his master Abraham’s thigh and swore an oath to him concerning this matter.
10The servant took ten of his master’s camels, and with all kinds of his master’s goods in hand, he went to Aram-naharaim, to Nahor’s town.
11At evening, the time when women went out to draw water, he made the camels kneel beside a well outside the town.
12"Lord, God of my master Abraham," he prayed, "make this happen for me today, and show kindness to my master Abraham.
13I am standing here at the spring where the daughters of the men of the town are coming out to draw water.
14Let the girl to whom I say, ‘Please lower your water jug so that I may drink,’ and who responds, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels also’—let her be the one you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master."
15Before he had finished speaking, there was Rebekah—daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah, the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor—coming with a jug on her shoulder.
16Now the girl was very beautiful, a virgin—no man had been intimate with her. She went down to the spring, filled her jug, and came up.
17Then the servant ran to meet her and said, "Please let me have a little water from your jug."
18She replied, "Drink, my lord." She quickly lowered her jug to her hand and gave him a drink.
19When she had finished giving him a drink, she said, "I’ll also draw water for your camels until they have had enough to drink."
20She quickly emptied her jug into the trough and hurried to the well again to draw water. She drew water for all his camels
21while the man silently watched her to see whether or not the Lord had made his journey a success.
22As the camels finished drinking, the man took a gold ring weighing half a shekel, and for her wrists two bracelets weighing ten shekels of gold.
23"Whose daughter are you?" he asked. "Please tell me, is there room in your father’s house for us to spend the night?"
24She answered him, "I am the daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor."
25She also said to him, "We have plenty of straw and feed and a place to spend the night."
26Then the man knelt low, worshiped the Lord,
27and said, "Blessed be the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not withheld his kindness and faithfulness from my master. As for me, the Lord has led me on the journey to the house of my master’s relatives."
28The girl ran and told her mother’s household about these things.
29Now Rebekah had a brother named Laban, and Laban ran out to the man at the spring.
30As soon as he had seen the ring and the bracelets on his sister’s wrists, and when he had heard his sister Rebekah’s words—"The man said this to me!"—he went to the man. He was standing there by the camels at the spring.
31Laban said, "Come, you who are blessed by the Lord. Why are you standing out here? I have prepared the house and a place for the camels."
32So the man came to the house, and the camels were unloaded. Straw and feed were given to the camels, and water was brought to wash his feet and the feet of the men with him.
34"I am Abraham’s servant," he said.
35"The Lord has greatly blessed my master, and he has become rich. He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male and female slaves, and camels and donkeys.
36Sarah, my master’s wife, bore a son to my master in her old age, and he has given him everything he owns.
37My master put me under this oath: ‘You will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites in whose land I live
38but will go to my father’s family and to my clan to take a wife for my son.’
39But I said to my master, ‘Suppose the woman will not come back with me?’
40He said to me, ‘The Lord before whom I have walked will send his angel with you and make your journey a success, and you will take a wife for my son from my clan and from my father’s family.
41Then you will be free from my oath if you go to my family and they do not give her to you—you will be free from my oath.’
42"Today when I came to the spring, I prayed: Lord, God of my master Abraham, if only you will make my journey successful!
43I am standing here at a spring. Let the young woman who comes out to draw water, and I say to her, ‘Please let me drink a little water from your jug,’
44and who responds to me, ‘Drink, and I’ll draw water for your camels also’—let her be the woman the Lord has appointed for my master’s son.
45"Before I had finished praying silently, there was Rebekah coming with her jug on her shoulder, and she went down to the spring and drew water. So I said to her, ‘Please let me have a drink.’
46She quickly lowered her jug from her shoulder and said, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels also.’ So I drank, and she also watered the camels.
47Then I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She responded, ‘The daughter of Bethuel son of Nahor, whom Milcah bore to him.’ So I put the ring on her nose and the bracelets on her wrists.
48Then I knelt low, worshiped the Lord, and blessed the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who guided me on the right way to take the granddaughter of my master’s brother for his son.
New Living Translation
Chapter 24
2One day Abraham said to his oldest servant, the man in charge of his household, 'Take an oath by putting your hand under my thigh. 3Swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and earth, that you will not allow my son to marry one of these local Canaanite women. 4Go instead to my homeland, to my relatives, and find a wife there for my son Isaac.'
6No!' Abraham responded. 'Be careful never to take my son there.
7For the Lord, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and my native land, solemnly promised to give this land to my descendants. He will send his angel ahead of you, and he will see to it that you find a wife there for my son.
8If she is unwilling to come back with you, then you are free from this oath of mine. But under no circumstances are you to take my son there.'
9So the servant took an oath by putting his hand under the thigh of his master, Abraham. He swore to follow Abraham’s instructions.
10Then he loaded ten of Abraham’s camels with all kinds of expensive gifts from his master, and he traveled to distant Aram-naharaim. There he went to the town where Abraham’s brother Nahor had settled.
11He made the camels kneel beside a well just outside the town. It was evening, and the women were coming out to draw water.
12O Lord, God of my master, Abraham,' he prayed. 'Please give me success today, and show unfailing love to my master, Abraham.
13See, I am standing here beside this spring, and the young women of the town are coming out to draw water.
14This is my request. I will ask one of them, ‘Please give me a drink from your jug.’ If she says, ‘Yes, have a drink, and I will water your camels, too!’ — let her be the one you have selected as Isaac’s wife. This is how I will know that you have shown unfailing love to my master.'
15Before he had finished praying, he saw a young woman named Rebekah coming out with her water jug on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel, who was the son of Abraham’s brother Nahor and his wife, Milcah.
16Rebekah was very beautiful and old enough to be married, but she was still a virgin. She went down to the spring, filled her jug, and came up again.
17Running over to her, the servant said, 'Please give me a little drink of water from your jug.'
18Yes, my lord,' she answered, 'have a drink.' And she quickly lowered her jug from her shoulder and gave him a drink.
19When she had given him a drink, she said, 'I’ll draw water for your camels, too, until they have had enough to drink.'
20So she quickly emptied her jug into the watering trough and ran back to the well to draw water for all his camels.
21The servant watched her in silence, wondering whether or not the Lord had given him success in his mission.
22Then at last, when the camels had finished drinking, he took out a gold ring for her nose and two large gold bracelets for her wrists.
24I am the daughter of Bethuel,' she replied. 'My grandparents are Nahor and Milcah.
25Yes, we have plenty of straw and feed for the camels, and we have room for guests.'
26The man bowed low and worshiped the Lord.
27Praise the Lord, the God of my master, Abraham,' he said. 'The Lord has shown unfailing love and faithfulness to my master, for he has led me straight to my master’s relatives.'
28The young woman ran home to tell her family everything that had happened.
29Now Rebekah had a brother named Laban, who ran out to meet the man at the spring.
30He had seen the nose-ring and the bracelets on his sister’s wrists, and had heard Rebekah tell what the man had said. So he rushed out to the spring, where the man was still standing beside his camels.
31Laban said to him, 'Come and stay with us, you who are blessed by the Lord! Why are you standing here outside the town when I have a room all ready for you and a place prepared for the camels?'
34I am Abraham’s servant,' he explained.
35And the Lord has greatly blessed my master; he has become a wealthy man. The Lord has given him flocks of sheep and goats, herds of cattle, a fortune in silver and gold, and many male and female servants and camels and donkeys.
36When Sarah, my master’s wife, was very old, she gave birth to my master’s son, and my master has given him everything he owns.
37And my master made me take an oath. He said, ‘Do not allow my son to marry one of these local Canaanite women.
38Go instead to my father’s house, to my relatives, and find a wife there for my son.’
39But I said to my master, ‘What if I can’t find a young woman who is willing to go back with me?’
40He responded, ‘The Lord, in whose presence I have lived, will send his angel with you and will make your mission successful. Yes, you must find a wife for my son from among my relatives, from my father’s family.
41Then you will have fulfilled your obligation. But if you go to my relatives and they refuse to let her go with you, you will be free from my oath.’
42So today when I came to the spring, I prayed this prayer: ‘O Lord, God of my master, Abraham, please give me success on this mission.
43See, I am standing here beside this spring. This is my request. When a young woman comes to draw water, I will say to her, 'Please give me a little drink of water from your jug.'
44If she says, 'Yes, have a drink, and I will draw water for your camels, too,' let her be the one you have selected to be the wife of my master’s son.’
45Before I had finished praying in my heart, I saw Rebekah coming out with her water jug on her shoulder. She went down to the spring and drew water. So I said to her, ‘Please give me a drink.’
46She quickly lowered her jug from her shoulder and said, ‘Yes, have a drink, and I will water your camels, too!’ So I drank, and then she watered the camels.
English Standard Version
Chapter 24
2And Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his household, who had charge of all that he had, "Put your hand under my thigh, 3that I may make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and God of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell, 4but will go to my country and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son Isaac." 5The servant said to him, "Perhaps the woman may not be willing to follow me to this land. Must I then take your son back to the land from which you came?" 6Abraham said to him, "See to it that you do not take my son back there. 7The Lord, the God of heaven, who took me from my father 's house and from the land of my kindred, and who spoke to me and swore to me, ‘To your offspring I will give this land,’ he will send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there. 8But if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be free from this oath of mine; only you must not take my son back there." 9So the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master and swore to him concerning this matter.
10Then the servant took ten of his master 's camels and departed, taking all sorts of choice gifts from his master; and he arose and went to Mesopotamia to the city of Nahor.
11And he made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water at the time of evening, the time when women go out to draw water.
12And he said, "O Lord, God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today and show steadfast love to my master Abraham.
13Behold, I am standing by the spring of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water.
14Let the young woman to whom I shall say, ‘Please let down your jar that I may drink,’ and who shall say, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels’ — let her be the one whom you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I shall know that you have shown steadfast love to my master."
15Before he had finished speaking, behold, Rebekah, who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham 's brother, came out with her water jar on her shoulder.
16The young woman was very attractive in appearance, a maiden whom no man had known. She went down to the spring and filled her jar and came up.
17Then the servant ran to meet her and said, "Please give me a little water to drink from your jar."
18She said, "Drink, my lord." And she quickly let down her jar upon her hand and gave him a drink.
19When she had finished giving him a drink, she said, "I will draw water for your camels also, until they have finished drinking."
20So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough and ran again to the well to draw water, and she drew for all his camels.
21The man gazed at her in silence to learn whether the Lord had prospered his journey or not.
22When the camels had finished drinking, the man took a gold ring weighing a half shekel, and two bracelets for her arms weighing ten gold shekels,
23and said, "Please tell me whose daughter you are. Is there room in your father 's house for us to spend the night?"
24She said to him, "I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor."
25She added, "We have plenty of both straw and fodder, and room to spend the night."
26The man bowed his head and worshiped the Lord
27and said, "Blessed be the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his steadfast love and his faithfulness toward my master. As for me, the Lord has led me in the way to the house of my master 's kinsmen."
28Then the young woman ran and told her mother 's household about these things.
29Rebekah had a brother whose name was Laban. Laban ran out toward the man, to the spring.
30As soon as he saw the ring and the bracelets on his sister 's arms, and heard the words of Rebekah his sister, "Thus the man spoke to me," he went to the man. And behold, he was standing by the camels at the spring.
31He said, "Come in, O blessed of the Lord. Why do you stand outside? For I have prepared the house and a place for the camels."
32So the man came to the house and unharnessed the camels, and gave straw and fodder to the camels, and there was water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him.
33Then food was set before him to eat. But he said, "I will not eat until I have said what I have to say." He said, "Speak on."
34So he said, "I am Abraham 's servant.
35The Lord has greatly blessed my master, and he has become great. He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male servants and female servants, camels and donkeys.
36And Sarah my master 's wife bore a son to my master when she was old, and to him he has given 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 dwell,
38but you shall go to my father 's house and to my clan and take a wife for my son.’
39I said to my master, ‘Perhaps the woman will not follow me.’
40But he said to me, ‘The Lord, before whom I have walked, will send his angel with you and prosper your way. You shall take a wife for my son from my clan and from my father 's house.
41Then you will be free from my oath, when you come to my clan. And if they will not give her to you, you will be free from my oath.’
42"I came today to the spring and said, ‘O Lord, the God of my master Abraham, if now you are prospering the way that I go,
43behold, I am standing by the spring of water. Let the virgin who comes out to draw water, to whom I shall say, "Please give me a little water from your jar to drink,"
44and who will say to me, "Drink, and I will draw for your camels also," let her be the woman whom the Lord has appointed for my master 's son.’
45"Before I had finished speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came out with her water jar on her shoulder, and she went down to the spring and drew water. I said to her, ‘Please let me drink.’
46She quickly let down her jar from her shoulder and said, ‘Drink, and I will give your camels drink also.’ So I drank, and she gave the camels drink also.
47Then I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor 's son, whom Milcah bore to him.’ So I put the ring on her nose and the bracelets on her arms.
48Then I bowed my head and worshiped the Lord and blessed the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me by the right way to take the daughter of my master 's kinsman for his son.
New International Version
Chapter 24
2He said to the senior servant in his household, the one in charge of all that he had, "Put your hand under my thigh. 3I want you to swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living, 4but will go to my country and my own relatives and get a wife for my son Isaac."
6"Make sure that you do not take my son back there," Abraham said.
7"The Lord, the God of heaven, who brought me out of my father’s household and my native land and who spoke to me and promised me on oath, saying, ‘To your offspring I will give this land’—he will send his angel before you so that you can get a wife for my son from there.
8If the woman is unwilling to come back with you, then you will be released from this oath of mine. Only do not take my son back there."
9So the servant put his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and swore an oath to him concerning this matter.
10Then the servant left, taking with him ten of his master’s camels loaded with all kinds of good things from his master. He set out for Aram Naharaim and made his way to the town of Nahor.
11He had the camels kneel down near the well outside the town; it was toward evening, the time the women go out to draw water.
12Then he prayed, "Lord, God of my master Abraham, make me successful today, and show kindness to my master Abraham.
13See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water.
14May it be that when I say to a young woman, ‘Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too’—let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master."
15Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milkah, who was the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor.
16The woman was very beautiful, a virgin; no man had ever slept with her. She went down to the spring, filled her jar and came up again.
19After she had given him a drink, she said, "I’ll draw water for your camels too, until they have had enough to drink."
20So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough, ran back to the well to draw more water, and drew enough for all his camels.
21Without saying a word, the man watched her closely to learn whether or not the Lord had made his journey successful.
22When the camels had finished drinking, the man took out a gold nose ring weighing a beka and two gold bracelets weighing ten shekels.
23Then he asked, "Whose daughter are you? Please tell me, is there room in your father’s house for us to spend the night?"
24She answered him, "I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son that Milkah bore to Nahor."
25And she added, "We have plenty of straw and fodder, as well as room for you to spend the night."
26Then the man bowed down and worshiped the Lord,
27saying, "Praise be to the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness to my master. As for me, the Lord has led me on the journey to the house of my master’s relatives."
28The young woman ran and told her mother’s household about these things.
29Now Rebekah had a brother named Laban, and he hurried out to the man at the spring.
30As soon as he had seen the nose ring, and the bracelets on his sister’s arms, and had heard Rebekah tell what the man said to her, he went out to the man and found him standing by the camels near the spring.
31"Come, you who are blessed by the Lord," he said. "Why are you standing out here? I have prepared the house and a place for the camels."
34So he said, "I am Abraham’s servant.
35The Lord has blessed my master abundantly, and he has become wealthy. He has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, male and female servants, and camels and donkeys.
36My master’s wife Sarah has borne him a son in her old age, and he has given him everything he owns.
37And my master made me swear an oath, and said, ‘You must not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live,
38but go to my father’s family and to my own clan, and get a wife for my son.’
40"He replied, ‘The Lord, before whom I have walked faithfully, will send his angel with you and make your journey a success, so that you can get a wife for my son from my own clan and from my father’s family.
41You will be released from my oath if, when you go to my clan, they refuse to give her to you—then you will be released from my oath.’
42"When I came to the spring today, I said, ‘Lord, God of my master Abraham, if you will, please grant success to the journey on which I have come.
43See, I am standing beside this spring. If a young woman comes out to draw water and I say to her, "Please let me drink a little water from your jar,"
44and if she says to me, "Drink, and I’ll draw water for your camels too," let her be the one the Lord has chosen for my master’s son.’
47"I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ "She said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel son of Nahor, whom Milkah bore to him.’ "Then I put the ring in her nose and the bracelets on her arms,
48and I bowed down and worshiped the Lord. I praised the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me on the right road to get the granddaughter of my master’s brother for his son.
New King James Version
Chapter 24
2So Abraham said to the oldest servant of his house, who ruled over all that he had, “Please, put your hand under my thigh, 3and I will make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell; 4but you shall go to my country and to my family, and take a wife for my son Isaac.”
6But Abraham said to him, “Beware that you do not take my son back there.
7The Lord God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and from the land of my family, and who spoke to me and swore to me, saying, ‘To your descendants I give this land,’ He will send His angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there.
8And if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be released from this oath; only do not take my son back there.”
9So the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning this matter.
10Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and departed, for all his master’s goods were in his hand. And he arose and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor.
11And he made his camels kneel down outside the city by a well of water at evening time, the time when women go out to draw water.
12Then he said, “O Lord God of my master Abraham, please give me success this day, and show kindness to my master Abraham.
13Behold, here I stand by the well of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water.
14Now let it be that the young woman to whom I say, ‘Please let down your pitcher that I may drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink’— let her be the one You have appointed for Your servant Isaac. And by this I will know that You have shown kindness to my master.”
15And it happened, before he had finished speaking, that behold, Rebekah, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, came out with her pitcher on her shoulder.
16Now the young woman was very beautiful to behold, a virgin; no man had known her. And she went down to the well, filled her pitcher, and came up.
17And the servant ran to meet her and said, “Please let me drink a little water from your pitcher.”
18So she said, “Drink, my lord.” Then she quickly let her pitcher down to her hand, and gave him a drink.
19And when she had finished giving him a drink, she said, “I will draw water for your camels also, until they have finished drinking.”
20Then she quickly emptied her pitcher into the trough, ran back to the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels.
21And the man, wondering at her, remained silent so as to know whether the Lord had made his journey prosperous or not.
22So it was, when the camels had finished drinking, that the man took a golden nose ring weighing half a shekel, and two bracelets for her wrists weighing ten shekels of gold,
23and said, “Whose daughter are you? Tell me, please, is there room in your father’s house for us to lodge?”
24So she said to him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel, Milcah’s son, whom she bore to Nahor.”
25Moreover she said to him, “We have both straw and feed enough, and room to lodge.”
26Then the man bowed down his head and worshiped the Lord.
27And he said, “Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken His mercy and His truth toward my master. As for me, being on the way, the Lord led me to the house of my master’s brethren.”
28So the young woman ran and told her mother’s household these things.
29Now Rebekah had a brother whose name was Laban, and Laban ran out to the man by the well.
30So it came to pass, when he saw the nose ring, and the bracelets on his sister’s wrists, and when he heard the words of his sister Rebekah, saying, “Thus the man spoke to me,” that he went to the man. And there he stood by the camels at the well.
31And he said, “Come in, O blessed of the Lord! Why do you stand outside? For I have prepared the house, and a place for the camels.”
34So he said, “I am Abraham’s servant.
35The Lord has blessed my master greatly, and he has become great; and He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male and female servants, and camels and donkeys.
36And Sarah my master’s wife bore a son to my master when she was old; and to him he has given all that he has.
37Now my master made me swear, saying, ‘You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell;
38but you shall go to my father’s house and to my family, and take a wife for my son.’
39And I said to my master, ‘Perhaps the woman will not follow me.’
40But he said to me, ‘The Lord, before whom I walk, will send His angel with you and prosper your way; and you shall take a wife for my son from my family and from my father’s house.
41You will be clear from this oath when you arrive among my family; for if they will not give her to you, then you will be released from my oath.’
42“And this day I came to the well and said, ‘O Lord God of my master Abraham, if You will now prosper the way in which I go,
43behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to pass that when the virgin comes out to draw water, and I say to her, “Please give me a little water from your pitcher to drink,”
44and she says to me, “Drink, and I will draw for your camels also,”— let her be the woman whom the Lord has appointed for my master’s son.’
45“But before I had finished speaking in my heart, there was Rebekah, coming out with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down to the well and drew water. And I said to her, ‘Please let me drink.’
46And she made haste and let her pitcher down from her shoulder, and said, ‘Drink, and I will give your camels a drink also.’ So I drank, and she gave the camels a drink also.
47Then I asked her, and said, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ And she said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bore to him.’ So I put the nose ring on her nose and the bracelets on her wrists.
48And I bowed my head and worshiped the Lord, and blessed the Lord God of my master Abraham, who had led me in the way of truth to take the daughter of my master’s brother for his son.
