创世记 24
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)
亚伯拉罕为以撒娶妻
24 亚伯拉罕已经年迈，耶和华在一切的事上都赐福给他。 2 亚伯拉罕对他的老总管说：“请你把手放在我大腿底下， 3 我要你凭耶和华——掌管天地的上帝起誓，你不会找这迦南的女子做我儿子的妻子。 4 你要回到我的家乡，在我的亲族中为以撒物色妻子。” 5 老总管问他：“如果那女子不肯跟我到这里来，我要把你儿子带回你的家乡吗？” 6 亚伯拉罕说：“你千万不可带我的儿子回那里！ 7 因为带领我离开父家和本乡的耶和华——天上的主，曾经向我说话，起誓应许把这片土地赐给我的后代。祂必派天使在你前面引路，帮助你在那里为我儿子找到妻子。 8 如果那女子不肯跟你来，你也算履行了你向我起的誓，只是你不可带我儿子回那里。” 9 于是，老总管就把手放在他主人亚伯拉罕的大腿底下，为这事向他起誓。
10 老总管带着主人的十匹骆驼和各种上好的礼物，启程前往美索不达米亚，来到拿鹤住的城。 11 黄昏，妇女们出来打水的时候，他让骆驼跪在城外的井旁， 12 然后祷告说：“我主人亚伯拉罕的上帝耶和华啊，求你施恩给我家主人亚伯拉罕，让事情今天能够成就。 13 现在，我站在这泉水旁，城里的少女正出来打水。 14 如果我对哪个少女说‘请放下你的水罐，让我喝点水’，如果她说‘请喝，我也打水给你的骆驼喝’，愿那女子做你为自己的仆人以撒选定的妻子。这样，我可以知道你施恩给我的主人了。”
老总管井旁遇利百加
15 老总管的话还没有说完，就有一位名叫利百加的少女肩上扛着水罐走出来。她是彼土利的女儿，彼土利是亚伯拉罕的兄弟拿鹤和密迦所生的儿子。 16 利百加长得非常美丽，是个处女，没有男人亲近过她。她下到井旁，把水罐盛满了水后上来。 17 老总管跑上前去对她说：“求你给我一点水喝。” 18 她回答说：“我主，请喝！”说完，立刻放下水罐，托在手上让他喝。 19 等他喝完以后，利百加又说：“我再为你的骆驼打些水来，让它们喝个饱。” 20 于是，她马上把水罐里的水倒进水槽里，又跑到井边为所有的骆驼打水。 21 当时，老总管在一旁静静地注视着利百加，要看看耶和华是否使他此行顺利。
22 骆驼喝过水以后，老总管拿出一只约六克重的金环和一对约一百一十克重的金镯给利百加， 23 对她说：“请问你是谁的女儿？你父亲家里有地方让我们住宿吗？” 24 利百加回答说：“我是彼土利的女儿，我父亲是拿鹤和密迦的儿子。 25 我家里有充足的粮草，也有地方让你留宿。” 26 老总管听了，就俯伏敬拜耶和华， 27 说：“我主人亚伯拉罕的上帝耶和华当受称颂，因为祂一直以慈爱和信实对待我的主人，引导我一路走到我主人兄弟的家里。”
28 利百加跑回家中，把这事告诉了母亲和家人。 29 利百加有个哥哥名叫拉班。 30 他看见妹妹的金环和手上的金镯，听了她叙述老总管的话，就跑到井旁，见老总管跟骆驼仍然站在那里， 31 便对他说：“你这蒙耶和华赐福的人，请到我家。为什么站在外面呢？我已经为你预备好了房间，也为骆驼预备了地方。” 32 老总管就到了拉班的家里，拉班卸下骆驼背上的东西，给骆驼喂上草料，打水给老总管和随行的人洗脚。 33 他们备好了晚餐给他吃，老总管却说：“不，等我说明来意后再吃。”拉班说：“请说。”
34 老总管说：“我是亚伯拉罕的仆人。 35 耶和华赐给我主人极大的福气，使他非常富有。耶和华赐给他牛群、羊群、金子、银子、男女仆婢、骆驼和驴。 36 我主人的妻子撒拉在晚年生了一个儿子，主人把所有的财产都给了他。 37 主人要我起誓，他说，‘你不可以给我的儿子娶迦南女子为妻， 38 你要到我家乡的亲族中为我儿子物色妻子。’ 39 我问我的主人，‘如果那女子不愿意跟我回来怎么办？’ 40 他说，‘我一向事奉的耶和华必会派天使与你同行，使你一路顺利，为我儿子在家乡的亲族中物色妻子。 41 你去就是履行了你向我起的誓，如果我的亲族不肯把女子交给你，你也算履行了你向我起的誓。’
42 “所以，今天我来到井旁时曾祷告说，‘我主人亚伯拉罕的上帝耶和华啊，求你使我一路顺利。 43 我现在站在井旁，有女子出来打水的时候，我会向她要水喝， 44 如果她说，请喝，我也打水给你的骆驼喝，就让她做你为我家主人的儿子预备的妻子吧。’
45 “我心中的话还没有说完，就看见利百加肩上扛着水罐到井旁打水。我上前向她要水喝， 46 她就连忙放下肩上的水罐，说，‘请喝，我也打水给你的骆驼喝。’我喝了，她又打水给骆驼喝。 47 我问她是谁家的女儿，她说，‘是拿鹤和密迦的儿子彼土利的女儿。’我就替她戴上金鼻环和金手镯， 48 然后俯伏敬拜耶和华——我主人亚伯拉罕的上帝，因为祂引导我走正确的路，找到了主人兄弟的孙女儿给主人的儿子做妻子。 49 现在，你们若愿意以慈爱和信实对待我的主人，答应这门亲事，请告诉我；如果不答应，也请告诉我，好让我知道应该怎么办。”
50 拉班和彼土利回答说：“既然是耶和华的安排，我们不能再多说什么。 51 你看，利百加就在这里，你可以照耶和华的话，把她带回去给你主人的儿子做妻子。” 52 亚伯拉罕的仆人听见这话，就俯伏在地上敬拜耶和华， 53 然后拿出金银首饰和衣裳送给利百加，又把贵重的礼物送给她的哥哥和母亲。 54 老总管和随行的人用过晚饭以后，在那里住了一夜。第二天早晨，老总管说：“请让我返回我主人那里。” 55 但利百加的哥哥和母亲说：“让利百加和我们住上十来天再去吧！” 56 可是，老总管说：“既然耶和华已经使我一路顺利，请你们不要挽留我，请让我回到我主人那里。” 57 他们说：“我们问问利百加的意见吧。” 58 他们就叫来利百加，问她：“你愿意跟这个人同去吗？”利百加说：“我愿意！” 59 于是，他们让利百加和她的奶妈跟老总管及随行的人一同离去， 60 并为利百加祝福，说：
“我们的妹妹啊，
愿你成为千万人之母！
愿你的后代战胜仇敌！”
以撒与利百加成婚
61 于是，利百加和她的婢女们准备妥当，骑上骆驼，跟着老总管离去。
62 那时，以撒住在南地，他刚从庇耳·拉海·莱回来。 63 傍晚的时候，以撒来到田间默想，他抬头一看，见一队骆驼迎面而来。 64 利百加抬头看见以撒，就从骆驼上下来， 65 问老总管：“那从田间来迎接我们的是谁？”老总管说：“是我的主人！”利百加听了就蒙上面纱。 66 老总管向以撒讲述整个事情的经过。 67 以撒就带利百加进入他母亲撒拉的帐篷，娶她为妻，并且很爱她。自从母亲去世后，以撒这才得到安慰。
創世記 24
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)
亞伯拉罕為以撒娶妻
24 亞伯拉罕已經年邁，耶和華在一切的事上都賜福給他。 2 亞伯拉罕對他的老總管說：「請你把手放在我大腿底下， 3 我要你憑耶和華——掌管天地的上帝起誓，你不會找這迦南的女子做我兒子的妻子。 4 你要回到我的家鄉，在我的親族中為以撒物色妻子。」 5 老總管問他：「如果那女子不肯跟我到這裡來，我要把你兒子帶回你的家鄉嗎？」 6 亞伯拉罕說：「你千萬不可帶我的兒子回那裡！ 7 因為帶領我離開父家和本鄉的耶和華——天上的主，曾經向我說話，起誓應許把這片土地賜給我的後代。祂必派天使在你前面引路，幫助你在那裡為我兒子找到妻子。 8 如果那女子不肯跟你來，你也算履行了你向我起的誓，只是你不可帶我兒子回那裡。」 9 於是，老總管就把手放在他主人亞伯拉罕的大腿底下，為這事向他起誓。
10 老總管帶著主人的十匹駱駝和各種上好的禮物，啟程前往美索不達米亞，來到拿鶴住的城。 11 黃昏，婦女們出來打水的時候，他讓駱駝跪在城外的井旁， 12 然後禱告說：「我主人亞伯拉罕的上帝耶和華啊，求你施恩給我家主人亞伯拉罕，讓事情今天能夠成就。 13 現在，我站在這泉水旁，城裡的少女正出來打水。 14 如果我對哪個少女說『請放下你的水罐，讓我喝點水』，如果她說『請喝，我也打水給你的駱駝喝』，願那女子做你為自己的僕人以撒選定的妻子。這樣，我可以知道你施恩給我的主人了。」
老總管井旁遇利百加
15 老總管的話還沒有說完，就有一位名叫利百加的少女肩上扛著水罐走出來。她是彼土利的女兒，彼土利是亞伯拉罕的兄弟拿鶴和密迦所生的兒子。 16 利百加長得非常美麗，是個處女，沒有男人親近過她。她下到井旁，把水罐盛滿了水後上來。 17 老總管跑上前去對她說：「求你給我一點水喝。」 18 她回答說：「我主，請喝！」說完，立刻放下水罐，托在手上讓他喝。 19 等他喝完以後，利百加又說：「我再為你的駱駝打些水來，讓牠們喝個飽。」 20 於是，她馬上把水罐裡的水倒進水槽裡，又跑到井邊為所有的駱駝打水。 21 當時，老總管在一旁靜靜地注視著利百加，要看看耶和華是否使他此行順利。
22 駱駝喝過水以後，老總管拿出一隻約六克重的金環和一對約一百一十克重的金鐲給利百加， 23 對她說：「請問你是誰的女兒？你父親家裡有地方讓我們住宿嗎？」 24 利百加回答說：「我是彼土利的女兒，我父親是拿鶴和密迦的兒子。 25 我家裡有充足的糧草，也有地方讓你留宿。」 26 老總管聽了，就俯伏敬拜耶和華， 27 說：「我主人亞伯拉罕的上帝耶和華當受稱頌，因為祂一直以慈愛和信實對待我的主人，引導我一路走到我主人兄弟的家裡。」
28 利百加跑回家中，把這事告訴了母親和家人。 29 利百加有個哥哥名叫拉班。 30 他看見妹妹的金環和手上的金鐲，聽了她敘述老總管的話，就跑到井旁，見老總管跟駱駝仍然站在那裡， 31 便對他說：「你這蒙耶和華賜福的人，請到我家。為什麼站在外面呢？我已經為你預備好了房間，也為駱駝預備了地方。」 32 老總管就到了拉班的家裡，拉班卸下駱駝背上的東西，給駱駝餵上草料，打水給老總管和隨行的人洗腳。 33 他們備好了晚餐給他吃，老總管卻說：「不，等我說明來意後再吃。」拉班說：「請說。」
34 老總管說：「我是亞伯拉罕的僕人。 35 耶和華賜給我主人極大的福氣，使他非常富有。耶和華賜給他牛群、羊群、金子、銀子、男女僕婢、駱駝和驢。 36 我主人的妻子撒拉在晚年生了一個兒子，主人把所有的財產都給了他。 37 主人要我起誓，他說，『你不可以給我的兒子娶迦南女子為妻， 38 你要到我家鄉的親族中為我兒子物色妻子。』 39 我問我的主人，『如果那女子不願意跟我回來怎麼辦？』 40 他說，『我一向事奉的耶和華必會派天使與你同行，使你一路順利，為我兒子在家鄉的親族中物色妻子。 41 你去就是履行了你向我起的誓，如果我的親族不肯把女子交給你，你也算履行了你向我起的誓。』
42 「所以，今天我來到井旁時曾禱告說，『我主人亞伯拉罕的上帝耶和華啊，求你使我一路順利。 43 我現在站在井旁，有女子出來打水的時候，我會向她要水喝， 44 如果她說，請喝，我也打水給你的駱駝喝，就讓她做你為我家主人的兒子預備的妻子吧。』
45 「我心中的話還沒有說完，就看見利百加肩上扛著水罐到井旁打水。我上前向她要水喝， 46 她就連忙放下肩上的水罐，說，『請喝，我也打水給你的駱駝喝。』我喝了，她又打水給駱駝喝。 47 我問她是誰家的女兒，她說，『是拿鶴和密迦的兒子彼土利的女兒。』我就替她戴上金鼻環和金手鐲， 48 然後俯伏敬拜耶和華——我主人亞伯拉罕的上帝，因為祂引導我走正確的路，找到了主人兄弟的孫女兒給主人的兒子做妻子。 49 現在，你們若願意以慈愛和信實對待我的主人，答應這門親事，請告訴我；如果不答應，也請告訴我，好讓我知道應該怎麼辦。」
50 拉班和彼土利回答說：「既然是耶和華的安排，我們不能再多說什麼。 51 你看，利百加就在這裡，你可以照耶和華的話，把她帶回去給你主人的兒子做妻子。」 52 亞伯拉罕的僕人聽見這話，就俯伏在地上敬拜耶和華， 53 然後拿出金銀首飾和衣裳送給利百加，又把貴重的禮物送給她的哥哥和母親。 54 老總管和隨行的人用過晚飯以後，在那裡住了一夜。第二天早晨，老總管說：「請讓我返回我主人那裡。」 55 但利百加的哥哥和母親說：「讓利百加和我們住上十來天再去吧！」 56 可是，老總管說：「既然耶和華已經使我一路順利，請你們不要挽留我，請讓我回到我主人那裡。」 57 他們說：「我們問問利百加的意見吧。」 58 他們就叫來利百加，問她：「你願意跟這個人同去嗎？」利百加說：「我願意！」 59 於是，他們讓利百加和她的奶媽跟老總管及隨行的人一同離去， 60 並為利百加祝福，說：
「我們的妹妹啊，
願你成為千萬人之母！
願你的後代戰勝仇敵！」
以撒與利百加成婚
61 於是，利百加和她的婢女們準備妥當，騎上駱駝，跟著老總管離去。
62 那時，以撒住在南地，他剛從庇耳·拉海·萊回來。 63 傍晚的時候，以撒來到田間默想，他抬頭一看，見一隊駱駝迎面而來。 64 利百加抬頭看見以撒，就從駱駝上下來， 65 問老總管：「那從田間來迎接我們的是誰？」老總管說：「是我的主人！」利百加聽了就蒙上面紗。 66 老總管向以撒講述整個事情的經過。 67 以撒就帶利百加進入他母親撒拉的帳篷，娶她為妻，並且很愛她。自從母親去世後，以撒這才得到安慰。
Genesis 24
New English Translation
The Wife for Isaac
24 Now Abraham was old, well advanced in years,[a] and the Lord had blessed him[b] in everything. 2 Abraham said to his servant, the senior one[c] in his household who was in charge of everything he had, “Put your hand under my thigh[d] 3 so that I may make you solemnly promise[e] by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of the earth: You must not acquire[f] a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living. 4 You must go instead to my country and to my relatives[g] to find[h] a wife for my son Isaac.”
5 The servant asked him, “What if the woman is not willing to come back with me[i] to this land? Must I then[j] take your son back to the land from which you came?”
6 “Be careful[k] never to take my son back there!” Abraham told him.[l] 7 “The Lord, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and the land of my relatives,[m] promised me with a solemn oath,[n] ‘To your descendants I will give this land.’ He will send his angel[o] before you so that you may find[p] a wife for my son from there. 8 But if the woman is not willing to come back with you,[q] you will be free[r] from this oath of mine. But you must not take my son back there!” 9 So the servant placed his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and gave his solemn promise he would carry out his wishes.[s]
10 Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and departed with all kinds of gifts from his master at his disposal.[t] He journeyed[u] to the region of Aram Naharaim[v] and the city of Nahor. 11 He made the camels kneel down by the well[w] outside the city. It was evening,[x] the time when the women would go out to draw water. 12 He prayed, “O Lord, God of my master Abraham, guide me today.[y] Be faithful[z] to my master Abraham. 13 Here I am, standing by the spring,[aa] and the daughters of the people[ab] who live in the town are coming out to draw water. 14 I will say to a young woman, ‘Please lower your jar so I may drink.’ May the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac reply, ‘Drink, and I’ll give your camels water too.’[ac] In this way I will know that you have been faithful to my master.”[ad]
15 Before he had finished praying, there came Rebekah[ae] with her water jug on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah (Milcah was the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor).[af] 16 Now the young woman was very beautiful. She was a virgin; no man had ever been physically intimate with her.[ag] She went down to the spring, filled her jug, and came back up. 17 Abraham’s servant[ah] ran to meet her and said, “Please give me a sip of water from your jug.” 18 “Drink, my lord,” she replied, and quickly lowering[ai] her jug to her hands, she gave him a drink. 19 When she had done so,[aj] she said, “I’ll draw water for your camels too, until they have drunk as much as they want.” 20 She quickly emptied[ak] her jug into the watering trough and ran back to the well to draw more water until she had drawn enough for all his camels. 21 Silently the man watched her with interest to determine[al] if the Lord had made his journey successful[am] or not.
22 After the camels had finished drinking, the man took out a gold nose ring weighing a beka[an] and two gold wrist bracelets weighing ten shekels[ao] and gave them to her.[ap] 23 “Whose daughter are you?” he asked.[aq] “Tell me, is there room in your father’s house for us to spend the night?”
24 She said to him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom Milcah bore to Nahor.[ar] 25 We have plenty of straw and feed,” she added,[as] “and room for you[at] to spend the night.”
26 The man bowed his head and worshiped the Lord, 27 saying, “Praised be the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned his faithful love[au] for my master! The Lord has led me[av] to the house[aw] of my master’s relatives!”[ax]
28 The young woman ran and told her mother’s household all about[ay] these things. 29 (Now Rebekah had a brother named Laban.)[az] Laban rushed out to meet the man at the spring. 30 When he saw the bracelets on his sister’s wrists and the nose ring[ba] and heard his sister Rebekah say,[bb] “This is what the man said to me,” he went out to meet the man. There he was, standing[bc] by the camels near the spring. 31 Laban said to him,[bd] “Come, you who are blessed by the Lord![be] Why are you standing out here when I have prepared[bf] the house and a place for the camels?”
32 So Abraham’s servant[bg] went to the house and unloaded[bh] the camels. Straw and feed were given[bi] to the camels, and water was provided so that he and the men who were with him could wash their feet.[bj] 33 When food was served,[bk] he said, “I will not eat until I have said what I want to say.”[bl] “Tell us,” Laban said.[bm]
34 “I am the servant of Abraham,” he began. 35 “The Lord has richly blessed my master and he has become very wealthy.[bn] The Lord[bo] has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, male and female servants, and camels and donkeys. 36 My master’s wife Sarah bore a son to him[bp] when she was old,[bq] and my master[br] has given him everything he owns. 37 My master made me swear an oath. He said, ‘You must not acquire a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living, 38 but you must go to the family of my father and to my relatives to find[bs] a wife for my son.’ 39 But I said to my master, ‘What if the woman does not want to go[bt] with me?’[bu] 40 He answered, ‘The Lord, before whom I have walked,[bv] will send his angel with you. He will make your journey a success and you will find a wife for my son from among my relatives, from my father’s family. 41 You will be free from your oath[bw] if you go to my relatives and they will not give her to you. Then you will be free from your oath.’ 42 When I came to the spring today, I prayed, ‘O Lord, God of my master Abraham, if you have decided to make my journey successful,[bx] may events unfold as follows:[by] 43 Here I am, standing by the spring.[bz] When[ca] the young woman goes out to draw water, I’ll say, “Please give me a little water to drink from your jug.” 44 Then she will reply to me, “Drink, and I’ll draw water for your camels too.” May that woman be the one whom the Lord has chosen for my master’s son.’
45 “Before I finished praying in my heart,[cb] along came Rebekah[cc] 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.’ 46 She quickly lowered her jug from her shoulder and said, ‘Drink, and I’ll give your camels water too.’ So I drank, and she also gave the camels water. 47 Then I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She replied, ‘The daughter of Bethuel the son of Nahor, whom Milcah bore to Nahor.’[cd] I put the ring in her nose and the bracelets on her wrists. 48 Then I bowed down and worshiped the Lord. I praised the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me on the right path to find the granddaughter[ce] of my master’s brother for his son. 49 Now, if you will show faithful love to my master, tell me. But if not, tell me as well, so that I may go on my way.”[cf]
50 Then Laban and Bethuel replied, “This is the Lord’s doing.[cg] Our wishes are of no concern.[ch] 51 Rebekah stands here before you. Take her and go so that she may become[ci] the wife of your master’s son, just as the Lord has decided.”[cj]
52 When Abraham’s servant heard their words, he bowed down to the ground before the Lord. 53 Then he[ck] brought out gold, silver jewelry, and clothing and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave valuable gifts to her brother and to her mother. 54 After this, he and the men who were with him ate a meal and stayed there overnight.[cl]
When they got up in the morning, he said, “Let me leave now so I can return to my master.”[cm] 55 But Rebekah’s[cn] brother and her mother replied, “Let the girl stay with us a few more days, perhaps ten. Then she can go.” 56 But he said to them, “Don’t detain me—the Lord[co] has granted me success on my journey. Let me leave now so I may return[cp] to my master.” 57 Then they said, “We’ll call the girl and find out what she wants to do.”[cq] 58 So they called Rebekah and asked her, “Do you want[cr] to go with this man?” She replied, “I want to go.”
59 So they sent their sister Rebekah on her way, accompanied by her female attendant, with Abraham’s servant and his men. 60 They blessed Rebekah with these words:[cs]
“Our sister, may you become the mother[ct] of thousands of ten thousands!
May your descendants possess the strongholds[cu] of their enemies.”
61 Then Rebekah and her female servants mounted the camels and rode away with[cv] the man. So Abraham’s servant[cw] took Rebekah and left.
62 Now[cx] Isaac came from[cy] Beer Lahai Roi,[cz] for[da] he was living in the Negev.[db] 63 He[dc] went out to relax[dd] in the field in the early evening.[de] Then he looked up[df] and saw that[dg] there were camels approaching. 64 Rebekah looked up[dh] and saw Isaac. She got down from her camel 65 and asked[di] Abraham’s servant,[dj] “Who is that man walking in the field toward us?” “That is my master,” the servant replied.[dk] So she took her veil and covered herself.
66 The servant told Isaac everything that had happened. 67 Then Isaac brought Rebekah[dl] into his mother Sarah’s tent. He took her[dm] as his wife and loved her.[dn] So Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.[do]
Footnotes
- Genesis 24:1 tn Heb “days.”
- Genesis 24:1 tn Heb “Abraham.” The proper name has been replaced in the translation by the pronoun (“he”) for stylistic reasons.
- Genesis 24:2 tn The Hebrew term זָקֵן (zaqen) may refer to the servant who is oldest in age or senior in authority (or both).
- Genesis 24:2 sn Put your hand under my thigh. The taking of this oath had to do with the sanctity of the family and the continuation of the family line. See D. R. Freedman, “Put Your Hand Under My Thigh—the Patriarchal Oath,” BAR 2 (1976): 2-4, 42.
- Genesis 24:3 tn Following the imperative, the cohortative with the prefixed conjunction indicates purpose.
- Genesis 24:3 tn Heb “because you must not take.”
- Genesis 24:4 tn Heb “for to my country and my relatives you must go.”
- Genesis 24:4 tn Heb “and take.”
- Genesis 24:5 tn Heb “to go after me.”
- Genesis 24:5 tn In the Hebrew text the construction is emphatic; the infinitive absolute precedes the imperfect. However, it is difficult to reflect this emphasis in an English translation.
- Genesis 24:6 tn Heb “guard yourself.”
- Genesis 24:6 tn The introductory clause “And Abraham said to him” has been moved to the end of the opening sentence of direct discourse in the translation for stylistic reasons.
- Genesis 24:7 tn Or “the land of my birth.”
- Genesis 24:7 tn Heb “and who spoke to me and who swore to me, saying.”
- Genesis 24:7 tn Or “his messenger.”
- Genesis 24:7 tn Heb “before you and you will take.”
- Genesis 24:8 tn Heb “ to go after you.”
- Genesis 24:8 sn You will be free. If the prospective bride was not willing to accompany the servant back to Canaan, the servant would be released from his oath to Abraham.
- Genesis 24:9 tn Heb “and he swore to him concerning this matter.”
- Genesis 24:10 tn Heb “and every good thing of his master was in his hand.” The disjunctive clause is circumstantial, explaining that he took all kinds of gifts to be used at his discretion.
- Genesis 24:10 tn Heb “and he arose and went.”
- Genesis 24:10 tn The words “the region of” are not in the Hebrew text, but are supplied in the translation for clarity.sn Aram Naharaim means in Hebrew “Aram of the Two Rivers,” a region in northern Mesopotamia.
- Genesis 24:11 tn Heb “well of water.”
- Genesis 24:11 tn Heb “at the time of evening.”
- Genesis 24:12 tn Heb “make it happen before me today.” Although a number of English translations understand this as a request for success in the task (cf. NASB, NIV, NRSV) it is more likely that the servant is requesting an omen or sign from God (v. 14).
- Genesis 24:12 tn Heb “act in loyal love with” or “show kindness to.”
- Genesis 24:13 tn Heb “the spring of water.”
- Genesis 24:13 tn Heb “the men.”
- Genesis 24:14 sn I will also give your camels water. It would be an enormous test for a young woman to water ten camels. The idea is that such a woman would not only be industrious but hospitable and generous.
- Genesis 24:14 tn Heb “And let the young woman to whom I say, ‘Lower your jar that I may drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink and I will also give your camels water,’—her you have appointed for your servant, for Isaac, and by it I will know that you have acted in faithfulness with my master.”
- Genesis 24:15 tn Heb “Look, Rebekah was coming out!” Using the participle introduced with הִנֵּה (hinneh, “look”), the narrator dramatically transports the audience back into the event and invites them to see Rebekah through the servant’s eyes.
- Genesis 24:15 tn Heb “Look, Rebekah was coming out—[she] who was born to Bethuel, the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, the brother of Abraham—and her jug [was] on her shoulder.” The order of the clauses has been rearranged in the translation for stylistic reasons.
- Genesis 24:16 tn Heb “And the young woman was very good of appearance, a virgin, and a man had not known her.” The first two terms נַעֲרָה (naʿarah) and בְּתוּלָה (betulah) can refer to young girls, either unmarried or married; see Judges 9:3 and Joel 1:8, respectively, for examples of a married נַעֲרָה (naʿarah) and בְּתוּלָה (betulah). While the term בְּתוּלָה (betulah) does not have to mean “virgin” it can refer to a girl who is a virgin. Further, in legal literature it is used as a technical term for “virgin” (Exod 22:16-17; Deut 22:19, 23, 28). Akkadian behaves similarly in that the cognate term batultu, meaning an adolescent girl but not necessarily a “virgin,” is used to mean “virgin” in Neo-Assyrian laws and Neo-Babylonian marriage contracts (CAD B 173-174). This passage is not legal literature, so the meaning “virgin” is clarified by an additional clause. The expression “to know” is a euphemism for sexual relations, and the English euphemism “be intimate with” is close in meaning to the Hebrew. The Semitic languages may have lacked a term that specifically meant “virgin” and so promoted other terms to indicate a virgin, whether by the context of the type of literature (e.g. legal literature) or by the addition of explanatory clauses.
- Genesis 24:17 tn Heb “and the servant.” The word “Abraham’s” has been supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
- Genesis 24:18 tn Heb “and she hurried and lowered.”
- Genesis 24:19 tn Heb “when she had finished giving him a drink.” This has been simplified in the translation for stylistic reasons.
- Genesis 24:20 tn Heb “and she hurried and emptied.”
- Genesis 24:21 tn Heb “to know.”
- Genesis 24:21 tn The Hebrew term צָלָה (tsalah), meaning “to make successful” in the Hiphil verbal stem, is a key term in the story (see vv. 40, 42, 56).
- Genesis 24:22 sn A beka weighed about 5-6 grams (0.2 ounce).
- Genesis 24:22 sn A shekel weighed about 11.5 grams (0.4 ounce) although weights varied locally, so these bracelets weighed about 4 ounces (115 grams).
- Genesis 24:22 tn The words “and gave them to her” are not in the Hebrew text, but are implied (cf. Gen 24:30).
- Genesis 24:23 tn Heb “and he said, ‘Whose daughter are you?’” The order of the introductory clause has been rearranged in the translation for stylistic reasons.
- Genesis 24:24 tn Heb “whom she bore to Nahor.” The referent (Milcah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Genesis 24:25 tn Heb “and she said, ‘We have plenty of both straw and feed.’” The order of the introductory clause has been rearranged in the translation for stylistic reasons.
- Genesis 24:25 tn Heb The words “for you” are not in the Hebrew text, but are implied.
- Genesis 24:27 tn Heb “his faithfulness and his commitment.”
- Genesis 24:27 tn Heb “As for me—in the way the Lord led me.”
- Genesis 24:27 tn Here “house” is an adverbial accusative of termination.
- Genesis 24:27 tn Heb “brothers.”
- Genesis 24:28 tn Heb “according to.”
- Genesis 24:29 tn The parenthetical disjunctive clause introduces the audience to Laban, who will eventually play an important role in the unfolding story.
- Genesis 24:30 tn Heb “And it was when he saw the nose ring and the bracelets on the arms of his sister.” The word order is altered in the translation for the sake of clarity.
- Genesis 24:30 tn Heb “and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying.”
- Genesis 24:30 tn Heb “and look, he was standing.” The disjunctive clause with the participle following the particle הִנֵּה (hinneh) invites the audience to view the scene through Laban’s eyes.
- Genesis 24:31 tn Heb “and he said.” The referent (Laban) has been specified and the words “to him” supplied in the translation for clarity.
- Genesis 24:31 sn Laban’s obsession with wealth is apparent; to him it represents how one is blessed by the Lord. Already the author is laying the foundation for subsequent events in the narrative, where Laban’s greed becomes his dominant characteristic.
- Genesis 24:31 tn The disjunctive clause is circumstantial.
- Genesis 24:32 tn Heb “the man”; the referent (Abraham’s servant) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Genesis 24:32 tn Some translations (e.g., NEB, NASB, NRSV) understand Laban to be the subject of this and the following verbs or take the subject of this and the following verbs as indefinite (referring to an unnamed servant; e.g., NAB, NIV).
- Genesis 24:32 tn Heb “and [one] gave.” The verb without an expressed subject may be translated as passive.
- Genesis 24:32 tn Heb “and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him.”
- Genesis 24:33 tn Heb “and food was placed before him.”
- Genesis 24:33 tn Heb “my words.”
- Genesis 24:33 tc Some ancient textual witnesses have a plural verb, “and they said.”tn Heb “and he said, ‘Speak.’” The referent (Laban) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Genesis 24:35 tn Heb “become great.” In this context the statement refers primarily to Abraham’s material wealth, although reputation and influence are not excluded.
- Genesis 24:35 tn Heb “and he.” The referent (the Lord) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Genesis 24:36 tn Heb “to my master.” This has been replaced by the pronoun “him” in the translation for stylistic reasons.
- Genesis 24:36 tn Heb “after her old age.”
- Genesis 24:36 tn Heb “and he.” The referent (the servant’s master, Abraham) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Genesis 24:38 tn Heb “but to the house of my father you must go and to my family and you must take a wife for my son.”
- Genesis 24:39 tn The imperfect is used here in a modal sense to indicate desire.
- Genesis 24:39 tn Heb “after me.”
- Genesis 24:40 tn The verb is the Hitpael of הָלַךְ (halakh), meaning “live one’s life” (see Gen 17:1). The statement may simply refer to serving the Lord or it may have a more positive moral connotation (“serve faithfully”).
- Genesis 24:41 tn Heb “my oath” (twice in this verse). From the Hebrew perspective the oath belonged to the person to whom it was sworn (Abraham), although in contemporary English an oath is typically viewed as belonging to the person who swears it (the servant).
- Genesis 24:42 tn Heb “if you are making successful my way on which I am going.”
- Genesis 24:42 tn The words “may events unfold as follows” are supplied in the translation for clarification and for stylistic reasons.
- Genesis 24:43 tn Heb “the spring of water.”
- Genesis 24:43 tn Heb “and it will be.”
- Genesis 24:45 tn Heb “As for me, before I finished speaking to my heart.” The adverb טֶרֶם (terem) indicates the verb is a preterite; the infinitive that follows is the direct object.
- Genesis 24:45 tn Heb “Look, Rebekah was coming out.” As in 24:15, the particle הִנֵּה (hinneh, “look”) is used here for dramatic effect.
- Genesis 24:47 tn Heb “whom Milcah bore to him.” The referent (Nahor) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Genesis 24:48 tn Heb “daughter.” Rebekah was actually the granddaughter of Nahor, Abraham’s brother. One can either translate the Hebrew term בַּת (bat) as “daughter,” in which case the term אָח (ʾakh) must be translated more generally as “relative” rather than “brother” (cf. NASB, NRSV) or one can translate בַּת as “granddaughter,” in which case אָח may be translated “brother” (cf. NIV).
- Genesis 24:49 tn Heb “and I will turn to the right or to the left.” The expression apparently means that Abraham’s servant will know where he should go if there is no further business here.
- Genesis 24:50 tn Heb “From the Lord the matter has gone out.”
- Genesis 24:50 tn Heb “We are not able to speak to you bad or good.” This means that Laban and Bethuel could not say one way or the other what they wanted, for they viewed it as God’s will.
- Genesis 24:51 tn Following the imperatives, the jussive with the prefixed conjunction indicates purpose or result.
- Genesis 24:51 tn Heb “as the Lord has spoken.”
- Genesis 24:53 tn Heb “the servant”; the noun has been replaced by the pronoun (“he”) in the translation for stylistic reasons.
- Genesis 24:54 tn Heb “And they ate and drank, he and the men who [were] with him and they spent the night.”
- Genesis 24:54 tn Heb “Send me away to my master.”
- Genesis 24:55 tn Heb “her”; the referent (Rebekah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Genesis 24:56 tn The disjunctive clause is circumstantial, indicating a reason for the preceding request.
- Genesis 24:56 tn After the preceding imperative, the cohortative with the prefixed conjunction indicates purpose or result.
- Genesis 24:57 tn Heb “and we will ask her mouth.”
- Genesis 24:58 tn The imperfect verbal form here has a modal nuance, expressing desire.
- Genesis 24:60 tn Heb “and said to her.”
- Genesis 24:60 tn Heb “become thousands of ten thousands.”sn May you become the mother of thousands of ten thousands. The blessing expresses their prayer that she produce children and start a family line that will greatly increase (cf. Gen 17:16).
- Genesis 24:60 tn Heb “gate,” which here stands for a walled city. In an ancient Near Eastern city the gate complex was the main area of defense (hence the translation “stronghold”). A similar phrase occurs in Gen 22:17.
- Genesis 24:61 tn Heb “And she arose, Rebekah and her female servants, and they rode upon camels and went after.”
- Genesis 24:61 tn Heb “the servant”; the word “Abraham’s” has been supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
- Genesis 24:62 tn The disjunctive clause switches the audience’s attention to Isaac and signals a new episode in the story.
- Genesis 24:62 tn Heb “from the way of.”
- Genesis 24:62 sn The Hebrew name Beer Lahai Roi (בְּאֵר לַחַי רֹאִי, beʾer lakhay roʾi) means “The well of the Living One who sees me.” See Gen 16:14.
- Genesis 24:62 tn This disjunctive clause is explanatory.
- Genesis 24:62 tn Or “the South [country].”sn Negev is the name for the southern desert region in the land of Canaan.
- Genesis 24:63 tn Heb “Isaac”; the proper name has been replaced by the pronoun (“he”) in the translation for stylistic reasons.
- Genesis 24:63 tn The meaning of this Hebrew term is uncertain (cf. NASB, NIV “to meditate”; NRSV “to walk”).
- Genesis 24:63 tn Heb “at the turning of the evening.”
- Genesis 24:63 tn Heb “And he lifted up his eyes.” This idiom emphasizes the careful look Isaac had at the approaching caravan.
- Genesis 24:63 tn Heb “and look.” The clause introduced by the particle הִנֵּה (hinneh, “look”) invites the audience to view the scene through Isaac’s eyes.
- Genesis 24:64 tn Heb “lifted up her eyes.”
- Genesis 24:65 tn Heb “and she said to.”
- Genesis 24:65 tn Heb “the servant.” The word “Abraham’s” has been supplied in the translation for clarity.
- Genesis 24:65 tn Heb “and the servant said.” The order of the introductory clause and the direct discourse has been rearranged in the translation for stylistic reasons.
- Genesis 24:67 tn Heb “her”; the referent has been specified here in the translation for clarity.
- Genesis 24:67 tn Heb “Rebekah”; here the proper name was replaced by the pronoun (“her”) in the translation for stylistic reasons.
- Genesis 24:67 tn Heb “and he took Rebekah and she became his wife and he loved her.”
- Genesis 24:67 tn Heb “after his mother.” This must refer to Sarah’s death.
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