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Genesis 24:10-24
Contemporary English Version
Genesis 24:10-24
Contemporary English Version
10 Soon after that, the servant loaded ten of Abraham's camels with valuable gifts. Then he set out for the city in northern Syria,[a] where Abraham's brother Nahor lived.
11 When he got there, he let the camels rest near the well outside the city. It was late afternoon, the time when the women came out for water. 12 The servant prayed:
You, Lord, are the God my master Abraham worships. Please keep your promise to him and let me find a wife for Isaac today. 13 The young women of the city will soon come to this well for water, 14 and I'll ask one of them for a drink. If she gives me a drink and then offers to get some water for my camels, I'll know she is the one you have chosen and that you have kept your promise to my master.
15-16 While he was still praying, a beautiful unmarried young woman came by with a water jar on her shoulder. She was Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Abraham's brother Nahor and his wife Milcah. Rebekah walked past Abraham's servant, then went over to the well, and filled her water jar. When she started back, 17 Abraham's servant ran to her and said, “Please let me have a drink of water.”
18 “I'll be glad to,” she answered. Then she quickly took the jar from her shoulder and held it while he drank. 19-20 After he had finished, she said, “Now I'll give your camels all the water they want.” She quickly poured out water for them, and she kept going back for more, until his camels had drunk all they wanted. 21 Abraham's servant did not say a word, but he watched everything Rebekah did, because he wanted to know for certain if this was the woman the Lord had chosen.
22 The servant had brought along an expensive gold ring and two large gold bracelets. When Rebekah had finished bringing the water, he gave her the ring for her nose[b] and the bracelets for her arms. 23 Then he said, “Please tell me who your father is. Does he have room in his house for me and my men to spend the night?”
24 She answered, “My father is Bethuel, the son of Nahor and Milcah.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 24.10 northern Syria: The Hebrew text has “Aram-Naharaim,” probably referring to the land around the city of Haran (see also 25.20; 28.2,6; 31.18,20; 33.18; 35.23-26; 46.8-15 where CEV translates “Paddan-Aram” as “northern Syria”; and 48.7 where CEV translates “Paddan” as “northern Syria”).
- 24.22 ring for her nose: Nose-rings were popular jewelry items, as were earrings.
Genesis 24:10-24
New International Version
Genesis 24:10-24
New International Version
10 Then the servant left, taking with him ten of his master’s camels(A) loaded with all kinds of good things(B) from his master. He set out for Aram Naharaim[a](C) and made his way to the town of Nahor.(D) 11 He had the camels kneel down near the well(E) outside the town; it was toward evening, the time the women go out to draw water.(F)
12 Then he prayed, “Lord, God of my master Abraham,(G) make me successful(H) today, and show kindness(I) to my master Abraham. 13 See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water.(J) 14 May 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,(K) and I’ll water your camels too’(L)—let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac.(M) By this I will know(N) that you have shown kindness to my master.”
15 Before he had finished praying,(O) Rebekah(P) came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel(Q) son of Milkah,(R) who was the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor.(S) 16 The woman was very beautiful,(T) a virgin;(U) no man had ever slept with her. She went down to the spring, filled her jar and came up again.
17 The servant hurried to meet her and said, “Please give me a little water from your jar.”(V)
18 “Drink,(W) my lord,” she said, and quickly lowered the jar to her hands and gave him a drink.
19 After she had given him a drink, she said, “I’ll draw water for your camels(X) too,(Y) until they have had enough to drink.” 20 So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough, ran back to the well to draw more water, and drew enough for all his camels.(Z) 21 Without saying a word, the man watched her closely to learn whether or not the Lord had made his journey successful.(AA)
22 When the camels had finished drinking, the man took out a gold nose ring(AB) weighing a beka[b] and two gold bracelets(AC) weighing ten shekels.[c] 23 Then he asked, “Whose daughter are you?(AD) Please tell me, is there room in your father’s house for us to spend the night?(AE)”
24 She answered him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son that Milkah bore to Nahor.(AF)”
Footnotes
- Genesis 24:10 That is, Northwest Mesopotamia
- Genesis 24:22 That is, about 1/5 ounce or about 5.7 grams
- Genesis 24:22 That is, about 4 ounces or about 115 grams
Contemporary English Version (CEV) 
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