Add parallel Print Page Options

34 “I am the servant of Abraham,” he began. 35 “The Lord has greatly blessed my master and made him a rich man. He has given him flocks of sheep and goats, cattle, silver, gold, male and female slaves, camels, and donkeys. 36 Sarah, my master's wife, bore him a son when she was old, and my master has given everything he owns to him. 37 My master made me promise with a vow to obey his command. He said, ‘Do not choose a wife for my son from the young women in the land of Canaan. 38 Instead, go to my father's people, to my relatives, and choose a wife for him.’

Read full chapter

34 So he said, “I am Abraham’s servant.(A) 35 The Lord has blessed(B) my master abundantly,(C) and he has become wealthy.(D) He has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, male and female servants, and camels and donkeys.(E) 36 My master’s wife Sarah has borne him a son in her old age,(F) and he has given him everything he owns.(G) 37 And my master made me swear an oath,(H) and said, ‘You must not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live,(I) 38 but go to my father’s family and to my own clan, and get a wife for my son.’(J)

Read full chapter

34-41 The servant said, “I’m the servant of Abraham. God has blessed my master—he’s a great man; God has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, servants and maidservants, camels and donkeys. And then to top it off, Sarah, my master’s wife, gave him a son in her old age and he has passed everything on to his son. My master made me promise, ‘Don’t get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites in whose land I live. No, go to my father’s home, back to my family, and get a wife for my son there.’ I said to my master, ‘But what if the woman won’t come with me?’ He said, ‘God before whom I’ve walked faithfully will send his angel with you and he’ll make things work out so that you’ll bring back a wife for my son from my family, from the house of my father. Then you’ll be free from the oath. If you go to my family and they won’t give her to you, you will also be free from the oath.’

Read full chapter

42 “When I came to the well today, I prayed, ‘Lord, God of my master Abraham, please give me success in what I am doing. 43 Here I am at the well. When a young woman comes out to get water, I will ask her to give me a drink of water from her jar. 44 If she agrees and also offers to bring water for my camels, may she be the one that you have chosen as the wife for my master's son.’ 45 Before I had finished my silent prayer, Rebecca came with a water jar on her shoulder and went down to the well to get water. I said to her, ‘Please give me a drink.’ 46 She quickly lowered her jar from her shoulder and said, ‘Drink, and I will also water your camels.’ So I drank, and she watered the camels. 47 I asked her, ‘Who is your father?’ And she answered, ‘My father is Bethuel son of Nahor and Milcah.’ Then I put the ring in her nose and the bracelets on her arms. 48 I knelt down and worshiped the Lord. I praised the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me straight to my master's relative, where I found his daughter for my master's son. 49 Now, if you intend to fulfill your responsibility toward my master and treat him fairly, please tell me; if not, say so, and I will decide what to do.”

Read full chapter

42 “When I came to the spring today, I said, ‘Lord, God of my master Abraham, if you will, please grant success(A) to the journey on which I have come. 43 See, I am standing beside this spring.(B) If a young woman(C) comes out to draw water and I say to her, “Please let me drink a little water from your jar,”(D) 44 and 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.’(E)

45 “Before I finished praying in my heart,(F) Rebekah came out, with her jar on her shoulder.(G) She went down to the spring and drew water, and I said to her, ‘Please give me a drink.’(H)

46 “She quickly lowered her jar from her shoulder and said, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too.’(I) So I drank, and she watered the camels also.(J)

47 “I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’(K)

“She said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel(L) son of Nahor, whom Milkah bore to him.’(M)

“Then I put the ring in her nose(N) and the bracelets on her arms,(O) 48 and I bowed down and worshiped the Lord.(P) I praised the Lord, the God of my master Abraham,(Q) who had led me on the right road to get the granddaughter of my master’s brother for his son.(R) 49 Now if you will show kindness and faithfulness(S) to my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, so I may know which way to turn.”

Read full chapter

42-44 “Well, when I came this very day to the spring, I prayed, ‘God, God of my master Abraham, make things turn out well in this task I’ve been given. I’m standing at this well. When a young woman comes here to draw water and I say to her, Please, give me a sip of water from your jug, and she says, Not only will I give you a drink, I’ll also water your camels—let that woman be the wife God has picked out for my master’s son.’

45-48 “I had barely finished offering this prayer, when Rebekah arrived, her jug on her shoulder. She went to the spring and drew water and I said, ‘Please, can I have a drink?’ She didn’t hesitate. She held out her jug and said, ‘Drink; and when you’re finished I’ll also water your camels.’ I drank, and she watered the camels. I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel whose parents were Nahor and Milcah.’ I gave her a ring for her nose, bracelets for her arms, and bowed in worship to God. I praised God, the God of my master Abraham who had led me straight to the door of my master’s family to get a wife for his son.

49 “Now, tell me what you are going to do. If you plan to respond with a generous yes, tell me. But if not, tell me plainly so I can figure out what to do next.”

Read full chapter

58 So they called Rebecca and asked, “Do you want to go with this man?”

“Yes,” she answered.

59 So they let Rebecca and her old family servant go with Abraham's servant and his men. 60 And they gave Rebecca their blessing in these words:

“May you, sister, become the mother of millions!
May your descendants conquer the cities of their enemies!”

61 Then Rebecca and her young women got ready and mounted the camels to go with Abraham's servant, and they all started out.

62 Isaac had come into the wilderness of[a] “The Well of the Living One Who Sees Me” and was staying in the southern part of Canaan. 63 He went out in the early evening to take a walk in the fields and saw camels coming. 64 When Rebecca saw Isaac, she got down from her camel 65 and asked Abraham's servant, “Who is that man walking toward us in the field?”

“He is my master,” the servant answered. So she took her scarf and covered her face.

66 The servant told Isaac everything he had done. 67 Then Isaac brought Rebecca into the tent that his mother Sarah had lived in, and she became his wife. Isaac loved Rebecca, and so he was comforted for the loss of his mother.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 24:62 Some ancient translations into the wilderness of; Hebrew from coming.

58 So they called Rebekah and asked her, “Will you go with this man?”

“I will go,”(A) she said.

59 So they sent their sister Rebekah on her way,(B) along with her nurse(C) and Abraham’s servant and his men. 60 And they blessed(D) Rebekah and said to her,

“Our sister, may you increase
    to thousands upon thousands;(E)
may your offspring possess
    the cities of their enemies.”(F)

61 Then Rebekah and her attendants(G) got ready and mounted the camels and went back with the man. So the servant took Rebekah and left.

62 Now Isaac had come from Beer Lahai Roi,(H) for he was living in the Negev.(I) 63 He went out to the field one evening to meditate,[a](J) and as he looked up,(K) he saw camels approaching. 64 Rebekah also looked up and saw Isaac. She got down from her camel(L) 65 and asked the servant, “Who is that man in the field coming to meet us?”

“He is my master,” the servant answered. So she took her veil(M) and covered herself.

66 Then the servant told Isaac all he had done. 67 Isaac brought her into the tent(N) of his mother Sarah,(O) and he married Rebekah.(P) So she became his wife, and he loved her;(Q) and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.(R)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 24:63 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.

58 She said, “I’m ready to go.”

59-60 So they sent them off, their sister Rebekah with her nurse, and Abraham’s servant with his men. And they blessed Rebekah saying,

    You’re our sister—live bountifully!
    And your children, triumphantly!

61 Rebekah and her young maids mounted the camels and followed the man. The servant took Rebekah and set off for home.

62-65 Isaac was living in the Negev. He had just come back from a visit to Beer Lahai Roi. In the evening he went out into the field; while meditating he looked up and saw camels coming. When Rebekah looked up and saw Isaac, she got down from her camel and asked the servant, “Who is that man out in the field coming toward us?”

“That is my master.”

She took her veil and covered herself.

66-67 After the servant told Isaac the whole story of the trip, Isaac took Rebekah into the tent of his mother Sarah. He married Rebekah and she became his wife and he loved her. So Isaac found comfort after his mother’s death.

* * *

Read full chapter