Genesis 24
Legacy Standard Bible
A Wife for Isaac
24 Now (A)Abraham was old, advanced in age; and Yahweh had (B)blessed Abraham in every way. 2 And Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his household, who (C)ruled over all that he owned, “(D)Please place your hand under my thigh, 3 and I will make you swear by Yahweh, (E)the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you (F)shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of (G)the Canaanites, among whom I live, 4 but you will go to (H)my land and to my kin, and take a wife for my son Isaac.” 5 And the servant said to him, “Suppose the woman is not willing to follow me to this land; should I indeed take your son back to the land from where you came?” 6 Then Abraham said to him, “(I)Beware lest you take my son back there! 7 (J)Yahweh, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and from the land of my kin, and who spoke to me and who swore to me, saying, ‘(K)To your seed I will give this land,’ He will send (L)His angel before you, and you will take a wife for my son from there. 8 But if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will (M)be free from this oath of mine; (N)only do not take my son back there.” 9 So the servant (O)placed his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master and swore to him concerning this matter.
10 Then the servant took ten camels from the camels of his master, and he went with all kinds of (P)good things of his master’s in his hand. So he arose and went to [a]Mesopotamia, to (Q)the city of Nahor. 11 And he made the camels kneel down outside the city by (R)the well of water at evening time, (S)the time when the women go out to draw water. 12 And he said, “(T)O Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, please (U)cause this to happen before me today, and show lovingkindness to my master Abraham. 13 Behold, (V)I am standing by the spring of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water; 14 now may it be that the young woman to whom I say, ‘Please let down your jar so that I may drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I will give water to your camels to drink also’—may she be the one whom You have decided for Your servant Isaac; and by this I will know that You have shown lovingkindness to my master.”
Rebekah Goes with Abraham’s Servant
15 (W)And before he had finished speaking, behold, (X)Rebekah who was born to Bethuel the son of (Y)Milcah, the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor, was coming out with her jar on her shoulder. 16 Now the young woman was (Z)very beautiful in appearance, a virgin, and no man had [b]known her; and she went down to the spring and filled her jar and came up. 17 Then the servant ran to meet her and said, “(AA)Please give me a little water to drink from your jar.” 18 (AB)And she said, “Drink, my lord”; and she quickly lowered her jar to her hand and gave him a drink. 19 Now when she had finished giving him a drink, (AC)she said, “I will draw also for your camels until they have finished drinking.” 20 So she hurried and emptied her jar into the watering channel and ran again to the well to draw, and she drew for all his camels. 21 (AD)Meanwhile, the man was gazing at her [c]in silence, to know whether Yahweh had made his journey successful or not.
22 Now it happened that when the camels had finished drinking, the man took a (AE)gold ring weighing a [d]half-shekel and two bracelets for her [e]wrists weighing ten shekels in gold, 23 and said, “Whose daughter are you? Please tell me, is there a place for us to lodge in your father’s house?” 24 And she said to him, “(AF)I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor.” 25 And she said to him, “We have plenty of both straw and feed, and a place to lodge in.” 26 Then the man (AG)bowed low and worshiped Yahweh. 27 And he said, “(AH)Blessed be Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken (AI)His lovingkindness and His truth toward my master; as for me, (AJ)Yahweh has guided me in the way to the house of my master’s brothers.”
28 Then (AK)the young woman ran and told her mother’s household about these things. 29 Now Rebekah had a brother whose name was (AL)Laban; and Laban ran outside to the man at the spring. 30 Now it happened, when he saw the ring and the bracelets on his sister’s [f]wrists, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, “[g]This is what the man said to me,” he came out to the man; and behold, he was standing by the camels at the spring. 31 And he said, “(AM)Come in, (AN)blessed of Yahweh! Why do you stand outside since (AO)I have prepared the house and a place for the camels?” 32 So the man came into the house. Then [h](AP)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. 33 Then food was set before him to eat, but he said, “I will not eat until I have spoken my words.” And he said, “Speak!” 34 So he said, “I am (AQ)Abraham’s servant. 35 And Yahweh has greatly (AR)blessed my master, so he has become great; and He has given him (AS)flocks and herds, and silver and gold, and male slaves and female slaves, and camels and donkeys. 36 Now (AT)Sarah my master’s wife bore a son to my master [i]in her old age, and (AU)he has given him all that he has. 37 (AV)And 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 [j]live; 38 but you shall go to my father’s house and to my family, and take a wife for my son.’ 39 (AW)Then I said to my master, ‘Suppose the woman does not follow me.’ 40 And he said to me, ‘(AX)Yahweh, before whom I have (AY)walked, will send (AZ)His angel with you and will make your journey successful, and you will take a wife for my son from my family and from my father’s house. 41 (BA)Then you will be free from my oath, when you come to my relatives. Now if they do not give her to you, you will be free from my oath.’
42 “So (BB)I came today to the spring and said, ‘O Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, if now You will make my journey on which I go (BC)successful; 43 behold, (BD)I am standing by the spring of water, and may it be that the [k]maiden who comes out to draw, and to whom I say, “(BE)Please let me drink a little water from your jar”; 44 and she will say to me, “You drink, and I will draw for your camels also”; she is the woman whom Yahweh has decided upon for my master’s son.’
45 “Before I had finished (BF)speaking in my heart, behold, (BG)Rebekah was coming out with her jar on her shoulder, and she went down to the spring and drew, and (BH)I said to her, ‘Please give me a drink.’ 46 Then she hurried and lowered her jar from her shoulder and said, ‘(BI)Drink, and I will also give water to your camels to drink’; so I drank, and she also gave water to the camels to drink. 47 (BJ)Then 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 (BK)ring on her nose and the bracelets on her [l]wrists. 48 And I (BL)bowed low and worshiped Yahweh; and I blessed Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, (BM)who had guided me in the true way to take the daughter of my master’s [m]relative for his son. 49 So now if you are going to (BN)show lovingkindness and truth with my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, that I may turn to the right or to the left.”
50 Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, “(BO)The matter comes from Yahweh; (BP)so we cannot speak to you bad or good. 51 Behold, Rebekah is before you, take her and go, and let her be the wife of your master’s son, as Yahweh has spoken.”
52 Now it happened that when Abraham’s servant heard their words, he (BQ)bowed himself to the ground [n]before Yahweh. 53 The servant brought out (BR)articles of silver and articles of gold, and garments, and gave them to Rebekah; he also gave precious things to her brother and to her mother. 54 Then he and the men who were with him ate and drank and spent the night. And then they arose in the morning, and he said, “(BS)Send me away to my master.” 55 But her brother and her mother said, “(BT)Let the young woman stay with us a few days, or even ten; afterward she will go.” 56 And he said to them, “Do not delay me, since (BU)Yahweh has made my way successful. Send me away that I may go to my master.” 57 And they said, “We will call the young woman and ask about [o]her wishes.” 58 Then they called Rebekah and said to her, “Will you go with this man?” And she said, “I will go.” 59 Thus they sent away their sister Rebekah and (BV)her nurse with Abraham’s servant and his men. 60 And they blessed Rebekah and said to her,
“May you, our sister,
(BW)Become thousands of ten thousands,
And may (BX)your seed possess
The gate of those who hate him.”
61 Then Rebekah arose with her young women, and they mounted the camels and went after the man. So the servant took Rebekah and went.
Rebekah Becomes Isaac’s Wife
62 Now Isaac had come from going to (BY)Beer-lahai-roi, for he [p]was living in (BZ)the land of the [q]Negev. 63 And Isaac went out (CA)to [r]muse in the field toward evening; and (CB)he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, camels were coming. 64 And Rebekah lifted up her eyes and saw Isaac and dismounted from the camel. 65 Then she said to the servant, “Who is that man walking in the field to meet us?” And the servant said, “He is my master.” Then she took her [s]veil and covered herself. 66 And the servant recounted to Isaac all the things that he had done. 67 Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and (CC)he took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and (CD)he loved her. Thus, Isaac was comforted after (CE)his mother’s death.
Footnotes
- Genesis 24:10 Heb Aram-naharaim; lit Aram of the two rivers
- Genesis 24:16 Or relations with
- Genesis 24:21 Lit keeping silent
- Genesis 24:22 A shekel was approx. 0.4 oz. or 11 gm
- Genesis 24:22 Lit hands
- Genesis 24:30 Lit hands
- Genesis 24:30 Lit Thus the man
- Genesis 24:32 Lit he
- Genesis 24:36 Lit after she was old
- Genesis 24:37 Lit dwell
- Genesis 24:43 Or virgin
- Genesis 24:47 Lit hands
- Genesis 24:48 Lit brother
- Genesis 24:52 Lit to
- Genesis 24:57 Lit her mouth
- Genesis 24:62 Lit was dwelling
- Genesis 24:62 South country
- Genesis 24:63 Or stroll; meaning uncertain
- Genesis 24:65 Or shawl
Genesis 24
King James Version
24 And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things.
2 And 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:
3 And 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:
4 But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.
5 And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest?
6 And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again.
7 The 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.
8 And 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.
9 And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning that matter.
10 And 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.
11 And 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.
12 And 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.
13 Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water:
14 And 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.
15 And 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.
16 And 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.
17 And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher.
18 And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink.
19 And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for thy camels also, until they have done drinking.
20 And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels.
21 And the man wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether the Lord had made his journey prosperous or not.
22 And 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;
23 And said, Whose daughter art thou? tell me, I pray thee: is there room in thy father's house for us to lodge in?
24 And she said unto him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, which she bare unto Nahor.
25 She said moreover unto him, We have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in.
26 And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the Lord.
27 And 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.
28 And the damsel ran, and told them of her mother's house these things.
29 And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban: and Laban ran out unto the man, unto the well.
30 And 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.
31 And he said, Come in, thou blessed of the Lord; wherefore standest thou without? for I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.
32 And 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.
33 And 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.
34 And he said, I am Abraham's servant.
35 And 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.
36 And 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.
37 And 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:
38 But thou shalt go unto my father's house, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son.
39 And I said unto my master, Peradventure the woman will not follow me.
40 And 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:
41 Then 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.
42 And 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:
43 Behold, 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;
44 And 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.
45 And 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.
46 And 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.
47 And 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.
48 And 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.
49 And now if ye will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me: and if not, tell me; that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left.
50 Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from the Lord: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good.
51 Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and go, and let her be thy master's son's wife, as the Lord hath spoken.
52 And it came to pass, that, when Abraham's servant heard their words, he worshipped the Lord, bowing himself to the earth.
53 And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things.
54 And they did eat and drink, he and the men that were with him, and tarried all night; and they rose up in the morning, and he said, Send me away unto my master.
55 And her brother and her mother said, Let the damsel abide with us a few days, at the least ten; after that she shall go.
56 And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing the Lord hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master.
57 And they said, We will call the damsel, and enquire at her mouth.
58 And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go.
59 And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his men.
60 And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them.
61 And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man: and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way.
62 And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahairoi; for he dwelt in the south country.
63 And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming.
64 And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel.
65 For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she took a vail, and covered herself.
66 And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done.
67 And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.
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