Back to Genesis 24

Genesis 24:29-51

Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban. Laban ran out to the man, to the spring. When he saw the ring, and the bracelets on his sister’s hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, “This is what the man said to me,” he came to the man. Behold, he was standing by the camels at the spring. He said, “Come in, you blessed of Yahweh. Why do you stand outside? For I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.”

The man came into the house, and he unloaded the camels. He gave straw and feed for the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him. Food was set before him to eat, but he said, “I will not eat until I have told my message.” Laban said, “Speak on.”

He said, “I am Abraham’s servant. Yahweh has blessed my master greatly. He has become great. Yahweh has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male servants and female servants, and camels and donkeys. Sarah, my master’s wife, bore a son to my master when she was old. He has given all that he has to him. 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 live, but you shall go to my father’s house, and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son.’ I asked my master, ‘What if the woman will not follow me?’ He said to me, ‘Yahweh, before whom I walk, will send his angel with you, and prosper your way. You shall take a wife for my son from my relatives, and of my father’s house. Then you will be clear from my oath, when you come to my relatives. If they don’t give her to you, you shall be clear from my oath.’ I came today to the spring, and said, ‘Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, if now you do prosper my way which I go— behold, I am standing by this spring of water. Let it happen, that the maiden who comes out to draw, to whom I will say, “Please give me a little water from your pitcher to drink,” then she tells me, “Drink, and I will also draw for your camels,”—let her be the woman whom Yahweh has appointed for my master’s son.’ Before I had finished speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came out with her pitcher on her shoulder. She went down to the spring, and drew. I said to her, ‘Please let me drink.’ She hurried and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, ‘Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink.’ So I drank, and she also gave the camels a drink. I asked her, and said, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bore to him.’ I put the ring on her nose, and the bracelets on her hands. I bowed my head, and worshiped Yahweh, and blessed Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me in the right way to take my master’s brother’s daughter for his son. Now if you will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me. If not, tell me, that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left.”

Then Laban and Bethuel answered, “The thing proceeds from Yahweh. We can’t speak to you bad or good. Behold, Rebekah is before you. Take her, and go, and let her be your master’s son’s wife, as Yahweh has spoken.”

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Genesis 24:29-51 sits inside this longer paragraph.

The young lady ran, and told her mother’s house about these words. Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban. Laban ran out to the man, to the spring. When he saw the ring, and the bracelets on his sister’s hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, “This is what the man said to me,” he came to the man. Behold, he was standing by the camels at the spring. He said, “Come in, you blessed of Yahweh. Why do you stand outside? For I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.”

The man came into the house, and he unloaded the camels. He gave straw and feed for the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him. Food was set before him to eat, but he said, “I will not eat until I have told my message.” Laban said, “Speak on.”

He said, “I am Abraham’s servant. Yahweh has blessed my master greatly. He has become great. Yahweh has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male servants and female servants, and camels and donkeys. Sarah, my master’s wife, bore a son to my master when she was old. He has given all that he has to him. 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 live, but you shall go to my father’s house, and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son.’ I asked my master, ‘What if the woman will not follow me?’ He said to me, ‘Yahweh, before whom I walk, will send his angel with you, and prosper your way. You shall take a wife for my son from my relatives, and of my father’s house. Then you will be clear from my oath, when you come to my relatives. If they don’t give her to you, you shall be clear from my oath.’ I came today to the spring, and said, ‘Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, if now you do prosper my way which I go— behold, I am standing by this spring of water. Let it happen, that the maiden who comes out to draw, to whom I will say, “Please give me a little water from your pitcher to drink,” then she tells me, “Drink, and I will also draw for your camels,”—let her be the woman whom Yahweh has appointed for my master’s son.’ Before I had finished speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came out with her pitcher on her shoulder. She went down to the spring, and drew. I said to her, ‘Please let me drink.’ She hurried and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, ‘Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink.’ So I drank, and she also gave the camels a drink. I asked her, and said, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bore to him.’ I put the ring on her nose, and the bracelets on her hands. I bowed my head, and worshiped Yahweh, and blessed Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me in the right way to take my master’s brother’s daughter for his son. Now if you will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me. If not, tell me, that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left.”

Then Laban and Bethuel answered, “The thing proceeds from Yahweh. We can’t speak to you bad or good. Behold, Rebekah is before you. Take her, and go, and let her be your master’s son’s wife, as Yahweh has spoken.”

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Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban. Laban ran out to the man, to the spring.

    When he saw the ring, and the bracelets on his sister’s hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, “This is what the man said to me,” he came to the man. Behold, he was standing by the camels at the spring.

    He said, “Come in, you blessed of Yahweh. Why do you stand outside? For I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.”

    The man came into the house, and he unloaded the camels. He gave straw and feed for the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him.

    Food was set before him to eat, but he said, “I will not eat until I have told my message.” Laban said, “Speak on.”

    He said, “I am Abraham’s servant.

    Yahweh has blessed my master greatly. He has become great. Yahweh has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male servants and female servants, and camels and donkeys.

    Sarah, my master’s wife, bore a son to my master when she was old. He has given all that he has to him.

    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 live,

    but you shall go to my father’s house, and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son.’

    I asked my master, ‘What if the woman will not follow me?’

    He said to me, ‘Yahweh, before whom I walk, will send his angel with you, and prosper your way. You shall take a wife for my son from my relatives, and of my father’s house.

    Then you will be clear from my oath, when you come to my relatives. If they don’t give her to you, you shall be clear from my oath.’

    I came today to the spring, and said, ‘Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, if now you do prosper my way which I go—

    behold, I am standing by this spring of water. Let it happen, that the maiden who comes out to draw, to whom I will say, “Please give me a little water from your pitcher to drink,”

    then she tells me, “Drink, and I will also draw for your camels,”—let her be the woman whom Yahweh has appointed for my master’s son.’

    Before I had finished speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came out with her pitcher on her shoulder. She went down to the spring, and drew. I said to her, ‘Please let me drink.’

    She hurried and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, ‘Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink.’ So I drank, and she also gave the camels a drink.

    I asked her, and said, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bore to him.’ I put the ring on her nose, and the bracelets on her hands.

    I bowed my head, and worshiped Yahweh, and blessed Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me in the right way to take my master’s brother’s daughter for his son.

    Now if you will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me. If not, tell me, that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left.”

    Then Laban and Bethuel answered, “The thing proceeds from Yahweh. We can’t speak to you bad or good.

    Behold, Rebekah is before you. Take her, and go, and let her be your master’s son’s wife, as Yahweh has spoken.”

  • KJV King James Version

    And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban: and Laban ran out unto the man, unto the well.

    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.

    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.

    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.

    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.

    And he said, I am Abraham’s servant.

    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.

    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.

    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:

    But thou shalt go unto my father’s house, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son.

    And I said unto my master, Peradventure the woman will not follow me.

    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:

    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.

    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:

    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;

    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.

    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.

    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.

    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.

    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.

    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.

    Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from the LORD: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good.

    Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and go, and let her be thy master’s son’s wife, as the LORD hath spoken.

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  • JPS JPS Tanakh (1917)

    And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban; and Laban ran out unto the man, unto the fountain.

    And it came to pass, when he saw the ring, and the bracelets upon his sister's hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying: 'Thus spoke the man unto me,' that he came unto the man; and, behold, he stood by the camels at the fountain.

    And he said: 'Come in, thou blessed of the LORD; wherefore standest thou without? for I have cleared the house, and made room for the camels.'

    And the man came into the house, and he ungirded the camels; and he gave straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men that were with him.

    And there was set food before him to eat; but he said: 'I will not eat, until I have told mine errand.' And he said: 'Speak on.'

    And he said: 'I am Abraham's servant.

    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 men-servants and maid-servants, and camels and asses.

    And Sarah my master's wife bore a son to my master when she was old; and unto him hath he given all that he hath.

    And my master made me swear, saying: Thou shalt not take a wife for my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell.

    But thou shalt go unto my father's house, and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son.

    And I said unto my master: Peradventure the woman will not follow me.

    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;

    then shalt thou be clear from my oath, when thou comest to my kindred; and if they give her not to thee, thou shalt be clear from my oath.

    And I came this day unto the fountain, and said: O LORD, the God of my master Abraham, if now Thou do prosper my way which I go:

    behold, I stand by the fountain of water; and let it come to pass, that the maiden that cometh forth to draw, to whom I shall say: Give me, I pray thee, a little water from thy pitcher to drink;

    and she shall 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 for my master's son.

    And before I had done speaking to my heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down unto the fountain, and drew. And I said unto her: Let me drink, I pray thee.

    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.

    And I asked her, and said: Whose daughter art thou? And she said: The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bore unto him. And I put the ring upon her nose, and the bracelets upon her hands.

    And I bowed my head, and prostrated myself before the LORD, and blessed the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me in the right way to take my master's brother's daughter for his son.

    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.'

    Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said: 'The thing proceedeth from the LORD; we cannot speak unto thee bad or good.

    Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and go, and let her be thy master's son's wife, as the LORD hath spoken.'

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Cross-references (150)

  • Genesis 13:2 (v35) Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold.
  • Genesis 24:1 (v35) Abraham was old, and well advanced in age. Yahweh had blessed Abraham in all things.
  • Exodus 23:20 (v40) “Behold, I send an angel before you, to keep you by the way, and to bring you into the place which I have prepared.
  • Psalms 107:38 (v35) He blesses them also, so that they are multiplied greatly. He doesn’t allow their livestock to decrease.
  • Psalms 118:23 (v50) This is Yahweh’s doing. It is marvelous in our eyes.
Show all 100 cross-references
  • Proverbs 10:22 (v35) Yahweh’s blessing brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it.
  • Matthew 6:33 (v35) But seek first God’s Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well.
  • Genesis 12:2 (v35) I will make of you a great nation. I will bless you and make your name great. You will be a blessing.
  • Genesis 12:16 (v35) He dealt well with Abram for her sake. He had sheep, cattle, male donkeys, male servants, female servants, female donkeys, and camels.
  • Genesis 25:5 (v36) Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac,
  • Genesis 25:11 (v35) After the death of Abraham, God blessed Isaac, his son. Isaac lived by Beer Lahai Roi.
  • Genesis 26:12-14 (v35) Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year one hundred times what he planted. Yahweh blessed him. The man grew great, and grew…
  • Genesis 29:5 (v29) He said to them, “Do you know Laban, the son of Nahor?” They said, “We know him.”
  • Genesis 47:29 (v49) The time came near that Israel must die, and he called his son Joseph, and said to him, “If now I have found favor in your sight, please…
  • Psalms 16:8 (v40) I have set Yahweh always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
  • Psalms 18:35 (v35) You have also given me the shield of your salvation. Your right hand sustains me. Your gentleness has made me great.
  • Proverbs 22:4 (v35) The result of humility and the fear of Yahweh is wealth, honor, and life.
  • Genesis 5:24 (v40) Enoch walked with God, and he was not found, for God took him.
  • Genesis 17:1 (v40) When Abram was ninety-nine years old, Yahweh appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty. Walk before me and be blameless.
  • Genesis 21:10 (v36) Therefore she said to Abraham, “Cast out this servant and her son! For the son of this servant will not be heir with my son, Isaac.”
  • Genesis 24:8 (v41) If the woman isn’t willing to follow you, then you shall be clear from this oath to me. Only you shall not bring my son there again.”
  • Genesis 24:13-14 (v43) Behold, I am standing by the spring of water. The daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. Let it happen, that the…
  • Genesis 24:26-27 (v48) The man bowed his head, and worshiped Yahweh. He said, “Blessed be Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his loving…
  • Genesis 26:29 (v31) that you will do us no harm, as we have not touched you, and as we have done to you nothing but good, and have sent you away in peace.’ You…
  • Genesis 31:24 (v50) God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream of the night, and said to him, “Be careful that you don’t speak to Jacob either good or bad.”
  • Genesis 43:24 (v32) The man brought the men into Joseph’s house, and gave them water, and they washed their feet. He gave their donkeys fodder.
  • Genesis 49:25 (v35) even by the God of your father, who will help you, by the Almighty, who will bless you, with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the…
  • Exodus 33:2 (v40) I will send an angel before you; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the…
  • Joshua 2:14 (v49) The men said to her, “Our life for yours, if you don’t talk about this business of ours; and it shall be, when Yahweh gives us the land,…
  • Judges 19:21 (v32) So he brought him into his house, and gave the donkeys fodder. Then they washed their feet, and ate and drank.
  • Ruth 3:10 (v31) He said, “You are blessed by Yahweh, my daughter. You have shown more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, because you didn’t…
  • Job 42:10-12 (v35) Yahweh turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends. Yahweh gave Job twice as much as he had before. Then came there to him…
  • Psalms 112:3 (v35) Wealth and riches are in his house. His righteousness endures forever.
  • Proverbs 3:5-6 (v48) Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your…
  • 1 Timothy 4:8 (v35) For bodily exercise has some value, but godliness has value in all things, having the promise of the life which is now, and of that which…
  • Genesis 5:22 (v40) After Methuselah’s birth, Enoch walked with God for three hundred years, and became the father of more sons and daughters.
  • Genesis 6:9 (v40) This is the history of the generations of Noah: Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time. Noah walked with God.
  • Genesis 18:4 (v32) Now let a little water be fetched, wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree.
  • Genesis 21:1-7 (v36) Yahweh visited Sarah as he had said, and Yahweh did to Sarah as he had spoken. Sarah conceived, and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at…
  • Genesis 24:7 (v40) Yahweh, the God of heaven—who took me from my father’s house, and from the land of my birth, who spoke to me, and who swore to me, saying,…
  • Genesis 24:14 (v44) Let it happen, that the young lady to whom I will say, ‘Please let down your pitcher, that I may drink,’ then she says, ‘Drink, and I will…
  • Genesis 31:29 (v50) It is in the power of my hand to hurt you, but the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, ‘Be careful that you don’t speak to…
  • Genesis 48:15 (v40) He blessed Joseph, and said, “The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has fed me all my life long to this day,
  • 1 Kings 8:23 (v40) and he said, “Yahweh, the God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven above, or on earth beneath; who keeps covenant and loving…
  • 2 Kings 20:3 (v40) “Remember now, Yahweh, I beg you, how I have walked before you in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in your…
  • Nehemiah 1:11 (v42) Lord, I beg you, let your ear be attentive now to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants, who delight to fear your…
  • Job 1:3 (v35) His possessions also were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very…
  • Psalms 1:3 (v40) He will be like a tree planted by the streams of water, that produces its fruit in its season, whose leaf also does not wither. Whatever he…
  • Psalms 32:8 (v48) I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you shall go. I will counsel you with my eye on you.
  • Psalms 48:14 (v48) For this God is our God forever and ever. He will be our guide even to death.
  • Psalms 91:11 (v40) For he will put his angels in charge of you, to guard you in all your ways.
  • Psalms 115:15 (v31) Blessed are you by Yahweh, who made heaven and earth.
  • Psalms 132:3-5 (v33) “Surely I will not come into the structure of my house, nor go up into my bed; I will not give sleep to my eyes, or slumber to my eyelids;…
  • Daniel 3:28 (v40) Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel, and delivered his servants…
  • Hebrews 1:14 (v40) Aren’t they all serving spirits, sent out to do service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?
  • Revelation 22:16 (v40) I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify these things to you for the assemblies. I am the root and the offspring of David, the Bright and…
  • Genesis 24:53 (vv47, 50) The servant brought out jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and clothing, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave precious things to her…
  • Ezra 8:21 (vv42, 48) Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from him a straight way for us,…
  • Genesis 17:15-19 (v36) God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but her name will be Sarah. I will bless her, and moreover…
  • Genesis 18:10-14 (v36) He said, “I will certainly return to you at about this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.” Sarah heard in the…
  • Genesis 19:2 (v32) and he said, “See now, my lords, please come into your servant’s house, stay all night, wash your feet, and you can rise up early, and go…
  • Genesis 20:15 (v51) Abimelech said, “Behold, my land is before you. Dwell where it pleases you.”
  • Genesis 24:2-9 (v37) Abraham said to his servant, the elder of his house, who ruled over all that he had, “Please put your hand under my thigh. I will make you…
  • Genesis 24:4 (v38) But you shall go to my country, and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son Isaac.”
  • Genesis 24:5 (v39) The servant said to him, “What if the woman isn’t willing to follow me to this land? Must I bring your son again to the land you came from?”
  • Genesis 24:12-14 (v42) He said, “Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, please give me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. Behold, I am standing…
  • Genesis 24:15-20 (v45) Before he had finished speaking, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother,…
  • Genesis 24:18-19 (v46) She said, “Drink, my lord.” She hurried, and let down her pitcher on her hand, and gave him a drink. When she had finished giving him a…
  • Genesis 24:22-24 (v47) As the camels had done drinking, the man took a golden ring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight…
  • Genesis 24:52 (v48) When Abraham’s servant heard their words, he bowed himself down to the earth to Yahweh.
  • Genesis 27:46 (v37) Rebekah said to Isaac, “I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth. If Jacob takes a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as…
  • Genesis 32:10 (v49) I am not worthy of the least of all the loving kindnesses, and of all the truth, which you have shown to your servant; for with just my…
  • Judges 17:2 (v31) He said to his mother, “The eleven hundred pieces of silver that were taken from you, about which you uttered a curse, and also spoke it in…
  • 2 Samuel 13:22 (v50) Absalom spoke to Amnon neither good nor bad; for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.
  • Ezra 9:1-3 (v37) Now when these things were done, the princes came near to me, saying, “The people of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, have not…
  • Psalms 37:5 (v42) Commit your way to Yahweh. Trust also in him, and he will do this:
  • Psalms 45:13-14 (v47) The princess inside is all glorious. Her clothing is interwoven with gold. She shall be led to the king in embroidered work. The virgins,…
  • Psalms 90:17 (v42) Let the favor of the Lord our God be on us. Establish the work of our hands for us. Yes, establish the work of our hands.
  • Proverbs 3:3 (v49) Don’t let kindness and truth forsake you. Bind them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart.
  • Isaiah 48:17 (v48) Yahweh, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel says: “I am Yahweh your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you by the way that you…
  • Isaiah 62:3-5 (v47) You will also be a crown of beauty in Yahweh‘s hand, and a royal diadem in your God’s hand. You will not be called Forsaken any more, nor…
  • Isaiah 65:24 (v45) It will happen that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
  • Ezekiel 16:10-13 (v47) I clothed you also with embroidered work, and put sealskin sandals on you. I dressed you with fine linen and covered you with silk. I…
  • Daniel 9:23 (v45) At the beginning of your petitions the commandment went out, and I have come to tell you; for you are greatly beloved. Therefore consider…
  • Matthew 7:7 (v45) “Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you.
  • Mark 12:11 (v50) This was from the Lord. It is marvelous in our eyes’?”
  • Luke 7:44 (v32) Turning to the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered into your house, and you gave me no water for my feet, but she…
  • Acts 10:30 (v45) Cornelius said, “Four days ago, I was fasting until this hour, and at the ninth hour, I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before…
  • Acts 12:12-17 (v45) Thinking about that, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was called Mark, where many were gathered together and were…
  • Romans 1:10 (v42) requesting, if by any means now at last I may be prospered by the will of God to come to you.
  • Romans 4:19 (v36) Without being weakened in faith, he didn’t consider his own body, already having been worn out, (he being about a hundred years old), and…
  • Ephesians 6:5-8 (v33) Servants, be obedient to those who according to the flesh are your masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as to…
  • 1 Timothy 5:10 (v32) being approved by good works, if she has brought up children, if she has been hospitable to strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet,…
  • 1 Timothy 6:2 (v33) Those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brothers, but rather let them serve them, because those who…
  • Revelation 22:8 (v40) Now I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. When I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who had…
  • Genesis 24:15 (vv50–51) Before he had finished speaking, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother,…
  • Genesis 24:55 (vv29, 50) Her brother and her mother said, “Let the young lady stay with us a few days, at least ten. After that she will go.”
  • Genesis 2:22 (v44) Yahweh God made a woman from the rib which he had taken from the man, and brought her to the man.
  • Genesis 6:2 (v37) God’s sons saw that men’s daughters were beautiful, and they took any that they wanted for themselves as wives.
  • Genesis 11:29-30 (v36) Abram and Nahor married wives. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife was Milcah, the daughter of Haran, who was…

100 distinct cross-references across this passage (150 total citations).

Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)

Explain this passage (21 sources)

Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.

John Calvin 1540 · Public Domain On vv33, 50 33. I will not eat until I have told…

33. I will not eat until I have told my errand Moses begins to show by what means the parents of Rebekah were induced to give her in marriage to their nephew. That the servant, when food was set before him, should refuse to eat till he had completed his work is a proof of his diligence and fidelity; and it may with propriety be regarded as one of the benefits which God had vouchsafed to Abraham, that he should have a servant so faithful, and so intent upon his duty. Since, however, this was the reward of the holy discipline which Abraham maintained, we cannot wonder that very few such servants are to be found, seeing that everywhere they are so ill-governed.

Moreover, although the servant seems to weave a superfluous story, yet there is nothing in it which is not available to his immediate purpose. He knew that it was a feeling naturally inherent in parents, not willingly to send away their children to a distance. He therefore first commemorates Abraham’s riches, that they might not hesitate to connect their daughter with a husband so wealthy. He secondly explains that Isaac was born of his mother in her old age; not merely for the purpose of informing them that he had been miraculously given to his father, whence they might infer that he had been divinely appointed to this greatness and eminence; but that an additional commendation might be given on account of Isaac’s age. In the third place, he affirms that Isaac would be the sole heir of his father. Fourthly, he relates that he had been bound by an oath to seek a wife for his master Isaac, from among his own kindred; which special choice on the part of Abraham was very effectual in moving them to compliance. Fifthly, he states that Abraham, in full confidence that God would be the leader of his journey, had committed the whole business to him. Sixthly, he declares, that whatever he had asked in prayer he had obtained from the Lord; whence it appeared that the marriage of which he was about to treat was according to the will of God. We now see the design of his narration: First, to persuade the parents of Rebekah that he had not been sent for the purpose of deceiving them, that he had not in anything acted craftily, or by oblique methods, but in the fear of the Lord, as the religious obligation of marriage requires. Secondly, that he was desiring nothing which would not be profitable and honorable for them. And lastly, that God had been the director of the whole affair.

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Moreover, since the servant of Abraham, though persuaded that the angel of God would be the guide of his journey, yet neither directs his prayers nor his thanksgivings to him, we may hence learn that angels are not, in such a sense, constituted the ministers of God to us, as that they should be invoked by us, or should transfer to themselves the worship due to God; a superstition which prevails nearly over the whole world to such a degree, that men turn aside a portion of their faith from the only fountain of all good to the rivulets which flow from it. The clause, the Lord, before whom I walk, (Genesis 24:40,) which some refer to the probity and good conscience of Abraham, I rather explain as applying to the faith, by which he set God before him, as the governor of his life, being confident that he was the object of God’s care, and dependent upon his grace.

If ye will deal kindly I have lately related the force of this expression; namely, to act with humanity and good faith. He thus modestly and suppliantly asks them to consent to the marriage of Isaac and Rebekah: should he meet with a repulse from them, he says, he will go either to the right hand or to the left; that is, he will look around elsewhere. For he places the right hand and the left in contrast with the straight way in which he had been led to them. It is, however, with fertile ingenuity that some of the Hebrews explain the words as meaning, that he would go to Lot, or to Ishmael.

John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.

Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv30, 32, 33, 35, 37, 38, 41, 42, 44, 45, 48, 49, 50, 51 For he waited on God’s hand, who had now…
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51 Gen 24:29 And Rebekah had a brother, and his…
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv31, 32, 36, 40, 41, 42, 47, 49, 50, 51 Come in, thou blessed of the Lord, i.e. whom…
Matthew Henry 1710 · Public Domain On v29 We have here the making up of the marriage…
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv29–51 And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was…
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv29, 31, 34, 45, 50 We have here the making up of the marriage…
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv31, 32, 33, 36, 42, 43, 45, 49, 50 Verse 31. Thou blessed of the Lord] Probably a…
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv31, 33, 34, 45, 50 Gen 24:31. Come in, thou blessed of the Lord…
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv41, 49, 50 Curse, which always attends the person who does not…
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv29, 32, 50 Rebekah had a brother . . . Laban ran…
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv29, 30, 33, 50 29. Laban — Note the prominence of Laban in…
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36, 37, 42, 48, 49, 50, 51 29–53. The Betrothal of Rebekah
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv29, 31, 33, 38, 43, 45, 47, 50 (29) Laban ran out unto the man.—Not until he…
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 50 And it cams to pass, when he saw the…
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On vv31–32 Come in, thou blessed of the Lord
The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary 1892 · Public Domain On vv32, 50 Gen_24:32. And he ungirded his camels, and gave straw…
C. I. Scofield 1917 · Public Domain On v40 (See Scofield "Heb 1:4").
Paul E. Kretzmann 1924 · Public Domain On vv29, 34, 50 Eliezer in the Home of Bethuel
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv31, 33, 36, 39, 42, 45, 47, 49, 50 Come, you
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv29, 33, 48, 50 24:29-31 Laban . . . ran: He was not…
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