Genesis 24:2
New International Version
He said to the senior servant in his household, the one in charge of all that he had, “Put your hand under my thigh.

New Living Translation
One day Abraham said to his oldest servant, the man in charge of his household, “Take an oath by putting your hand under my thigh.

English Standard Version
And Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his household, who had charge of all that he had, “Put your hand under my thigh,

Berean Standard Bible
So Abraham instructed the chief servant of his household, who managed all he owned, “Place your hand under my thigh,

King James Bible
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:

New King James Version
So Abraham said to the oldest servant of his house, who ruled over all that he had, “Please, put your hand under my thigh,

New American Standard Bible
Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his household who was in charge of all that he owned, “Please place your hand under my thigh,

NASB 1995
Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his household, who had charge of all that he owned, “Please place your hand under my thigh,

NASB 1977
And Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his household, who had charge of all that he owned, “Please place your hand under my thigh,

Legacy Standard Bible
And Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his household, who ruled over all that he owned, “Please place your hand under my thigh,

Amplified Bible
Abraham said to his servant [Eliezer of Damascus], the oldest of his household, who had charge over all that Abraham owned, “Please, put your hand under my thigh [as is customary for affirming a solemn oath],

Christian Standard Bible
Abraham said to his servant, the elder of his household who managed all he owned, “Place your hand under my thigh,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Abraham said to his servant, the elder of his household who managed all he owned, “Place your hand under my thigh,

American Standard Version
And Abraham said unto his servant, the elder of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And Abraham called his old Servant, the Chief in his house, who was authorized in everything that he had, and he said to him, “Put your hand under my loins:

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Abraam said to his servant the elder of his house, who had rule over all his possessions, Put thy hand under my thigh,

Contemporary English Version
One day, Abraham called in his most trusted servant and said to him, "Solemnly promise me

Douay-Rheims Bible
And he said to the elder servant of his house, who was ruler over all he had: Put thy hand under my thigh,

English Revised Version
And Abraham said unto his servant, the elder of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
So Abraham said to the senior servant of his household who was in charge of all that he owned, "Take a solemn oath.

Good News Translation
He said to his oldest servant, who was in charge of all that he had, "Place your hand between my thighs and make a vow.

International Standard Version
So Abraham instructed his servant, who was the oldest member of his household and in charge of everything he owned, "Make this solemn oath to me

JPS Tanakh 1917
And Abraham said unto his servant, the elder of his house, that ruled over all that he had: 'Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh.

Literal Standard Version
and Abraham says to his servant, the eldest of his house, who is ruling over all that he has, “Please put your hand under my thigh,

Majority Standard Bible
So Abraham instructed the chief servant of his household, who managed all he owned, “Place your hand under my thigh,

New American Bible
Abraham said to the senior servant of his household, who had charge of all his possessions: “Put your hand under my thigh,

NET Bible
Abraham said to his servant, the senior one in his household who was in charge of everything he had, "Put your hand under my thigh

New Revised Standard Version
Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his house, who had charge of all that he had, “Put your hand under my thigh

New Heart English Bible
Abraham said to his servant, the elder of his house, who ruled over all that he had, "Please put your hand under my thigh.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Abraham said to his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:

World English Bible
Abraham said to his servant, the elder of his house, who ruled over all that he had, “Please put your hand under my thigh.

Young's Literal Translation
and Abraham saith unto his servant, the eldest of his house, who is ruling over all that he hath, 'Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
A Wife for Isaac
1By now Abraham was old and well along in years, and the LORD had blessed him in every way. 2So Abraham instructed the chief servant of his household, who managed all he owned, “Place your hand under my thigh, 3and I will have you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I am dwelling,…

Cross References
Genesis 24:9
So the servant placed his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and swore an oath to him concerning this matter.

Genesis 24:34
"I am Abraham's servant," he replied.

Genesis 24:37
My master made me swear an oath and said, 'You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites in whose land I dwell,

Genesis 39:4
Joseph found favor in his sight and became his personal attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household and entrusted him with everything he owned.

Genesis 47:29
When the time drew near for Israel to die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, "If I have found favor in your eyes, put your hand under my thigh and promise to show me kindness and faithfulness. Do not bury me in Egypt,

2 Samuel 12:17
The elders of his household stood beside him to help him up from the ground, but he was unwilling and would not eat anything with them.

1 Kings 16:9
However, while Elah was in Tirzah getting drunk in the house of Arza the steward of his household there, Elah's servant Zimri, the commander of half his chariots, conspired against him.


Treasury of Scripture

And Abraham said to his oldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray you, your hand under my thigh:

eldest.

Genesis 15:2
And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?

1 Timothy 5:17
Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.

ruled.

Genesis 24:10
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.

Genesis 39:4-6,8,9
And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand…

Genesis 44:1
And he commanded the steward of his house, saying, Fill the men's sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put every man's money in his sack's mouth.

Put.

Genesis 24:9
And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning that matter.

Genesis 47:29
And the time drew nigh that Israel must die: and he called his son Joseph, and said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me; bury me not, I pray thee, in Egypt:

1 Chronicles 29:24
And all the princes, and the mighty men, and all the sons likewise of king David, submitted themselves unto Solomon the king.

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Abraham Charge Chief Elder Eldest Hand House Household Manager Oldest Owned Please Property Ruled Ruling Servant Thigh
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Genesis 24
1. Abraham swears his servant.
10. The servant's journey.
12. His prayer.
14. His sign.
15. Rebekah meets him;
18. fulfils his sign;
22. receives jewels;
23. shows her kindred;
25. and invites him home.
26. The servant blesses God.
29. Laban entertains him.
34. The servant shows his message.
50. Laban and Bethuel approve it.
58. Rebekah consents to go, and departs.
62. Isaac meets and marries her.














(2) Unto his eldest servant of his house.--Heb., his servant, the elder of his house. It is the name of an office; and though one holding so confidential a post would be a man of ripe years, yet it is not probable that Abraham would send any one who was not still vigorous on so distant a journey. Eliezer of Damascus had held a similar office fifty-five years previously (Genesis 15:2), but this was probably a younger man.

Put . . . thy hand under my thigh.--As Jacob requires that Joseph should swear to him in the same manner (Genesis 47:29), this form of oath was evidently regarded as a very solemn one. The meaning of it has been much discussed, but we find the thigh in Genesis 46:26, Exodus 1:5--in both which places it is rendered loins--used as the source of posterity. Probably, therefore, as Tuch argues, it is an euphemistic manner of describing the circumcised member, which was to be touched by the hand placed beneBeware thou that thou bring not my son thither again.--The betrothal of Isaac and Rebekah is told with the utmost exactness of detail, because it contained two principles of primary importance to Abraham's posterity: the first, that they were not to allow themselves to be merged among the Canaanites, but remain a distinct people; for this intermarriage with women of their own race was only a means to an end, and not a binding law, to be observed for its own sake. And secondly, that under no circumstances might they return to Mesopotamia, but must cling devotedly to the land of which God had promised them the possession. We learn from Genesis 24:8 that this second point was regarded by Abraham as even more important than the first; and with reason. For the race might remain distinct even if Isaac took a woman of Palestine to wife, though there would be the risk of religious deterioration; but if they returned to Padanaram they were certain to be absorbed, and could look for no higher lot than that attained to by Laban's descendants. . . .

Verses 2-4. - And Abraham said auto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, - literally, to his servant, the old man, ancient or elder, of his house, the ruler over all which (sc. belonged) to him. The term זָקֵן (an old man) is in most languages employed as a title of honor, - cf. sheikh, senatus, γέρων, presbyter, signor, seigneur, senor, sir (Gesenius, p. 252), - and is probably to be so understood here. Eliezer of Damascus, upwards of half a century previous regarded as heir presumptive to Abraham's house (Genesis 15:2), is commonly considered the official meant, though the point is of no importance - Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh: and I will make thee swear. This ancient form of adjuration, which is mentioned again only in chap. 47:29, and to which nothing analogous can elsewhere be discovered, - the practice alleged to exist among the modern Egyptian Bedouins of placing the hand upon the membrum virile in solemn forms of asseveration not forming an exact parallel, was probably originated by the patriarch. The thigh, as the source of posterity (cf. Genesis 35:11; Genesis 46:26; Exodus 1:5), has been regarded as pointing to Abraham's future descendants (Keil, Kalisch, Lange), and in particular to Christ, the promised seed (Theodoret, Jerome, Augustine, Luther, Ainsworth, Bush, Wordsworth), and the oath to be equivalent to a swearing by him that was to come. By others the thigh has been viewed as euphemistically put for the generative organ, upon which the sign of circumcision was placed, and the oath as an adjuration by the sign of the covenant (Jonathan, Jarchi, Tuch). A third interpretation considers the thigh as symbolizing lordship or authority, and the placing of the hand under it as tantamount to an oath of fealty and allegiance to a superior (Aben Ezra, Rosenmüller, Calvin, Murphy). Other explanations are modifications of the above. By the Lord (Jehovah; since the marriage to which this solemn adjuration was preliminary was not an ordinary alliance, such as might have taken place under the providence of Elohim, but the wedding of the heir of the promise), the God of heaven, and the God of the earth (a clause defining Jehovah as the supreme Lord of the universe, and therefore as the sole Arbiter of human destiny), that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son - not investing him with authority to provide a wife for Isaac in the event of death carrying him (Abraham) off before his son's marriage, but simply explaining the negative side of the commission with which he was about to be entrusted. If it evinced Isaac's gentle disposition and submissive piety, that though forty years of age he neither thought of marriage, but mourned in devout contemplation for his mother (,Lange), nor offered resistance to his father s proposal, but suffered himself to be governed by a servant (Calvin), it was also quite in accordance with ancient practice that parents should dispose of their children in marriage (cf. Genesis 28:2) - of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell. Being prompted to this partly by that jealousy with which all pastoral tribes of Shemitie origin have been accustomed to guard the purity of their race by intermarriage (Dykes; cf. Thomson, 'Land and Book,' p. 591), and partly no doubt by his perception of the growing licentiousness of the Canaanites, as well as his knowledge of their predicted doom, though chiefly, it is probable, by a desire to preserve the purity of the promised seed. Intermarriage with the Canaanites was afterwards forbidden by the Mosaic legislation (Exodus 34:16; Deuteronomy 7:3). But (literally, for, i.e. the former thing must not be done because this must be done) thou shalt go unto my country (not Ur of the Chaldees, but the region beyond the Euphrates generally), and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac. Though enforced by religious considerations, this injunction to bring none but a relative for Isaac's bride "was in no sense a departure from established usages and social laws in regard to marriage" ('Land and Book,' p. 591).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So Abraham
אַבְרָהָ֗ם (’aḇ·rā·hām)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 85: Abraham -- 'exalted father', the father of the Jewish nation

instructed
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

the chief
זְקַ֣ן (zə·qan)
Adjective - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2205: Old

servant
עַבְדּוֹ֙ (‘aḇ·dōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5650: Slave, servant

of his household,
בֵּית֔וֹ (bê·ṯōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1004: A house

who managed
הַמֹּשֵׁ֖ל (ham·mō·šêl)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 4910: To rule, have dominion, reign

all he owned,
בְּכָל־ (bə·ḵāl)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

“Place
שִֽׂים־ (śîm-)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 7760: Put -- to put, place, set

your hand
יָדְךָ֖ (yā·ḏə·ḵā)
Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 3027: A hand

under
תַּ֥חַת (ta·ḥaṯ)
Preposition
Strong's 8478: The bottom, below, in lieu of

my thigh,
יְרֵכִֽי׃ (yə·rê·ḵî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 3409: Thigh,loin, flank, side


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OT Law: Genesis 24:2 Abraham said to his servant the elder (Gen. Ge Gn)
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