Genesis 24:11
New International Version
He had the camels kneel down near the well outside the town; it was toward evening, the time the women go out to draw water.

New Living Translation
He made the camels kneel beside a well just outside the town. It was evening, and the women were coming out to draw water.

English Standard Version
And he made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water at the time of evening, the time when women go out to draw water.

Berean Standard Bible
As evening approached, he made the camels kneel down near the well outside the town at the time when the women went out to draw water.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
And he made his camels kneel down outside the city by a well of water at evening time, the time when women go out to draw water.

New American Standard Bible
He made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water when it was evening, the time when women go out to draw water.

NASB 1995
He made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water at evening time, the time when women go out to draw water.

NASB 1977
And he made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water at evening time, the time when women go out to draw water.

Legacy Standard Bible
And he made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water at evening time, the time when the women go out to draw water.

Amplified Bible
He made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water at the time of the evening when women go out to draw water.

Christian Standard Bible
At evening, the time when women went out to draw water, he made the camels kneel beside a well outside the town.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He made the camels kneel beside a well of water outside the town at evening. This was the time when the women went out to draw water.”

American Standard Version
And he made the camels to kneel down without the city by the well of water at the time of evening, the time that women go out to draw water.

Contemporary English Version
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.

English Revised Version
And he made the camels to kneel down without the city by the well of water at the time of evening, the time that women go out to draw water.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The servant had the camels kneel down outside the city by the well. It was evening, when the women would go out to draw water.

Good News Translation
When he arrived, he made the camels kneel down at the well outside the city. It was late afternoon, the time when women came out to get water.

International Standard Version
As evening approached, he had the camels kneel outside the town at the water well, right about the time when women customarily went out to draw water.

Majority Standard Bible
As evening approached, he made the camels kneel down near the well outside the town at the time when the women went out to draw water.

NET Bible
He made the camels kneel down by the well outside the city. It was evening, the time when the women would go out to draw water.

New Heart English Bible
And he made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water at the time of evening, the time when women go out to draw water.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he made his camels to kneel down without the city by a well of water, at the time of the evening, the time when women go out to draw water:

World English Bible
He made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water at the time of evening, the time that women go out to draw water.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and he causes the camels to kneel at the outside of the city, at the well of water, at evening, at the time of the coming out of the women who draw water.

Young's Literal Translation
and he causeth the camels to kneel at the outside of the city, at the well of water, at even-time, at the time of the coming out of the women who draw water.

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will make his camels to kneel down without the city by the well of waters, at the time of evening, of the going forth to draw water.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And when he had made the camels lie down without the town near a well of water in Evening, at the time when women were wont to come out to draw water, he said:

Catholic Public Domain Version
And when he had made the camels lie down outside of the town, near a well of water, in the evening, at the time when women are accustomed to go out to draw water, he said:

New American Bible
Near evening, at the time when women go out to draw water, he made the camels kneel by the well outside the city.

New Revised Standard Version
He made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water; it was toward evening, the time when women go out to draw water.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And he made his camels to kneel down outside the city by a well of water in the evening, the very time when women go out to draw water.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he knelt his camels outside of the village at a well of waters at evening time, at the time that they come out to fill up with water.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And he made the camels to kneel down without the city by the well of water at the time of evening, the time that women go out to draw water.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And he rested his camels without the city by the well of water towards evening, when damsels go forth to draw water.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
A Wife for Isaac
10Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and departed with all manner of good things from his master in hand. And he set out for Nahor’s hometown in Aram-naharaim. 11As evening approached, he made the camels kneel down near the well outside the town at the time when the women went out to draw water. 12“O LORD, God of my master Abraham,” he prayed, “please grant me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham.…

Cross References
Exodus 2:15-17
When Pharaoh heard about this matter, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and settled in the land of Midian, where he sat down beside a well. / Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters, and they came to draw water and fill the troughs to water their father’s flock. / And when some shepherds came along and drove them away, Moses rose up to help them and watered their flock.

Ruth 2:9
Let your eyes be on the field they are harvesting, and follow along after these girls. Indeed, I have ordered the young men not to touch you. And when you are thirsty, go and drink from the jars the young men have filled.”

John 4:6-7
Since Jacob’s well was there, Jesus, weary from His journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour. / When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.”

Genesis 29:2-3
He looked and saw a well in the field, and near it lay three flocks of sheep, because the sheep were watered from this well. And a large stone covered the mouth of the well. / When all the flocks had been gathered there, the shepherds would roll away the stone from the mouth of the well and water the sheep. Then they would return the stone to its place over the mouth of the well.

1 Samuel 9:11-13
And as they were climbing the hill to the city, they met some young women coming out to draw water and asked, “Is the seer here?” / “Yes, he is ahead of you,” they answered. “Hurry now, for today he has come to the city because the people have a sacrifice on the high place. / As soon as you enter the city, you will find him before he goes up to the high place to eat. The people will not eat until he comes, because he must bless the sacrifice; after that, the guests will eat. Go up at once; you will find him.”

Judges 5:11
the voices of the singers at the watering places. There they shall recount the righteous acts of the LORD, the righteous deeds of His villagers in Israel. Then the people of the LORD went down to the gates:

Isaiah 12:3
With joy you will draw water from the springs of salvation,

John 4:10-14
Jesus answered, “If you knew the gift of God and who is asking you for a drink, you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” / “Sir,” the woman replied, “You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where then will You get this living water? / Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us this well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock?” ...

Genesis 30:38
Then he set the peeled branches in the watering troughs in front of the flocks coming in to drink. So when the flocks were in heat and came to drink,

1 Kings 17:10-11
So Elijah got up and went to Zarephath. When he arrived at the city gate, there was a widow gathering sticks. Elijah called to her and said, “Please bring me a little water in a cup, so that I may drink.” / And as she was going to get it, he called to her and said, “Please bring me a piece of bread.”

Numbers 20:8
“Take the staff and assemble the congregation. You and your brother Aaron are to speak to the rock while they watch, and it will pour out its water. You will bring out water from the rock and provide drink for the congregation and their livestock.”

Proverbs 5:15
Drink water from your own cistern, and running water from your own well.

John 7:37-38
On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood up and called out in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. / Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said: ‘Streams of living water will flow from within him.’”

Exodus 15:27
Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees, and they camped there by the waters.

Isaiah 55:1
“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you without money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost!


Treasury of Scripture

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.

kneel.

Genesis 33:13,14
And he said unto him, My lord knoweth that the children are tender, and the flocks and herds with young are with me: and if men should overdrive them one day, all the flock will die…

Proverbs 12:10
A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.

women go out to draw water.

Genesis 24:13-20
Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water: …

Exodus 2:16
Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father's flock.

1 Samuel 9:11
And as they went up the hill to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said unto them, Is the seer here?

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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.














He made the camels kneel down
The act of making the camels kneel is significant in the context of ancient Near Eastern customs. Camels were valuable assets, often used for long journeys across arid regions. The Hebrew word for "kneel" is "בָּרַךְ" (barak), which can also mean "to bless." This dual meaning may suggest a symbolic act of preparation and blessing for the task ahead. The camels kneeling indicates a pause, a moment of readiness and expectation, reflecting the servant's faith and anticipation of God's guidance in finding a wife for Isaac.

near the well
Wells were central to community life in ancient times, serving as gathering places and essential sources of water. The Hebrew word for "well" is "בְּאֵר" (be'er), which often symbolizes life and sustenance. In biblical narratives, wells are frequently sites of divine encounters and significant events, such as Jacob meeting Rachel (Genesis 29) and Moses meeting Zipporah (Exodus 2). The well here represents a place of providence and divine appointment, where God's plan for Isaac's marriage will unfold.

outside the town
The location "outside the town" suggests a place of transition between the domestic and the communal. It is a space where the servant, Eliezer, can observe without intruding, allowing God's providence to manifest naturally. This setting underscores the theme of divine orchestration, as God often works in the margins and unexpected places to fulfill His purposes.

in the evening
The evening time is significant, as it was customary for women to draw water during the cooler parts of the day. The Hebrew word "עֶרֶב" (erev) denotes not only the time of day but also a period of transition from light to darkness. This time of day symbolizes a moment of reflection and anticipation, aligning with the servant's prayerful expectation for God's guidance in choosing the right bride for Isaac.

at the time when the women go out to draw water
This phrase highlights the cultural practice of women drawing water, a daily routine that provided opportunities for social interaction. The Hebrew word for "draw" is "שָׁאַב" (sha'av), which implies effort and purpose. This setting is crucial, as it is within this ordinary activity that God orchestrates an extraordinary meeting. The servant's reliance on God's timing and the natural flow of life emphasizes the theme of divine providence working through everyday circumstances.

(11) He made his camels to kneel down.--Camels rest kneeling, but the servant did not unlade them till he knew that God had heard his prayer. (See Genesis 24:32.)

By a well of water.--The well was the property of the whole city, and might be used only at a fixed hour; and the servant therefore waits till the women came to draw. This duty of fetching water is not peculiar to Oriental women, but to this day in most parts of Europe, wherever the supply comes from a public source, women may be seen thus occupied. Rebekah carried her pitcher upon her shoulder; in the south of France the Basque women, like the ancient Egyptians, carry it on their heads, and the habit of thus balancing it gives them a peculiarly erect and graceful carriage.

Verse 11. - And he made his camels to kneel down - "a mode of expression taken from actual life. The action is literally kneeling; not stooping, sitting, or lying down on the side like a horse, but kneeling on his knees; and this the camel is taught to do from his youth" (Thomson, 'Land and Book,' p. 592) - without the city by a well of water. "In the East, where wells are scarce and water indispensable, the existence of a well or fountain determines the site of the village. The people build near it, but prefer to have it outside the city, to avoid the noise, dust, and confusion always occurring at it, especially if the place is on the highway (Ibid.). At the time of the evening, even the time that women go out to draw water. Literally, that women that draw go forth. "It is the work of females in the East to draw water both morning and evening; and they may be seen going in groups to the wells, with their vessels on the hip or on the, shoulder" (Roberts' Oriental Illustrations, p. 27). "About great cities men often carry, water, both on donkeys and on their own backs; but in the country, among the unsophisticated natives, women only go to the well or the fountain; and often, when traveling, have I seen long files of them going and returning with their pitchers "at the time when women go out to draw water" (Thomson, 'Land and Book,' p. 592).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
As evening approached,
עֶ֔רֶב (‘e·reḇ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6153: Evening

he made the camels
הַגְּמַלִּ֛ים (hag·gə·mal·lîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1581: A camel

kneel down
וַיַּבְרֵ֧ךְ (way·yaḇ·rêḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1288: To kneel, to bless God, man, to curse

near
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the well
בְּאֵ֣ר (bə·’êr)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 875: A pit, a well

outside
מִח֥וּץ (mi·ḥūṣ)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2351: Separate by a, wall, outside, outdoors

the town,
לָעִ֖יר (lā·‘îr)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5892: Excitement

at the time
לְעֵ֖ת (lə·‘êṯ)
Preposition-l | Noun - common singular
Strong's 6256: Time, now, when

when the women went out
צֵ֥את (ṣêṯ)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

to draw water.
הַשֹּׁאֲבֹֽת׃ (haš·šō·’ă·ḇōṯ)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine plural
Strong's 7579: To bale up water


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OT Law: Genesis 24:11 He made the camels kneel down outside (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 24:10
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