Genesis 24
CSB Parallel NET [BSB CSB ESV HCS KJV ISV NAS NET NIV NLT HEB]
Christian Standard BibleNET Bible
1Abraham was now old, getting on in years, and the LORD had blessed him in everything.1Now Abraham was old, well advanced in years, and the LORD had blessed him in everything.
2Abraham said to his servant, the elder of his household who managed all he owned, "Place your hand under my thigh,2Abraham said to his servant, the senior one in his household who was in charge of everything he had, "Put your hand under my thigh
3and I will have you swear by the LORD, God of heaven and God of earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I live,3so that I may make you solemnly promise by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of the earth: You must not acquire a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living.
4but will go to my land and my family to take a wife for my son Isaac."4You must go instead to my country and to my relatives to find a wife for my son Isaac."
5The servant said to him, "Suppose the woman is unwilling to follow me to this land? Should I have your son go back to the land you came from?"5The servant asked him, "What if the woman is not willing to come back with me to this land? Must I then take your son back to the land from which you came?"
6Abraham answered him, "Make sure that you don't take my son back there.6"Be careful never to take my son back there!" Abraham told him.
7The LORD, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house and from my native land, who spoke to me and swore to me, 'I will give this land to your offspring'--he will send his angel before you, and you can take a wife for my son from there.7"The LORD, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house and the land of my relatives, promised me with a solemn oath, 'To your descendants I will give this land.' He will send his angel before you so that you may find a wife for my son from there.
8If the woman is unwilling to follow you, then you are free from this oath to me, but don't let my son go back there."8But if the woman is not willing to come back with you, you will be free from this oath of mine. But you must not take my son back there!"
9So the servant placed his hand under his master Abraham's thigh and swore an oath to him concerning this matter.9So the servant placed his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and gave his solemn promise he would carry out his wishes.
10The servant took ten of his master's camels, and with all kinds of his master's goods in hand, he went to Aram-naharaim, to Nahor's town.10Then the servant took ten of his master's camels and departed with all kinds of gifts from his master at his disposal. He journeyed to the region of Aram Naharaim and the city of Nahor.
11At evening, the time when women went out to draw water, he made the camels kneel beside a well outside the town.11He 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.
12"LORD, God of my master Abraham," he prayed, "make this happen for me today, and show kindness to my master Abraham.12He prayed, "O LORD, God of my master Abraham, guide me today. Be faithful to my master Abraham.
13I am standing here at the spring where the daughters of the men of the town are coming out to draw water.13Here I am, standing by the spring, and the daughters of the people who live in the town are coming out to draw water.
14Let the girl to whom I say, 'Please lower your water jug so that I may drink,' and who responds, 'Drink, and I'll water your camels also'--let her be the one you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master."14I will say to a young woman, 'Please lower your jar so I may drink.' May the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac reply, 'Drink, and I'll give your camels water too.' In this way I will know that you have been faithful to my master."
15Before he had finished speaking, there was Rebekah--daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah, the wife of Abraham's brother Nahor--coming with a jug on her shoulder.15Before he had finished praying, there came Rebekah with her water jug on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah (Milcah was the wife of Abraham's brother Nahor).
16Now the girl was very beautiful, a virgin--no man had been intimate with her. She went down to the spring, filled her jug, and came up.16Now the young woman was very beautiful. She was a virgin; no man had ever had sexual relations with her. She went down to the spring, filled her jug, and came back up.
17Then the servant ran to meet her and said, "Please let me have a little water from your jug."17Abraham's servant ran to meet her and said, "Please give me a sip of water from your jug."
18She replied, "Drink, my lord." She quickly lowered her jug to her hand and gave him a drink.18"Drink, my lord," she replied, and quickly lowering her jug to her hands, she gave him a drink.
19When she had finished giving him a drink, she said, "I'll also draw water for your camels until they have had enough to drink."19When she had done so, she said, "I'll draw water for your camels too, until they have drunk as much as they want."
20She quickly emptied her jug into the trough and hurried to the well again to draw water. She drew water for all his camels20She quickly emptied her jug into the watering trough and ran back to the well to draw more water until she had drawn enough for all his camels.
21while the man silently watched her to see whether or not the LORD had made his journey a success.21Silently the man watched her with interest to determine if the LORD had made his journey successful or not.
22As the camels finished drinking, the man took a gold ring weighing half a shekel, and for her wrists two bracelets weighing ten shekels of gold.22After the camels had finished drinking, the man took out a gold nose ring weighing a beka and two gold bracelets weighing ten shekels and gave them to her.
23"Whose daughter are you?" he asked. "Please tell me, is there room in your father's house for us to spend the night?"23"Whose daughter are you?" he asked. "Tell me, is there room in your father's house for us to spend the night?"
24She answered him, "I am the daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor."24She said to him, "I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom Milcah bore to Nahor.
25She also said to him, "We have plenty of straw and feed and a place to spend the night."25We have plenty of straw and feed," she added, "and room for you to spend the night."
26Then the man knelt low, worshiped the LORD,26The man bowed his head and worshiped the LORD,
27and said, "Blessed be the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not withheld his kindness and faithfulness from my master. As for me, the LORD has led me on the journey to the house of my master's relatives."27saying "Praised be the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned his faithful love for my master! The LORD has led me to the house of my master's relatives!"
28The girl ran and told her mother's household about these things.28The young woman ran and told her mother's household all about these things.
29Now Rebekah had a brother named Laban, and Laban ran out to the man at the spring.29(Now Rebekah had a brother named Laban.) Laban rushed out to meet the man at the spring.
30As soon as he had seen the ring and the bracelets on his sister's wrists, and when he had heard his sister Rebekah's words--"The man said this to me!"--he went to the man. He was standing there by the camels at the spring.30When he saw the bracelets on his sister's wrists and the nose ring and heard his sister Rebekah say, "This is what the man said to me," he went out to meet the man. There he was, standing by the camels near the spring.
31Laban said, "Come, you who are blessed by the LORD. Why are you standing out here? I have prepared the house and a place for the camels."31Laban said to him, "Come, you who are blessed by the LORD! Why are you standing out here when I have prepared the house and a place for the camels?"
32So the man came to the house, and the camels were unloaded. Straw and feed were given to the camels, and water was brought to wash his feet and the feet of the men with him.32So Abraham's servant went to the house and unloaded the camels. Straw and feed were given to the camels, and water was provided so that he and the men who were with him could wash their feet.
33A meal was set before him, but he said, "I will not eat until I have said what I have to say." So Laban said, "Please speak."33When food was served, he said, "I will not eat until I have said what I want to say." "Tell us," Laban said.
34"I am Abraham's servant," he said.34"I am the servant of Abraham," he began.
35"The LORD has greatly blessed my master, and he has become rich. He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male and female slaves, and camels and donkeys.35"The LORD has richly blessed my master and he has become very wealthy. The Lord has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, male and female servants, and camels and donkeys.
36Sarah, my master's wife, bore a son to my master in her old age, and he has given him everything he owns.36My master's wife Sarah bore a son to him when she was old, and my master has given him everything he owns.
37My master put me under this oath: 'You will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites in whose land I live37My master made me swear an oath. He said, 'You must not acquire a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living,
38but will go to my father's family and to my clan to take a wife for my son.'38but you must go to the family of my father and to my relatives to find a wife for my son.'
39But I said to my master, 'Suppose the woman will not come back with me?'39But I said to my master, 'What if the woman does not want to go with me?'
40He said to me, 'The LORD before whom I have walked will send his angel with you and make your journey a success, and you will take a wife for my son from my clan and from my father's family.40He answered, 'The LORD, before whom I have walked, will send his angel with you. He will make your journey a success and you will find a wife for my son from among my relatives, from my father's family.
41Then you will be free from my oath if you go to my family and they do not give her to you--you will be free from my oath.'41You will be free from your oath if you go to my relatives and they will not give her to you. Then you will be free from your oath.'
42"Today when I came to the spring, I prayed: LORD, God of my master Abraham, if only you will make my journey successful!42When I came to the spring today, I prayed, 'O LORD, God of my master Abraham, if you have decided to make my journey successful, may events unfold as follows:
43I am standing here at a spring. Let the young woman who comes out to draw water, and I say to her, 'Please let me drink a little water from your jug,'43Here I am, standing by the spring. When the young woman goes out to draw water, I'll say, "Give me a little water to drink from your jug."
44and who responds to me, 'Drink, and I'll draw water for your camels also'--let her be the woman the LORD has appointed for my master's son.44Then she will reply to me, "Drink, and I'll draw water for your camels too." May that woman be the one whom the LORD has chosen for my master's son.'
45"Before I had finished praying silently, there was Rebekah coming with her jug on her shoulder, and she went down to the spring and drew water. So I said to her, 'Please let me have a drink.'45"Before I finished praying in my heart, along came Rebekah with her water jug on her shoulder! She went down to the spring and drew water. So I said to her, 'Please give me a drink.'
46She quickly lowered her jug from her shoulder and said, 'Drink, and I'll water your camels also.' So I drank, and she also watered the camels.46She quickly lowered her jug from her shoulder and said, 'Drink, and I'll give your camels water too.' So I drank, and she also gave the camels water.
47Then I asked her, 'Whose daughter are you?' She responded, 'The daughter of Bethuel son of Nahor, whom Milcah bore to him.' So I put the ring on her nose and the bracelets on her wrists.47Then I asked her, 'Whose daughter are you?' She replied, 'The daughter of Bethuel the son of Nahor, whom Milcah bore to Nahor.' I put the ring in her nose and the bracelets on her wrists.
48Then I knelt low, worshiped the LORD, and blessed the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who guided me on the right way to take the granddaughter of my master's brother for his son.48Then I bowed down and worshiped the LORD. I praised the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me on the right path to find the granddaughter of my master's brother for his son.
49Now, if you are going to show kindness and faithfulness to my master, tell me; if not, tell me, and I will go elsewhere."49Now, if you will show faithful love to my master, tell me. But if not, tell me as well, so that I may go on my way."
50Laban and Bethuel answered, "This is from the LORD; we have no choice in the matter.50Then Laban and Bethuel replied, "This is the LORD's doing. Our wishes are of no concern.
51Rebekah is here in front of you. Take her and go, and let her be a wife for your master's son, just as the LORD has spoken."51Rebekah stands here before you. Take her and go so that she may become the wife of your master's son, just as the LORD has decided."
52When Abraham's servant heard their words, he bowed to the ground before the LORD.52When Abraham's servant heard their words, he bowed down to the ground before the LORD.
53Then he brought out objects of silver and gold, and garments, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave precious gifts to her brother and her mother.53Then he brought out gold, silver jewelry, and clothing and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave valuable gifts to her brother and to her mother.
54Then he and the men with him ate and drank and spent the night. When they got up in the morning, he said, "Send me to my master."54After this, he and the men who were with him ate a meal and stayed there overnight. When they got up in the morning, he said, "Let me leave now so I can return to my master."
55But her brother and mother said, "Let the girl stay with us for about ten days. Then she can go."55But Rebekah's brother and her mother replied, "Let the girl stay with us a few more days, perhaps ten. Then she can go."
56But he responded to them, "Do not delay me, since the LORD has made my journey a success. Send me away so that I may go to my master."56But he said to them, "Don't detain me--the LORD has granted me success on my journey. Let me leave now so I may return to my master."
57So they said, "Let's call the girl and ask her opinion."57Then they said, "We'll call the girl and find out what she wants to do."
58They called Rebekah and said to her, "Will you go with this man?" She replied, "I will go."58So they called Rebekah and asked her, "Do you want to go with this man?" She replied, "I want to go."
59So they sent away their sister Rebekah with the one who had nursed and raised her, and Abraham's servant and his men.59So they sent their sister Rebekah on her way, accompanied by her female attendant, with Abraham's servant and his men.
60They blessed Rebekah, saying to her: Our sister, may you become thousands upon ten thousands. May your offspring possess the city gates of their enemies.60They blessed Rebekah with these words: "Our sister, may you become the mother of thousands of ten thousands! May your descendants possess the strongholds of their enemies."
61Then Rebekah and her female servants got up, mounted the camels, and followed the man. So the servant took Rebekah and left.61Then Rebekah and her female servants mounted the camels and rode away with the man. So Abraham's servant took Rebekah and left.
62Now Isaac was returning from Beer-lahai-roi, for he was living in the Negev region.62Now Isaac came from Beer Lahai Roi, for he was living in the Negev.
63In the early evening Isaac went out to walk in the field, and looking up he saw camels coming.63He went out to relax in the field in the early evening. Then he looked up and saw that there were camels approaching.
64Rebekah looked up, and when she saw Isaac, she got down from her camel64Rebekah looked up and saw Isaac. She got down from her camel
65and asked the servant, "Who is that man in the field coming to meet us?" The servant answered, "It is my master." So she took her veil and covered herself.65and asked Abraham's servant, "Who is that man walking in the field toward us?" "That is my master," the servant replied. So she took her veil and covered herself.
66Then the servant told Isaac everything he had done.66The servant told Isaac everything that had happened.
67And Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah and took Rebekah to be his wife. Isaac loved her, and he was comforted after his mother's death.67Then Isaac brought Rebekah into his mother Sarah's tent. He took her as his wife and loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. //netbible.com. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Genesis 23
Top of Page
Top of Page