Genesis 24:14

14 let the girl to whom I say, 'Lower your jug and give me a drink,' and who answers, 'Drink, and let me also water your camels' - let her be the woman you have picked out for your servant Isaac. Then I'll know that you're working graciously behind the scenes for my master."

Genesis 24:14 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 24:14

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
The pitcher of water she should have upon her shoulder, after she had drawn it out of the well: and she shall say, drink, and I will give thy camels drink also;
not only very readily and courteously invite him to drink himself but also propose to draw water for his camels too: [let the same be] she [that] thou hast appointed for thy servant
Isaac;
to be his wife; he desired this might be the token by which he might know who the person was God had appointed, and whom he approved of as a proper wife for Isaac, and whom he pointed at in his Providence most clearly to be the person he had designed for him; and this was a very agreeable sign and token; for hereby he would know that she was a careful and industrious person, willing to set her hand to business when necessary; that she was humane and courteous to strangers; humble and condescending, and willing to do the meanest offices for the good of others; and such a wife as this he sought for, and knew would be a good one, and greatly acceptable to his master and to his son: and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness to my master;
by directing to so good a wife for his son, and prospering the journey of his servant according to his wishes.

Genesis 24:14 In-Context

12 He prayed, "O God, God of my master Abraham, make things go smoothly this day; treat my master Abraham well!
13 As I stand here by the spring while the young women of the town come out to get water,
14 let the girl to whom I say, 'Lower your jug and give me a drink,' and who answers, 'Drink, and let me also water your camels' - let her be the woman you have picked out for your servant Isaac. Then I'll know that you're working graciously behind the scenes for my master."
15 It so happened that the words were barely out of his mouth when Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel whose mother was Milcah the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, came out with a water jug on her shoulder.
16 The girl was stunningly beautiful, a pure virgin. She went down to the spring, filled her jug, and came back up.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.