Genèse 24:14

14 Que la jeune fille à qui je dirai: Penche, je te prie, ta cruche, afin que je boive, et qui répondra: Bois, et j'abreuverai aussi tes chameaux, soit celle que tu as destinée à ton serviteur Isaac; et je connaîtrai par là que tu as été favorable à mon seigneur.

Genèse 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.

Genèse 24:14 In-Context

12 Et il dit: Éternel, Dieu de mon maître Abraham, fais-moi, je te prie, rencontrer aujourd'hui ce que je cherche et sois favorable à mon seigneur Abraham.

13 Voici, je me tiens près de la source, et les filles des gens de la ville sortent pour puiser de l'eau.

14 Que la jeune fille à qui je dirai: Penche, je te prie, ta cruche, afin que je boive, et qui répondra: Bois, et j'abreuverai aussi tes chameaux, soit celle que tu as destinée à ton serviteur Isaac; et je connaîtrai par là que tu as été favorable à mon seigneur.

15 Et avant qu'il eût achevé de parler, voici, Rébecca, fille de Béthuël, fils de Milca, femme de Nachor, frère d'Abraham, sortait, avec sa cruche sur l'épaule.

16 Et la jeune fille était très belle; elle était vierge, et nul homme ne l'avait connue. Elle descendit à la source, remplit sa cruche et remonta.