Genesis 24:12

12 Then he prayed, “LORD, God of my master Abraham, make me successful today, and show kindness to my master Abraham.

Genesis 24:12 in Other Translations

KJV
12 And he said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham.
ESV
12 And he said, "O LORD, God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today and show steadfast love to my master Abraham.
NLT
12 “O LORD, God of my master, Abraham,” he prayed. “Please give me success today, and show unfailing love to my master, Abraham.
MSG
12 He prayed, "O God, God of my master Abraham, make things go smoothly this day; treat my master Abraham well!
CSB
12 "Lord, God of my master Abraham," he prayed, "grant me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham.

Genesis 24:12 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 24:12

And he said, O Lord God of my master Abraham
He does not call the Lord his God, though no doubt he was, since he appears throughout the whole to be a good man; but the God of Abraham, because God had often manifested and renewed his covenant with Abraham in an eminent manner, and had bestowed many favours upon him, and admitted him to much nearness and communion with him; and it was not on his own account, but on his master's business he now was: I pray thee, send me good speed this day;
or "cause [something] to happen before me this day" F21; some extraordinary event, which depends not upon the will, or skill, or contrivance of men, but upon the pleasure of God; and which, with respect to second causes, men call hap or chance, but with respect to God, is according to his determinate counsel and will. The Targum of Jonathan is,

``prepare now a decent wife before me this day.''
But the servant's meaning is, that something might turn up in providence that would lead on to such an event: and shew kindness unto my master Abraham;
which he would be ready to acknowledge as a favour, an instance of kindness and mercy, and not merit.
FOOTNOTES:

F21 (ynpl an hrqh) "occurere fae nune coram me", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus; so Junius & Tremellius, Schmidt, Ainsworth.

Genesis 24:12 In-Context

10 Then the servant left, taking with him ten of his master’s camels loaded with all kinds of good things from his master. He set out for Aram Naharaim and made his way to the town of Nahor.
11 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.
12 Then he prayed, “LORD, God of my master Abraham, make me successful today, and show kindness to my master Abraham.
13 See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water.
14 May it be that when I say to a young woman, ‘Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too’—let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master.”

Cross References 3

  • 1. ver 27,42,48; Genesis 26:24; Genesis 28:13; Genesis 31:42,53; Genesis 32:9; Genesis 43:23; Genesis 46:3; Ex 3:6,15,16; Exodus 4:5; 1 Kings 18:36; Psalms 75:9; Psalms 94:7
  • 2. ver 21,40,51,56; Genesis 27:20; Nehemiah 1:11
  • 3. S Genesis 19:19; Joshua 2:12; Job 10:12
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