Genesis 24:8

8 If the woman is unwilling to come back with you, then you will be released from this oath of mine. Only do not take my son back there.”

Genesis 24:8 in Other Translations

KJV
8 And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath: only bring not my son thither again.
ESV
8 But if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be free from this oath of mine; only you must not take my son back there."
NLT
8 If she is unwilling to come back with you, then you are free from this oath of mine. But under no circumstances are you to take my son there.”
MSG
8 And if the woman won't come, you are free from this oath you've sworn to me. But under no circumstances are you to take my son back there."
CSB
8 If 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."

Genesis 24:8 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 24:8

And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee
Or "but" if F13, which is said by Abraham, not as doubting she would be willing, of which he was satisfied, being persuaded that that God that had made him willing to leave his own country, and his father's house, would make her willing to do the like, and come and settle with his son in the land that God had given him; but this, and what follows, he said to make the mind of his servant easy, who had some doubt about it, or however was desirous of knowing how he must act should that be the case; and what it was he was to take an oath to do, and how far, and how far not, that would oblige him: then thou shalt be clear from this my oath;
which he enjoined his servant to take; the sense is, when he had done all he could to get the consent of the damsel, and her friends, to go with him and marry his master's son; and after all she could not be prevailed upon to come with him, then he was free from his oath, having done all that that obliged him to, and he not attempting to take one from any other quarter: only bring not my son thither again;
neither agree with the damsel and her parents, that he shall come to them, nor persuade him to comply with such terms.


FOOTNOTES:

F13 (Maw) "sin autem", V. L.

Genesis 24:8 In-Context

6 “Make sure that you do not take my son back there,” Abraham said.
7 “The LORD, the God of heaven, who brought me out of my father’s household and my native land and who spoke to me and promised me on oath, saying, ‘To your offspring I will give this land’—he will send his angel before you so that you can get a wife for my son from there.
8 If the woman is unwilling to come back with you, then you will be released from this oath of mine. Only do not take my son back there.”
9 So the servant put his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and swore an oath to him concerning this matter.
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.

Cross References 2

  • 1. ver 41; Jos 2:12,17,20; Joshua 9:20
  • 2. S ver 6
Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.