Genesis 24:14

14 therefore the damsel to which I shall say, Bow down thy water pot (so) that I (may) drink, and (she) shall answer, Drink thou, but also I shall give drink to thy camels, that it is which thou hast made ready to thy servant Isaac (she it is whom thou hast prepared for thy servant Isaac); and by this I shall understand that thou hast done mercy to my lord Abraham.

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 said, Lord God of my lord Abraham, I beseech, meet with me today, and do mercy with my lord Abraham (and do mercy to my lord Abraham).
13 Lo! I stand nigh the well of water, and the daughters of the dwellers of this city shall go out to draw water; (Lo! I stand near to the water well, and the daughters of the inhabitants of this city shall go out to draw water;)
14 therefore the damsel to which I shall say, Bow down thy water pot (so) that I (may) drink, and (she) shall answer, Drink thou, but also I shall give drink to thy camels, that it is which thou hast made ready to thy servant Isaac (she it is whom thou hast prepared for thy servant Isaac); and by this I shall understand that thou hast done mercy to my lord Abraham.
15 And he had not yet [ful-]filled the words within himself, and lo! Rebecca, the daughter of Bethuel, son of Milcah, wife of Nahor, brother of Abraham, went out, having a water pot in her shoulder (having a water pot on her shoulder);
16 a damsel full comely/full shapely, and fairest virgin, and unknown of man. Soothly she came down to the well, and filled the water pot, and turned again. (a very shapely young woman, and the most beautiful virgin, yea, unknown by man. And she went down to the well, and filled the water pot, and then came up again.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.