Genesis 24:4

4 but that thou go to my land and kindred, and thereof take a wife to my son Isaac. (but that thou shalt go to my land and family, and get a wife from there for my son Isaac.)

Genesis 24:4 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 24:4

But thou shalt go unto my country
Not Canaan, which though his by promise, yet not in possession, but Mesopotamia, as appears from ( Genesis 24:10 ) ; which taken largely included the Chaldea, see ( Acts 7:2 ) , the country where Abraham was born, and from whence he came: and to my kindred;
the family of Nahor his brother, which now dwelt at Haran in Mesopotamia, called the city of Nahor, ( Genesis 24:10 ) ; see ( Genesis 29:4 Genesis 29:5 ) ; of the increase of whose family Abraham had heard a few years ago, ( Genesis 22:20-24 ) : and take a wife to my son Isaac;
from among them, who though they were not clear of superstition and idolatry, yet they worshipped the true God with their "idols"; and a woman taken out of such a family, and removed at a distance from it, it might be reasonably concluded would be brought off of those things, and adhere to the pure and undefiled religion; and the rather this family was chosen, not only because related to Abraham, but because it had sprung from Shem, who was blessed of God, and whose God the Lord was; nearness of kin was no objection and hinderance to such a marriage, the laws relating to marriage not being given till the time of Moses.

Genesis 24:4 In-Context

2 And he said to the elder servant of his house, that was sovereign on all things that he had, Put thou thine hand under mine hip, (And he said to the oldest servant of his household, who was the ruler over all the things that he had, Put thy hand under my hip,)
3 that I conjure thee by the Lord God of heaven and of earth, that thou take not a wife to my son of the daughters of Canaan, among which I dwell; (and I want thee to swear by the Lord God of heaven and earth, that thou shalt not get a wife for my son from the daughters of Canaan, among whom I live;)
4 but that thou go to my land and kindred, and thereof take a wife to my son Isaac. (but that thou shalt go to my land and family, and get a wife from there for my son Isaac.)
5 The servant answered, If the woman will not come with me into this land, whether I ought to lead again thy son to the place, from which thou wentest out? (And the servant answered, If the woman will not come back with me to this land, should I lead thy son back to the place from which thou wentest out?)
6 Abraham said, Beware, lest any time thou lead again thither my son; (And Abraham said, Nay! Beware, lest any time thou lead my son back there;)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.