Genesis 24:49

49 So now, {if you are going to deal loyally and truly} with my master, tell me. And if not, tell me, so that I may turn to [the] right or to [the] left."

Genesis 24:49 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 24:49

And now, if you deal kindly and truly with my master, tell
me
The servant directs himself to more than one, to the whole family, especially to Laban and Bethuel; if you will do my master a kindness, and grant him the favour he requests, that a damsel of this family may be given for a wife to his son; and, if you are hearty and sincere in granting this, tell me at once: and if not, tell me:
if you do not choose to gratify my master, and are not hearty in this matter, let me know: that I may turn to the right hand or to the left;
look out elsewhere among the daughters of some of the other sons of Nahor; for he had seven more which Milcah bare to him besides Bethuel, as well as four others by a concubine, ( Genesis 22:20-24 ) ; though some of the Jewish writers

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FOOTNOTES:

F15 by "the right hand" understand the daughters of Ishmael, that dwelt to the right, and by "the left [hand]" the daughters of Lot, who were to the left, which is not likely: it seems to be only a proverbial expression, that, if they did not choose to attend to his proposal in his master's name, he must take some other method, as he might be directed; he knew not for the present which way, whether he should steer his course to the right or left, but some way he must take. The Targum of Jonathan paraphrases it,

``to the south or to the north;''

because when a man stands with his face to the east, the south is on his right hand, and the north on his left.
F15 Bereshit Rabba, sect. 60. fol. 53. 1. Jarchi in loc.

Genesis 24:49 In-Context

47 Then I asked her and said, 'Whose daughter [are] you?' And she said, 'The daughter of Bethuel, son of Nahor, whom Milcah bore to him.' And I put the ring on her nose and the bracelets on her arms.

48 And I knelt down and worshiped Yahweh, and I praised Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, who led me on the right way, to take the daughter of the brother of my master for his son.

49 So now, {if you are going to deal loyally and truly} with my master, tell me. And if not, tell me, so that I may turn to [the] right or to [the] left."

50 Then Laban and Bethuel answered, and they said, "The matter has gone out from Yahweh; we are not able to speak bad or good to you.

51 Here [is] Rebekah before you. Take [her] and go; let her be a wife for the son of your master as Yahweh has spoken."

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "if there is you doing loyal love and faithfulness"
• [b]. An idiom for "so that I might know what to do"