Parallel Bible results for "Genesis 24"

Genesis 24

The Message Bible MSG

1 Abraham was now an old man. God had blessed Abraham in every way.

2 Abraham spoke to the senior servant in his household, the one in charge of everything he had, "Put your hand under my thigh

3 and swear by God - God of Heaven, God of Earth - that you will not get a wife for my son from among the young women of the Canaanites here,

4 but will go to the land of my birth and get a wife for my son Isaac."

5 The servant answered, "But what if the woman refuses to leave home and come with me? Do I then take your son back to your home country?"

6 Abraham said, "Oh no. Never. By no means are you to take my son back there.

7 God, the God of Heaven, took me from the home of my father and from the country of my birth and spoke to me in solemn promise, 'I'm giving this land to your descendants.' This God will send his angel ahead of you to get a wife for my son.

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."

9 So the servant put his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and gave his solemn oath.

10 The servant took ten of his master's camels and, loaded with gifts from his master, traveled to Aram Naharaim and the city of Nahor.

11 Outside the city, he made the camels kneel at a well. It was evening, the time when the women came to draw water.

12 He prayed, "O God, God of my master Abraham, make things go smoothly this day; treat my master Abraham well!

13 As I stand here by the spring while the young women of the town come out to get water,

14 let the girl to whom I say, 'Lower your jug and give me a drink,' and who answers, 'Drink, and let me also water your camels' - let her be the woman you have picked out for your servant Isaac. Then I'll know that you're working graciously behind the scenes for my master."

15 It so happened that the words were barely out of his mouth when Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel whose mother was Milcah the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, came out with a water jug on her shoulder.

16 The girl was stunningly beautiful, a pure virgin. She went down to the spring, filled her jug, and came back up.

17 The servant ran to meet her and said, "Please, can I have a sip of water from your jug?"

18 She said, "Certainly, drink!" And she held the jug so that he could drink.

19 When he had satisfied his thirst she said, "I'll get water for your camels, too, until they've drunk their fill."

20 She promptly emptied her jug into the trough and ran back to the well to fill it, and she kept at it until she had watered all the camels.

21 The man watched, silent. Was this God's answer? Had God made his trip a success or not?

22 When the camels had finished drinking, the man brought out gifts, a gold nose ring weighing a little over a quarter of an ounce and two arm bracelets weighing about four ounces, and gave them to her.

23 He asked her, "Tell me about your family? Whose daughter are you? Is there room in your father's house for us to stay the night?"

24 She said, "I'm the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah and Nahor.

25 And there's plenty of room in our house for you to stay - and lots of straw and feed besides."

26 At this the man bowed in worship before God

27 and prayed, "Blessed be God, God of my master Abraham: How generous and true you've been to my master; you've held nothing back. You led me right to the door of my master's brother!"

28 And the girl was off and running, telling everyone in her mother's house what had happened.

29 Rebekah had a brother named Laban. Laban ran outside to the man at the spring.

30 He had seen the nose ring and the bracelets on his sister and had heard her say, "The man said this and this and this to me." So he went to the man and there he was, still standing with his camels at the spring.

31 Laban welcomed him: "Come on in, blessed of God! Why are you standing out here? I've got the house ready for you; and there's also a place for your camels."

32 So the man went into the house. The camels were unloaded and given straw and feed. Water was brought to bathe the feet of the man and the men with him.

33 Then Laban brought out food. But the man said, "I won't eat until I tell my story." Laban said, "Go ahead; tell us."

34 The servant said, "I'm the servant of Abraham.

35 God has blessed my master - he's a great man; God has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, servants and maidservants, camels and donkeys.

36 And then to top it off, Sarah, my master's wife, gave him a son in her old age and he has passed everything on to his son.

37 My master made me promise, 'Don't get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites in whose land I live.

38 No, go to my father's home, back to my family, and get a wife for my son there.'

39 I said to my master, 'But what if the woman won't come with me?'

40 He said, 'God before whom I've walked faithfully will send his angel with you and he'll make things work out so that you'll bring back a wife for my son from my family, from the house of my father.

41 Then you'll be free from the oath. If you go to my family and they won't give her to you, you will also be free from the oath.'

42 "Well, when I came this very day to the spring, I prayed, 'God, God of my master Abraham, make things turn out well in this task I've been given.

43 I'm standing at this well. When a young woman comes here to draw water and I say to her, Please, give me a sip of water from your jug,

44 and she says, Not only will I give you a drink, I'll also water your camels - let that woman be the wife God has picked out for my master's son.'

45 "I had barely finished offering this prayer, when Rebekah arrived, her jug on her shoulder. She went to the spring and drew water and I said, 'Please, can I have a drink?'

46 She didn't hesitate. She held out her jug and said, 'Drink; and when you're finished I'll also water your camels.' I drank, and she watered the camels.

47 I asked her, 'Whose daughter are you?' She said, 'The daughter of Bethuel whose parents were Nahor and Milcah.' I gave her a ring for her nose, bracelets for her arms,

48 and bowed in worship to God. I praised God, the God of my master Abraham who had led me straight to the door of my master's family to get a wife for his son.

49 "Now, tell me what you are going to do. If you plan to respond with a generous yes, tell me. But if not, tell me plainly so I can figure out what to do next."

50 Laban and Bethuel answered, "This is totally from God. We have no say in the matter, either yes or no.

51 Rebekah is yours: Take her and go; let her be the wife of your master's son, as God has made plain."

52 When Abraham's servant heard their decision, he bowed in worship before God.

53 Then he brought out gifts of silver and gold and clothing and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave expensive gifts to her brother and mother.

54 He and his men had supper and spent the night. But first thing in the morning they were up. He said, "Send me back to my master."

55 Her brother and mother said, "Let the girl stay a while, say another ten days, and then go."

56 He said, "Oh, don't make me wait! God has worked everything out so well - send me off to my master."

57 They said, "We'll call the girl; we'll ask her."

58 They called Rebekah and asked her, "Do you want to go with this man?" She said, "I'm ready to go."

59 So they sent them off, their sister Rebekah with her nurse, and Abraham's servant with his men.

60 And they blessed Rebekah saying, You're our sister - live bountifully! And your children, triumphantly!

61 Rebekah and her young maids mounted the camels and followed the man. The servant took Rebekah and set off for home.

62 Isaac was living in the Negev. He had just come back from a visit to Beer Lahai Roi.

63 In the evening he went out into the field; while meditating he looked up and saw camels coming.

64 When Rebekah looked up and saw Isaac, she got down from her camel

65 and asked the servant, "Who is that man out in the field coming toward us?" "That is my master." She took her veil and covered herself.

66 After the servant told Isaac the whole story of the trip,

67 Isaac took Rebekah into the tent of his mother Sarah. He married Rebekah and she became his wife and he loved her. So Isaac found comfort after his mother's death.

English Standard Version ESV

1 Now Abraham was old, well advanced in years. And the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things.

2 And Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his household, who had charge of all that he had, "Put your hand under my thigh,

3 that I may make you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and God of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell,

4 but will go to my country and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son Isaac."

5 The servant said to him, "Perhaps the woman may not be willing to follow me to this land. Must I then take your son back to the land from which you came?"

6 Abraham said to him, "See to it that you do not take my son back there.

7 The LORD, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house and from the land of my kindred, and who spoke to me and swore to me, 'To your offspring I will give this land,'he will send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there.

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."

9 So the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master and swore to him concerning this matter.

10 Then the servant took ten of his master's camels and departed, taking all sorts of choice gifts from his master; and he arose and went to Mesopotamia to the city of Nahor.

11 And he made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water at the time of evening, the time when women go out to draw water.

12 And he said, "O LORD, God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today and show steadfast love to my master Abraham.

13 Behold, I am standing by the spring of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water.

14 Let the young woman to whom I shall say, 'Please let down your jar that I may drink,' and who shall say, 'Drink, and I will water your camels'--let her be the one whom you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I shall know that you have shown steadfast love to my master."

15 Before he had finished speaking, behold, Rebekah, who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, came out with her water jar on her shoulder.

16 The young woman was very attractive in appearance, a maiden whom no man had known. She went down to the spring and filled her jar and came up.

17 Then the servant ran to meet her and said, "Please give me a little water to drink from your jar."

18 She said, "Drink, my lord." And she quickly let down her jar upon her hand and gave him a drink.

19 When she had finished giving him a drink, she said, "I will draw water for your camels also, until they have finished drinking."

20 So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough and ran again to the well to draw water, and she drew for all his camels.

21 The man gazed at her in silence to learn whether the LORD had prospered his journey or not.

22 When the camels had finished drinking, the man took a gold ring weighing a half shekel, and two bracelets for her arms weighing ten gold shekels,

23 and said, "Please tell me whose daughter you are. Is there room in your father's house for us to spend the night?"

24 She said to him, "I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor."

25 She added, "We have plenty of both straw and fodder, and room to spend the night."

26 The man bowed his head and worshiped the LORD

27 and said, "Blessed be the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his steadfast love and his faithfulness toward my master. As for me, the LORD has led me in the way to the house of my master's kinsmen."

28 Then the young woman ran and told her mother's household about these things.

29 Rebekah had a brother whose name was Laban. Laban ran out toward the man, to the spring.

30 As soon as he saw the ring and the bracelets on his sister's arms, and heard the words of Rebekah his sister, "Thus the man spoke to me," he went to the man. And behold, he was standing by the camels at the spring.

31 He said, "Come in, O blessed of the LORD. Why do you stand outside? For I have prepared the house and a place for the camels."

32 So the man came to the house and unharnessed the camels, and gave straw and fodder to the camels, and there was water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him.

33 Then food was set before him to eat. But he said, "I will not eat until I have said what I have to say." He said, "Speak on."

34 So he said, "I am Abraham's servant.

35 The LORD has greatly blessed my master, and he has become great. He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male servants and female servants, camels and donkeys.

36 And Sarah my master's wife bore a son to my master when she was old, and to him he has given all that he has.

37 My master made me swear, saying, 'You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell,

38 but you shall go to my father's house and to my clan and take a wife for my son.'

39 I said to my master, 'Perhaps the woman will not follow me.'

40 But he said to me, 'The LORD, before whom I have walked, will send his angel with you and prosper your way. You shall take a wife for my son from my clan and from my father's house.

41 Then you will be free from my oath, when you come to my clan. And if they will not give her to you, you will be free from my oath.'

42 "I came today to the spring and said, 'O LORD, the God of my master Abraham, if now you are prospering the way that I go,

43 behold, I am standing by the spring of water. Let the virgin who comes out to draw water, to whom I shall say, "Please give me a little water from your jar to drink,"

44 and who will say to me, "Drink, and I will draw for your camels also," let her be the woman whom the LORD has appointed for my master's son.'

45 "Before I had finished speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came out with her water jar on her shoulder, and she went down to the spring and drew water. I said to her, 'Please let me drink.'

46 She quickly let down her jar from her shoulder and said, 'Drink, and I will give your camels drink also.' So I drank, and she gave the camels drink also.

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

48 Then I bowed my head and worshiped the LORD and blessed the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me by the right way to take the daughter of my master's kinsman for his son.

49 Now then, if you are going to show steadfast love and faithfulness to my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, that I may turn to the right hand or to the left."

50 Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, "The thing has come from the LORD; we cannot speak to you bad or good.

51 Behold, Rebekah is before you; take her and go, and let her be the wife of your master's son, as the LORD has spoken."

52 When Abraham's servant heard their words, he bowed himself to the earth before the LORD.

53 And the servant brought out jewelry of silver and of gold, and garments, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave to her brother and to her mother costly ornaments.

54 And he and the men who were with him ate and drank, and they spent the night there. When they arose in the morning, he said, "Send me away to my master."

55 Her brother and her mother said, "Let the young woman remain with us a while, at least ten days; after that she may go."

56 But he said to them, "Do not delay me, since the LORD has prospered my way. Send me away that I may go to my master."

57 They said, "Let us call the young woman and ask her."

58 And they called Rebekah and said to her, "Will you go with this man?" She said, "I will go."

59 So they sent away Rebekah their sister and her nurse, and Abraham's servant and his men.

60 And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, "Our sister, may you become thousands of ten thousands, and may your offspring possess the gate of those who hate him!"

61 Then Rebekah and her young women arose and rode on the camels and followed the man. Thus the servant took Rebekah and went his way.

62 Now Isaac had returned from Beer-lahai-roi and was dwelling in the Negeb.

63 And Isaac went out to meditate in the field toward evening. And he lifted up his eyes and saw, and behold, there were camels coming.

64 And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she dismounted from the camel

65 and said to the servant, "Who is that man, walking in the field to meet us?" The servant said, "It is my master." So she took her veil and covered herself.

66 And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done.

67 Then Isaac brought her into the tent of Sarah his mother and took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.