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; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: [let the same be] she [that] thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master.
Complete Jewish Bible:
I will say to one of the girls, 'Please lower your jug, so that I can drink.' If she answers, 'Yes, drink; and I will water your camels as well,' then let her be the one you intend for your servant Yitz'chak. This is how I will know that you have shown grace to my master."
Berean Standard Bible:
Now may it happen that the girl to whom I say, ‘Please let down your jar that I may drink,’ and who responds, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels as well’—let her be the one You have appointed for Your servant Isaac. By this I will know that You have shown kindness to my master.”
American Standard Version:
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; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast showed kindness unto my master.
Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; [and] if the dew be on the fleece only, and [it be] dry upon all the earth [beside], then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said.
¶ And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee.
And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe also these two signs, neither hearken unto thy voice, that thou shalt take of the water of the river, and pour [it] upon the dry [land]: and the water which thou takest out of the river shall become blood upon the dry [land].
Ask thee a sign of the LORD thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above.
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Commentary for Genesis 24:14
Genesis 24:14 is part of the narrative where Abraham's servant is sent to find a wife for Isaac, Abraham's son. This verse is embedded within the broader context of the patriarchal narratives in Genesis, which detail the lives and journeys of the ancestors of the Israelite people. The historical context is that of the ancient Near East, where arranged marriages were common and involved elaborate customs and negotiations.
In this verse, Abraham's servant is at a well, a common gathering place for people in the ancient world, especially for women fetching water. He is praying for a specific sign to identify the woman who is to be Isaac's wife. The servant asks God for a clear indication of His favor: the woman who not only gives him water to drink but also offers to water his camels—a significant task given the size of the caravan and the amount of water needed for camels—would be the one chosen by God for Isaac.
The themes present in this verse include divine guidance, hospitality, and the providence of God in the affairs of humanity. The servant's prayer reflects his trust in God to guide him in this important mission and his belief that God's kindness towards Abraham would be evident in the successful completion of this task. His request for a sign also underscores the themes of faith and the expectation that God would reveal His will through tangible actions. This moment of divine selection also prefigures the importance of God's guidance in the lives of the patriarchs and the future nation of Israel, setting a precedent for seeking and recognizing God's will through specific signs and prayers.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
Strong's Number: H5291 There are 57 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: נַעֲרָה Transliteration: naʻărâh Pronunciation: nah-ar-aw' Description: feminine of נַעַר; a girl (from infancy to adolescence); damsel, maid(-en), young (woman).
Strong's Number: H559 There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: אָמַר Transliteration: ʼâmar Pronunciation: aw-mar' Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
Strong's Number: H5186 There are 207 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: נָטָה Transliteration: nâṭâh Pronunciation: naw-taw' Description: a primitive root; to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away (including moral deflection); used in a great variety of application; [phrase] afternoon, apply, bow (down, -ing), carry aside, decline, deliver, extend, go down, be gone, incline, intend, lay, let down, offer, outstretched, overthrown, pervert, pitch, prolong, put away, shew, spread (out), stretch (forth, out), take (aside), turn (aside, away), wrest, cause to yield.
Strong's Number: H3537 There are 17 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: כַּד Transliteration: kad Pronunciation: kad Description: from an unused root meaning to deepen; properly, a pail; but generally of earthenware; a jar for domestic purposes; barrel, pitcher.
Strong's Number: H8354 There are 193 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: שָׁתָה Transliteration: shâthâh Pronunciation: shaw-thaw' Description: a primitive root; to imbibe (literally or figuratively); [idiom] assuredly, banquet, [idiom] certainly, drink(-er, -ing), drunk ([idiom] -ard), surely. (Prop. intensive of שָׁקָה.)
Strong's Number: H8248 There are 72 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: שָׁקָה Transliteration: shâqâh Pronunciation: shaw-kaw' Description: a primitive root; to quaff, i.e. (causatively) to irrigate or furnish apotion to; cause to (give, give to, let, make to) drink, drown, moisten, water. See שָׁכַר, שָׁתָה.
Strong's Number: H1581 There are 51 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: גָּמָל Transliteration: gâmâl Pronunciation: gaw-mawl' Description: apparently from גָּמַל (in the sense of labor or burden-bearing); a camel; camel.
Strong's Number: H3198 There are 55 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: יָכַח Transliteration: yâkach Pronunciation: yaw-kahh' Description: a primitive root; to be right (i.e. correct); reciprocal, to argue; causatively, to decide, justify or convict; appoint, argue, chasten, convince, correct(-ion), daysman, dispute, judge, maintain, plead, reason (together), rebuke, reprove(-r), surely, in any wise.
Strong's Number: H5650 There are 714 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: עֶבֶד Transliteration: ʻebed Pronunciation: eh'-bed Description: from עָבַד; a servant; [idiom] bondage, bondman, (bond-) servant, (man-) servant.
Strong's Number: H3327 There are 101 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: יִצְחָק Transliteration: Yitschâq Pronunciation: yits-khawk' Description: from צָחַק; laughter (i.e. mochery); Jitschak (or Isaac), son of Abraham; Isaac. Compare יִשְׂחָק.
Strong's Number: H3045 There are 873 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: יָדַע Transliteration: yâdaʻ Pronunciation: yaw-dah' Description: a primitive root; to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.); acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware, (un-) awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, [idiom] could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to) discern, discover, endued with, familiar friend, famous, feel, can have, be (ig-) norant, instruct, kinsfolk, kinsman, (cause to let, make) know, (come to give, have, take) knowledge, have (knowledge), (be, make, make to be, make self) known, [phrase] be learned, [phrase] lie by man, mark, perceive, privy to, [idiom] prognosticator, regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man of) skill, be sure, of a surety, teach, (can) tell, understand, have (understanding), [idiom] will be, wist, wit, wot.
Strong's Number: H6213 There are 2286 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: עָשָׂה Transliteration: ʻâsâh Pronunciation: aw-saw' Description: a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application; accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use.
Strong's Number: H2617 There are 241 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: חֵסֵד Transliteration: chêçêd Pronunciation: kheh'-sed Description: from חָסַד; kindness; by implication (towards God) piety; rarely (by opposition) reproof, or (subject.) beauty; favour, good deed(-liness, -ness), kindly, (loving-) kindness, merciful (kindness), mercy, pity, reproach, wicked thing.
Strong's Number: H113 There are 337 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: אָדוֹן Transliteration: ʼâdôwn Pronunciation: aw-done' Description: or (shortened) אָדֹן; from an unused root (meaning to rule); sovereign, i.e. controller (human or divine); lord, master, owner. Compare also names beginning with 'Adoni-'.