Genesis 24:2

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:

Complete Jewish Bible:

Avraham said to the servant who had served him the longest, who was in charge of all he owned, "Put your hand under my thigh;

Berean Standard Bible:

So Abraham instructed the chief servant of his household, who managed all he owned, “Place your hand under my thigh,

American Standard Version:

And Abraham said unto his servant, the elder of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And Abraham^{H85} said^{H559} unto his eldest^{H2205} servant^{H5650} of his house^{H1004}, that ruled over^{H4910} all that he had, Put^{H7760}, I pray thee, thy hand^{H3027} under my thigh^{H3409}:

Cross-References (KJV):

Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:

BibleHub.com BibleRef.com

Commentary for Genesis 24:2

Genesis 24:2 is part of the narrative where Abraham seeks a wife for his son Isaac. The historical context of this verse is set in the patriarchal era, when Abraham, recognized as the father of the Hebrew people, is seeking to secure a suitable wife for his son from his own kin, rather than from the Canaanites among whom he lived.

Themes present in this verse include:

1. **Fidelity and Trust**: Abraham entrusts his most senior and trusted servant with the crucial task of finding a wife for Isaac, demonstrating the significance of loyalty and confidence in one's household.

2. **Covenant and Oath**: The act of placing a hand under another's thigh is associated with a solemn oath in ancient Near Eastern culture. This gesture symbolizes the servant swearing an oath by the most intimate and sacred part of Abraham's body, invoking a potential curse upon himself should he fail to fulfill the mission.

3. **Endogamy within the Family**: Abraham's insistence on finding a wife for Isaac from his own relatives reflects the cultural practice of endogamy, which was intended to keep the family line pure and maintain control over inheritance and property rights.

4. **Divine Providence**: The underlying narrative presupposes that God's will is being carried out through Abraham's actions, as the choice of a wife for Isaac is not left to chance but is seen as part of God's covenantal promise to Abraham.

5. **Patriarchal Authority**: Abraham's role as the patriarch is evident as he commands his servant, who has authority over his household, to undertake this significant journey, showcasing the structure and hierarchy of the family unit during this time.

This verse sets the stage for the detailed account of the servant's journey to Mesopotamia, where he finds Rebekah, who becomes Isaac's wife, thus continuing the lineage that will lead to the nation of Israel.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H85
   There are 1159 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אַבְרָהָם
   Transliteration: ʼAbrâhâm
   Pronunciation: ab-raw-hawm'
   Description: contracted from אָב and an unused root (probably meaning to be populous); father of a multitude; Abraham, the later name of Abram; Abraham.
   
2. 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.
   
3. Strong's Number: H2205
   There are 171 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: זָקֵן
   Transliteration: zâqên
   Pronunciation: zaw-kane'
   Description: from זָקֵן; old; aged, ancient (man), elder(-est), old (man, men and...women), senator.
   
4. 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.
   
5. Strong's Number: H1004
   There are 1718 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בַּיִת
   Transliteration: bayith
   Pronunciation: bah'-yith
   Description: probably from בָּנָה abbreviated; a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.); court, daughter, door, [phrase] dungeon, family, [phrase] forth of, [idiom] great as would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter) house(-hold), inside(-ward), palace, place, [phrase] prison, [phrase] steward, [phrase] tablet, temple, web, [phrase] within(-out).
   
6. Strong's Number: H4910
   There are 74 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מָשַׁל
   Transliteration: mâshal
   Pronunciation: maw-shal'
   Description: a primitive root; to rule; (have, make to have) dominion, governor, [idiom] indeed, reign, (bear, cause to, have) rule(-ing, -r), have power.
   
7. Strong's Number: H7760
   There are 550 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שׂוּם
   Transliteration: sûwm
   Pronunciation: soom
   Description: or שִׂים; a primitive root; to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically); [idiom] any wise, appoint, bring, call (a name), care, cast in, change, charge, commit, consider, convey, determine, [phrase] disguise, dispose, do, get, give, heap up, hold, impute, lay (down, up), leave, look, make (out), mark, [phrase] name, [idiom] on, ordain, order, [phrase] paint, place, preserve, purpose, put (on), [phrase] regard, rehearse, reward, (cause to) set (on, up), shew, [phrase] stedfastly, take, [idiom] tell, [phrase] tread down, (over-)turn, [idiom] wholly, work.
   
8. Strong's Number: H3027
   There are 1447 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָד
   Transliteration: yâd
   Pronunciation: yawd
   Description: a primitive word; in distinction from כַּף, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote (as follows); a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),; ([phrase] be) able, [idiom] about, [phrase] armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, [idiom] bounty, [phrase] broad, (broken-) handed, [idiom] by, charge, coast, [phrase] consecrate, [phrase] creditor, custody, debt, dominion, [idiom] enough, [phrase] fellowship, force, [idiom] from, hand(-staves, -y work), [idiom] he, himself, [idiom] in, labour, [phrase] large, ledge, (left-) handed, means, [idiom] mine, ministry, near, [idiom] of, [idiom] order, ordinance, [idiom] our, parts, pain, power, [idiom] presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay, draw with strength, stroke, [phrase] swear, terror, [idiom] thee, [idiom] by them, [idiom] themselves, [idiom] thine own, [idiom] thou, through, [idiom] throwing, [phrase] thumb, times, [idiom] to, [idiom] under, [idiom] us, [idiom] wait on, (way-) side, where, [phrase] wide, [idiom] with (him, me, you), work, [phrase] yield, [idiom] yourselves.
   
9. Strong's Number: H3409
   There are 32 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָרֵךְ
   Transliteration: yârêk
   Pronunciation: yaw-rake'
   Description: from an unused root meaning to be soft; the thigh (from its fleshy softness); by euphemistically the generative parts; figuratively, a shank, flank, side; [idiom] body, loins, shaft, side, thigh.