Genesis 24:33

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And there was set [meat] before him to eat: but he said, I will not eat, until I have told mine errand. And he said, Speak on.

Complete Jewish Bible:

But when a meal was set before him, he said, "I won't eat until I say what I have to say." Lavan said, "Speak."

Berean Standard Bible:

Then a meal was set before the man, but he said, “I will not eat until I have told you what I came to say.” So Laban said, “Please speak.”

American Standard Version:

And there was set food before him to eat: but he said, I will not eat, until I have told mine errand. And he said, Speak on.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And there was set^{{H7760}{H3455}} meat before him^{H6440} to eat^{H398}: but he said^{H559}, I will not eat^{H398}, until I have told^{H1696} mine errand^{H1697}. And he said^{H559}, Speak on^{H1696}.

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Genesis 24:33

Genesis 24:33 is part of the narrative concerning Abraham's servant, who is on a mission to find a wife for Abraham's son, Isaac. This verse occurs within the broader context of a story that highlights themes of faith, divine providence, and the importance of marriage within the patriarchal community.

In the historical context of the Ancient Near East, finding a suitable wife for one's son was a matter of significant importance, particularly for a family like Abraham's, which was under the special covenantal care of God. Abraham, concerned that Isaac should not marry a Canaanite woman, sends his trusted servant to his own kin in Mesopotamia to find a wife for his son.

The verse itself captures a moment of hospitality and courtesy, as the servant arrives at the home of Laban, the brother of Rebekah, who would eventually become Isaac's wife. Despite being offered food immediately upon his arrival—a common practice in the culture of the time to welcome and refresh travelers—the servant insists on first completing the purpose of his journey. He refuses to eat until he has explained his mission, demonstrating his dedication to his task and the gravity of his responsibility.

This moment also reflects the servant's piety and adherence to protocol, as he seeks to fulfill his master's wishes with precision and integrity. His insistence on speaking before eating serves as a narrative device to transition into the servant's detailed account of his journey and the signs by which he has been guided to Rebekah, reinforcing the theme of God's active role in the lives of those who trust in Him. The servant's actions underscore the significance of hospitality in the culture, the priority of duty over personal comfort, and the centrality of God's guidance in the decisions of His people.

*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: 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.
   
2. Strong's Number: H3455
   There are 2 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָשַׂם
   Transliteration: yâsam
   Pronunciation: yaw-sam'
   Description: a primitive root; to place; intransitively, to be placed; be put (set).
   
3. Strong's Number: H6440
   There are 1890 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פָּנִים
   Transliteration: pânîym
   Pronunciation: paw-neem'
   Description: plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun פָּנֶה; from פָּנָה); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.); [phrase] accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, [idiom] as (long as), at, [phrase] battle, [phrase] because (of), [phrase] beseech, countenance, edge, [phrase] employ, endure, [phrase] enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, [idiom] him(-self), [phrase] honourable, [phrase] impudent, [phrase] in, it, look(-eth) (-s), [idiom] me, [phrase] meet, [idiom] more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), [idiom] on, open, [phrase] out of, over against, the partial, person, [phrase] please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, [phrase] regard, right forth, [phrase] serve, [idiom] shewbread, sight, state, straight, [phrase] street, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them(-selves), through ([phrase] -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), [phrase] upon, upside ([phrase] down), with(-in, [phrase] -stand), [idiom] ye, [idiom] you.
   
4. Strong's Number: H398
   There are 825 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָכַל
   Transliteration: ʼâkal
   Pronunciation: aw-kal'
   Description: a primitive root; to eat (literally or figuratively); [idiom] at all, burn up, consume, devour(-er, up), dine, eat(-er, up), feed (with), food, [idiom] freely, [idiom] in...wise(-deed, plenty), (lay) meat, [idiom] quite.
   
5. 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.
   
6. Strong's Number: H1696
   There are 1050 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: דָבַר
   Transliteration: dâbar
   Pronunciation: daw-bar'
   Description: a primitive root; perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue; answer, appoint, bid, command, commune, declare, destroy, give, name, promise, pronounce, rehearse, say, speak, be spokesman, subdue, talk, teach, tell, think, use (entreaties), utter, [idiom] well, [idiom] work.
   
7. Strong's Number: H1697
   There are 1290 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: דָּבָר
   Transliteration: dâbâr
   Pronunciation: daw-baw'
   Description: from דָבַר; a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause; act, advice, affair, answer, [idiom] any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case, cause, certain rate, [phrase] chronicles, commandment, [idiom] commune(-ication), [phrase] concern(-ing), [phrase] confer, counsel, [phrase] dearth, decree, deed, [idiom] disease, due, duty, effect, [phrase] eloquent, errand, (evil favoured-) ness, [phrase] glory, [phrase] harm, hurt, [phrase] iniquity, [phrase] judgment, language, [phrase] lying, manner, matter, message, (no) thing, oracle, [idiom] ought, [idiom] parts, [phrase] pertaining, [phrase] please, portion, [phrase] power, promise, provision, purpose, question, rate, reason, report, request, [idiom] (as hast) said, sake, saying, sentence, [phrase] sign, [phrase] so, some (uncleanness), somewhat to say, [phrase] song, speech, [idiom] spoken, talk, task, [phrase] that, [idiom] there done, thing (concerning), thought, [phrase] thus, tidings, what(-soever), [phrase] wherewith, which, word, work.