TRV
Translation
King James Version
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:
World English Bible Messianic
Abraham said to his servant, the elder of his house, who ruled over all that he had, “Please put your hand under my thigh.
Geneva Bible (1599)
Therefore Abraham saide vnto his eldest seruant of his house, which had the rule ouer all that he had, Put nowe thine hand vnder my thigh,
Young's Literal Translation
and Abraham saith unto his servant, the eldest of his house, who is ruling over all that he hath, `Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh,
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In the KJVVerse 594 of 31,102
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Commentary on Genesis 24 verses 1–9
1 ¶ And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things.
2 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:
3 And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:
4 But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.
5 And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest?
6 And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again.
7 The LORD God of heaven, which took me from my father's house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.
8 And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath: only bring not my son thither again.
9 And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning that matter.
Three things we may observe here concerning Abraham: -
I. The care he took of a good son, to get him married, well married. It was high time to think of it now, for Isaac was about forty years old, and it had been customary with his ancestors to marry at thirty, or sooner, Gen 11:14, Gen 11:18, Gen 11:22, Gen 11:24. Abraham believed the promise of the building up of his family, and therefore did not make haste; not more haste than good speed. Two considerations moved him to think of it now (Gen 24:1): - 1. That he himself was likely to leave the world quickly, for he was old, and well-stricken in age, and it would be a satisfaction to him to see his son settled before he died; and, 2. That he had a good estate to leave behind him, for the Lord had blessed him in all things; and the blessing of the Lord makes rich. See how much religion and piety befriend outward prosperity. Now Abraham's pious care concerning his son was, (1.) That he should not marry a daughter of Canaan, but one of his kindred. He saw that the Canaanites were degenerating into great wickedness, and knew by revelation that they were designed for ruin, and therefore he would not marry his son among them, lest they should be either a snare to his soul, or at least a blot to his name. (2.) That yet he should not leave the land of Canaan, to go himself among his kindred, not even for the purpose of choosing a wife, lest he should be tempted to settle there. This caution is given Gen 24:6, and repeated, Gen 24:8. "Bring not my son thither again, whatever comes of it. Let him rather want a wife than expose himself to that temptation." Note, Parents in disposing of their children, should carefully consult the welfare of their souls, and their furtherance in the way to heaven. Those who through grace have escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust, and have brought up their children accordingly, should take heed of doing any thing by which they may be again entangled therein and overcome, Pe2 2:20. Beware that you bring them not thither again, Heb 11:15.
II. The charge he gave to a good servant, probably Eliezer of Damascus, one of whose conduct, fidelity, and affection to him and his family, he had had long experience. He trusted him with this great affair, and not Isaac himself, because he would not have Isaac go at all into that country, but marry there by proxy; and no proxy so fit as this steward of his house. This matter is settled between the master and the servant with a great deal of care and solemnity. 1. The servant must be bound by an oath to do his utmost to get a wife for Isaac from among his relations, Gen 24:2-4. Abraham swears him to it, both for his own satisfaction and for the engagement of his servant to all possible care and diligence in this matter. Thus God swears his servants to their work, that, having sworn, they may perform it. Honour is here done to the eternal God; for he it is that is sworn by, to whom alone these appeals ought to be made. And some think honour is done to the covenant of circumcision by the ceremony here used of putting his hand under his thigh. Note, Swearing being an ordinance not peculiar to the church, but common to mankind, is to be performed by such signs as are the appointments and common usages of our country, for binding the person sworn. 2. He must be clear of this oath if, when he had done his utmost, he could not prevail. This proviso the servant prudently inserted (Gen 24:5), putting the case that the woman would not follow him; and Abraham allowed the exception, Gen 24:8. Note, Oaths are to be taken with great caution, and the matter sworn to should be rightly understood and limited, because it is a snare to devour that which is holy, and, after vows, to make the enquiry which should have been made before.
III. The confidence he put in a good God, who, he doubts not, will give his servant success in this undertaking, Gen 24:7. He remembers that God had wonderfully brought him out of the land of his nativity, by the effectual call of his grace; and therefore doubts not but he will succeed him in his care not to bring his son thither again. He remembers also the promise God had made and confirmed to him that he would give Canaan to his seed, and thence infers that God would own him in his endeavours to match his son, not among those devoted nations, but to one that was fit to be the mother of such a seed. "Fear not therefore; he shall send his angel before thee to make thy way prosperous." Note, 1. Those that carefully keep in the way of duty, and govern themselves by the principles of their religion in their designs and undertakings, have good reason to expect prosperity and success in them. God will cause that to issue in our comfort in which we sincerely aim at his glory. 2. God's promises, and our own experiences, are sufficient to encourage our dependence upon God, and our expectations from him, in all the affairs of this life. 3. God's angels are ministering spirits, sent forth, not only for the protection, but for the guidance, of the heirs of promise, Heb 1:14. "He shall send his angel before thee, and then thou wilt speed well."
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 1–9. Public domain.
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Ephrem the SyrianAD 373
COMMENTARY ON GENESIS 21:2
Abraham made him swear by the covenant of circumcision. Because God saw that the two heads of the world had dishonored this member, he set the sign of the covenant on it so that this member, which was the most despised of all the limbs, would now be the most honored of all the limbs. The sign of the covenant that was set on it bestowed such great honor that those who take oaths now swear by it and all those who administer oaths make them swear by it.
John ChrysostomAD 407
HOMILIES ON GENESIS 48.7-8
You see, since he had reached extreme old age, the text says, he wished to preserve Isaac from association with the Canaanites, lest he take a wife from among them. So he summoned the more prudent of his servants, the text says, and gave him the following instructions: “Place your hand under my thigh.” In Greek the verse is written this way: “under my thigh”; whereas in Hebrew it says “under my loins.” Why did he speak in this fashion? It was an idiom of people in the past. But on other grounds it was also because the birth of Isaac takes its origin from there.For you to learn that the action was done according to a certain custom, notice that when he was ordering him to put his hand there, he immediately added, “and I will make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of earth.” See how he teaches the servant to recognize the Creator of all things. By saying, “the God of heaven and the God of earth,” he encompassed all creation.
Augustine of HippoAD 430
On the Good of Marriage 19
For, putting the hand under the thigh of a man and swearing by the God of heaven, what else did that signify except that in that flesh, which took its origin from that thigh, the God of heaven would come?Marriage therefore is a good in which the married are better in proportion as they fear God more chastely and more faithfully, especially if they also nourish spiritually the children whom they desire carnally.
Augustine of HippoAD 430
City of God 16.33
This surely was prophetic of the fact that the Lord God of heaven and the Lord of the earth would one day come in flesh fashioned from that thigh.
Augustine of HippoAD 430
TRACTATE ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 43.6.3
For an important thing was being done when a spouse was being sought for the seed of Abraham. But that the servant might learn this which Abraham knew, that he did not desire grandchildren carnally and that he did not have any carnal conception about his progeny, he said to his slave whom he was sending, “Put your hand under my thigh and swear by the God of heaven.” What does the God of heaven want to signify in respect to the thigh of Abraham? Already you understand the hidden meaning: by the thigh, his progeny. Therefore what was that swearing but a signifying that the God of heaven would come in the flesh from the progeny of Abraham?
Caesarius of ArlesAD 542
SERMON 85.1
When the sacred lesson was read a little while ago, we heard that blessed Abraham called his servant and said to him, “Put your hand under my thigh that I may adjure you by the God of heaven and of earth, not to obtain a wife for my son from the daughters of this region.” And [the servant] obediently placed his hand under his thigh and swore to him. Indeed, brothers, all these things that are read in the Old Testament, if we are willing to accept them only according to the letter, will bring us little or no profit of soul. For of what benefit is it to us who assemble in church with devotion to hear the Word of God, if it is mentioned that Abraham sent his servant to bring his son a wife from a distant country, when we see this happen frequently also in this land? However, brothers, following the blessed apostle Paul, we should believe that all things which were written for the Jews “happened to them as a type” but in reality were fulfilled for us. Therefore Abraham said to his servant, “Put your hand under my thigh and swear by the God of heaven and of earth.” Thus blessed Abraham said, “Put your hand under my thigh,” as if he were saying, put your hand upon the altar, or put your hand upon the ark of the testament, or stretch forth your hand to God’s temple, and swear to me. He touched his thigh and swore by the God of heaven and earth. For blessed Abraham did not err when he commanded that this be done but because he was filled with the spirit of prophecy and knew that from his own seed Christ the Lord of heaven and earth would be born. Therefore, when his servant touched his thigh, he did not utter an oath by any carnal member but by the living and true God, because “Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah,” of whose seed Christ the Lord was born.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
records a pivotal moment in Abraham's life where, advanced in years, he entrusts his most senior and trusted household manager with the sacred task of finding a wife for his son Isaac. The verse details Abraham's unusual and profoundly solemn instruction for the servant to place his hand under Abraham's thigh, an ancient Near Eastern ritual signifying an unbreakable oath and underscoring the immense spiritual and familial gravity of the mission ahead.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant literary devices. Emphasis is achieved through the detailed description of the servant's status ("eldest," "ruled over all that he had"), highlighting the gravity of the mission and the trust placed in him. The command itself utilizes Symbolism, where the physical act of placing a hand under the thigh serves as a powerful symbol of a deeply binding oath. This gesture, rooted in ancient Near Eastern custom, symbolically links the oath-taker's commitment to his very lineage and future generations, imbuing the promise with profound personal and familial consequences. Furthermore, the scene Foreshadows the enduring importance of solemn oaths and covenants throughout biblical history, reinforcing the idea that promises made in God's presence carry eternal weight.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This passage profoundly illustrates the sacred nature of promises and covenants in the biblical worldview, emphasizing that certain commitments transcend mere verbal agreements to become deeply binding, often with spiritual and generational implications. Abraham's actions demonstrate his unwavering commitment to God's covenant promises, particularly those concerning his lineage and the future of the promised seed. He recognizes that the fulfillment of God's plan hinges on the purity and integrity of Isaac's marital union, thus taking extraordinary measures to ensure it. The servant's faithful response, in turn, exemplifies the biblical principle of responsible stewardship and loyalty in service to a greater, divinely ordained purpose.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Genesis 24:2 challenges us to consider the weight and integrity of our own commitments. In a world where promises are often lightly made and easily broken, Abraham's solemn oath reminds us that our word, especially when given before God or in matters of significant consequence, should be held as sacred. It calls us to cultivate a character of trustworthiness and faithfulness, recognizing that our integrity impacts not only ourselves but also those around us and potentially future generations. Furthermore, Abraham's diligent and prayerful pursuit of a suitable spouse for Isaac, ensuring the continuation of God's covenant, serves as a powerful model for seeking divine guidance and exercising responsible stewardship in all major life decisions, particularly those that have lasting spiritual and familial implications. Just as Abraham trusted God to guide his servant, we are encouraged to trust God's providence in our own lives, knowing that His promises are eternally binding and reliable.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why did Abraham ask his servant to put his hand "under my thigh"?
Answer: This was an ancient Near Eastern custom for taking a solemn and binding oath. The "thigh" (Hebrew: yârêk) often symbolized the loins or reproductive organs, representing the source of one's descendants. By placing a hand under the thigh, the oath-taker was symbolically invoking their own posterity as a guarantee for the oath. This implied that a curse or severe consequence would fall upon their future generations if the oath were broken, making the commitment incredibly serious and impactful, far beyond a simple verbal promise. This practice is also seen later when Jacob requests Joseph to swear by putting his hand under his thigh before his death, further underscoring its profound gravity and enduring significance in the biblical narrative.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Abraham's meticulous concern for Isaac's marriage, secured by a solemn oath, is a crucial link in the unfolding of God's redemptive plan, ultimately pointing to Christ. The covenant promises made to Abraham, including the promise of a great nation and the blessing of all families of the earth, were to be fulfilled through Isaac's descendants, specifically through "the Seed" (Genesis 22:18). By ensuring Isaac married within his own kin and not from the idolatrous Canaanites, Abraham was, by divine providence, safeguarding the purity and integrity of the genealogical line through which the Messiah, Jesus Christ, would ultimately come. This seemingly domestic arrangement is thus a vital act of covenant preservation, demonstrating God's faithfulness in meticulously orchestrating history to bring about the incarnation of Christ, the ultimate "Seed of Abraham" through whom all the nations of the earth are blessed (Galatians 3:16). The solemnity of the oath also foreshadows the unbreakable nature of God's own covenant with humanity, sealed not by a human gesture but by the blood of Christ, the New Covenant's mediator (Hebrews 9:15).