Genesis 24:56

KJV

And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing the LORD hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master.

KJV (with Strong's)

And he said {H559} unto them, Hinder me {H309} not, seeing the LORD {H3068} hath prospered {H6743} my way {H1870}; send me away {H7971} that I may go {H3212} to my master {H113}.

Complete Jewish Bible

He answered them, "Don't delay me, since ADONAI has made my trip successful, but let me go back to my master."

Berean Standard Bible

But he replied, “Do not delay me, since the LORD has made my journey a success. Send me on my way so that I may go to my master.”

American Standard Version

And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing Jehovah hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Genesis 24:56 captures the resolute determination of Abraham's unnamed servant, often identified as Eliezer, as he insists on an immediate return to his master after successfully fulfilling his crucial mission to secure a wife for Isaac. His declaration, "the LORD hath prospered my way," underscores his profound conviction that God's hand was unmistakably evident in the swift and successful completion of his task, compelling him to act without delay and prioritize divine leading over social custom.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated at a pivotal juncture in the narrative of Abraham's life, specifically within the detailed account of his servant's mission to find a wife for Isaac. Following the death of Sarah and Abraham's advanced age, the patriarch's primary concern shifts to securing the lineage through Isaac, ensuring the fulfillment of God's covenant promises. The preceding verses meticulously describe the servant's divinely guided journey to Nahor, his prayer for a clear sign at the well, and Rebekah's providential arrival and hospitality. After Rebekah's family, Laban and Bethuel, acknowledge the Lord's hand in the matter and consent to the marriage, they request a delay of "a few days, at the least ten" before Rebekah departs. It is in response to this request for delay that the servant makes his firm declaration in [Genesis 24:56](/genesis/24-56 "The Servant's Urgency to Depart").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Near Eastern culture, marriage arrangements were typically negotiated between families, often involving lengthy discussions, gift exchanges, and a period of time for the bride to prepare and for the families to formalize the agreement. The request by Rebekah's family for "a few days, at the least ten" (Genesis 24:55) was a culturally appropriate and common practice, allowing for a proper farewell and transition. However, Abraham's servant, operating under a divine mandate and recognizing the extraordinary speed and clarity of God's intervention, prioritizes the divine imperative over these customary social courtesies. His urgency reflects not a lack of respect for local customs, but a profound spiritual discernment of God's direct and undeniable providence in his mission.
* **Key Themes:** Genesis 24, and specifically this verse, powerfully illustrates several overarching themes central to the book of Genesis and biblical theology. Foremost is the theme of **Divine Providence and Guidance**, where God actively orchestrates events to fulfill His purposes, as seen in the servant's successful journey and the clear signs given (Genesis 24:12-14). The narrative also highlights **God's Faithfulness to His Covenant Promises**, particularly the promise to Abraham regarding his descendants and the establishment of a great nation, with the securing of Isaac's bride being a crucial step in this unfolding plan (Genesis 12:1-3). Furthermore, the servant embodies **Faithful Stewardship and Obedience**, demonstrating unwavering loyalty to Abraham and diligent adherence to the divine leading, prioritizing his master's interests and God's clear will above personal comfort or social pleasantries, as he seeks to return without delay to Abraham (Genesis 24:66-67).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **ʼâchar (Hebrew, _H309'_):** This primitive root, translated as "Hinder me," means to loiter, be behind, or procrastinate. The servant's direct command, "Hinder me not," is a firm refusal to countenance any delay. It signifies his conviction that the mission, having been divinely blessed and completed, required immediate action, not born of impatience, but of a spiritual discernment that recognizes God's timing.
* **Yᵉhôvâh (Hebrew, _H3068'_):** This is the Jewish national name of God, "Jehovah" or "the LORD," signifying "the self-Existent or Eternal." The servant's explicit attribution of success to "the LORD" (Yᵉhôvâh) elevates the narrative beyond mere human endeavor, emphasizing that the entire mission's success—the swift journey, the clear sign, Rebekah's willingness, and her family's consent—was directly due to God's active involvement and blessing.
* **tsâlach (Hebrew, _H6743'_):** This primitive root, translated as "prospered," means to push forward, advance, succeed, or be profitable. It implies a smooth, unimpeded progress where obstacles are removed and the desired outcome is achieved through divine enablement. The servant's use of this word underscores his belief that God had made his journey and mission successful, confirming divine approval and necessitating immediate action.
* **ʼâdôwn (Hebrew, _H113'_):** This word, translated as "master," signifies a sovereign, controller, lord, or owner. The servant's concluding request, "send me away that I may go to my master," highlights his faithful stewardship and loyalty to Abraham. Having completed the task entrusted to him, his immediate priority was to report back and deliver the bride, demonstrating a servant's heart that prioritizes his master's interests and God's clear leading.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And he said unto them, Hinder me not":** This opening clause reveals the servant's resolute and direct refusal to accept any delay. Having received the family's consent for Rebekah to depart, he perceives any procrastination as an impediment to God's clear leading and the swift completion of his mission. His tone is firm, indicating a sense of urgency rooted in divine purpose rather than personal preference.
* **"seeing the LORD hath prospered my way":** This is the core theological justification for his urgency. The servant attributes the remarkable success and speed of his mission directly to the sovereign hand of God (Yahweh). He recognizes that God has cleared the path, removed obstacles, and brought about the desired outcome with undeniable clarity. This acknowledgment underscores his profound faith and spiritual discernment, seeing God's active involvement in the details of his journey.
* **"send me away that I may go to my master":** This concluding request reinforces his unwavering commitment to his duty and his master, Abraham. Having fulfilled the primary objective of finding a bride, his immediate priority is to return and deliver Rebekah, thereby completing the mission entrusted to him. This demonstrates his faithful stewardship and highlights the theme of obedience to both his earthly master and, implicitly, to the divine will that guided his entire endeavor.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs **Direct Speech** to convey the servant's urgent and authoritative voice, making his conviction palpable to the reader. The servant's declaration, "the LORD hath prospered my way," functions as a **Theological Justification** for his actions, grounding his human urgency in divine providence. This statement also serves as a form of **Attribution**, clearly crediting God for the success rather than his own efforts. The entire exchange, particularly the servant's insistence, creates a sense of **Dramatic Tension** against the backdrop of cultural custom, highlighting the extraordinary nature of God's intervention and the servant's immediate response to it.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The servant's declaration in Genesis 24:56 is a profound theological statement, asserting God's active and immediate involvement in the affairs of His people. It underscores the principle that when God's will is clearly manifested and His blessing is evident, there should be no procrastination in carrying out His purposes. This narrative beautifully illustrates the concept of divine providence, where God orchestrates circumstances to fulfill His redemptive plan, particularly concerning the lineage through which the promised Messiah would come. The servant's urgency is not mere impatience but a reverent response to the unmistakable leading of Yahweh, demonstrating a model of faithful stewardship and obedience to God's timing.

* [Proverbs 3:5-6](/proverbs/3-5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart") - This passage encourages trust in the Lord and acknowledges Him in all ways, promising that He will make our paths straight, mirroring the servant's experience of God prospering his way.
* [Psalm 37:23](/psalms/37-23 "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord") - This verse affirms that the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way, reflecting the divine guidance and success experienced by Abraham's servant.
* [Romans 8:28](/romans/8-28 "God works all things for good") - This New Testament verse articulates the broader theological truth that God works all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose, a principle vividly demonstrated in the servant's divinely orchestrated mission.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Genesis 24:56 offers valuable lessons for believers today, encouraging us to cultivate a similar posture of discernment and prompt obedience. Like Abraham's servant, we are called to be quick to recognize and acknowledge God's hand when our endeavors succeed, especially those undertaken in faith and prayer. This acknowledgment fosters humility, strengthens our trust in His sovereignty, and guards against taking credit for what God has accomplished. When God's will is evident and He has clearly opened doors, we are to proceed with diligence and without unnecessary delay, understanding that procrastination can sometimes hinder divine purposes or diminish the impact of divine timing. The servant's dedication reminds us to prioritize fulfilling the tasks God has set before us, recognizing that His timing is often crucial for the full manifestation of His blessings and the advancement of His kingdom. Our loyalty, like his, should ultimately be to our Master, the Lord, and His perfect plan.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How often do I attribute my successes to God's providence, rather than solely to my own efforts or circumstances?**
* **In what areas of my life might I be procrastinating on a clear call or direction from God, and what might be hindering my immediate obedience?**
* **What does the servant's unwavering commitment to his mission teach me about faithful stewardship in my own responsibilities, both spiritual and temporal?**

### FAQ
**Why was the servant so insistent on leaving immediately?**

Answer: The servant's insistence on immediate departure stemmed from his profound recognition that God had unequivocally "prospered" his way. He understood that the swift and successful completion of his mission, from the providential meeting with Rebekah at the well to her family's consent, was a clear sign of divine intervention and approval. To delay would be to disregard God's evident timing and provision, potentially jeopardizing the divine blessing. His urgency was therefore rooted in a deep sense of duty to his master, Abraham, and an even deeper reverence for God's providential leading, prioritizing the immediate fulfillment of God's will over social custom or personal convenience. He recognized that when God's hand is so clearly at work, prompt obedience is the appropriate response, as seen in the swiftness with which Rebekah also agreed to go (Genesis 24:58).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The narrative of Abraham's servant diligently seeking a bride for Isaac beautifully prefigures the redemptive work of the Holy Spirit in gathering the Church, the Bride of Christ. Just as the servant was sent by Abraham (a type of God the Father) to find a bride for Isaac (a type of Christ, the promised seed through whom all nations would be blessed), so the Holy Spirit is sent by the Father to call and prepare believers for union with Christ (John 14:26). The servant's divinely "prospered" journey, marked by clear guidance and successful persuasion, mirrors the Spirit's effectual work in leading individuals to Christ, overcoming obstacles, and preparing them for the ultimate marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7-9). The servant's urgency to bring the bride to the son reflects the Spirit's ongoing work to complete the Church, ensuring the fulfillment of God's eternal redemptive plan in Christ (Ephesians 5:25-27). The Spirit's mission is to glorify Christ and bring His chosen ones to Him, just as the servant's mission was to bring Rebekah to Isaac, culminating in a joyful union (John 16:13-14).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Joshua 1:8

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Proverbs 25:25

¶ [As] cold waters to a thirsty soul, so [is] good news from a far country.

Isaiah 48:15

I, [even] I, have spoken; yea, I have called him: I have brought him, and he shall make his way prosperous.

Genesis 45:9

Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him, Thus saith thy son Joseph, God hath made me lord of all Egypt: come down unto me, tarry not:

Genesis 45:13

And ye shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that ye have seen; and ye shall haste and bring down my father hither.