Genesis 24:58

KJV

And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go.

KJV (with Strong's)

And they called {H7121} Rebekah {H7259}, and said {H559} unto her, Wilt thou go {H3212} with this man {H376}? And she said {H559}, I will go {H3212}.

Complete Jewish Bible

They called Rivkah and asked her, "Will you go with this man?" and she replied, "I will."

Berean Standard Bible

They called Rebekah and asked her, “Will you go with this man?” “I will go,” she replied.

American Standard Version

And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Rebekah's pivotal and concise declaration, "I will go," in response to her family's inquiry about her willingness to depart immediately with Abraham's servant. This profound moment not only seals her destiny as Isaac's wife and a matriarch of Israel but also powerfully underscores her courageous faith, decisive agency, and willing participation in the unfolding of God's providential plan for the Abrahamic covenant lineage. Her immediate assent is a testament to a character marked by trust and readiness to embrace the divine call.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse marks the climactic moment of Abraham's mission to secure a wife for his son Isaac from among his own kin in Mesopotamia, thereby avoiding a Canaanite spouse, as stipulated in [Genesis 24:3-4](/genesis/24-3-4 "Abraham's charge to his servant"). Abraham's trusted servant, divinely guided in his quest, found Rebekah at the well, a clear sign of God's leading as acknowledged in [Genesis 24:27](/genesis/24-27 "The servant's prayer of thanks"). After the servant recounted the miraculous events and God's evident hand, Rebekah's family consented to the marriage. However, when the servant pressed for an immediate departure, her family requested she stay "a few days, at the least ten" ([Genesis 24:55](/genesis/24-55 "Rebekah's family requests a delay")). Recognizing the urgency and perhaps sensing the divine imperative behind the servant's haste, they deferred the final, weighty decision to Rebekah herself, granting her a significant measure of agency within that cultural framework. Her "I will go" is the turning point that resolves the narrative tension and propels the story forward.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, marriages were typically arranged by families, often for strategic or economic reasons, with the woman's consent often assumed or secondary. However, the narrative here highlights a unique moment where Rebekah's personal will is explicitly sought and proves decisive. This reflects the importance of personal commitment in significant life transitions, even within a patriarchal society. The journey from Haran to Canaan was long and perilous, a significant undertaking for a young woman leaving her entire known world behind. Her immediate willingness to undertake such a journey underscores a remarkable level of trust and courage, especially considering she had never met her prospective husband. This cultural backdrop emphasizes the weight of her decision and the exceptional nature of her immediate, unreserved consent.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Genesis and the broader biblical narrative. It highlights **divine guidance and providence**, showing how God orchestrates events, from the servant's journey to Rebekah's presence at the well, to ensure His covenant purposes are fulfilled. It also underscores the theme of **human agency and faith**, demonstrating that while God is sovereign, He often invites and requires willing human participation for His plans to unfold. Rebekah's active "I will go" mirrors the faith of Abraham, who similarly left his homeland at God's call in [Genesis 12:1-4](/genesis/12-1-4 "God's call to Abraham and his obedience"). Furthermore, the verse is crucial for the theme of **covenant continuity**, as Rebekah's decision directly ensures the continuation of the promised lineage through Isaac, a lineage through which the Messiah would ultimately come, as seen in the genealogies of [Matthew 1:1-17](/matthew/1-1-17 "The Genealogy of Jesus Christ") and [Luke 3:23-38](/luke/3-23-38 "The Genealogy of Jesus Christ").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **called (Hebrew, _qârâʼ'_):** From H7121, "to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications); bewray (self), that are bidden, call (for, forth, self, upon), cry (unto), (be) famous, guest, invite, mention, (give) name, preach, (make) proclaim(-ation), pronounce, publish, read, renowned, say." Here, it signifies the act of summoning Rebekah to present her with the crucial question, indicating a formal and weighty address.
* **said (Hebrew, _ʼâmar'_):** From H559, "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." This verb is used twice, highlighting the direct communication between the family and Rebekah, and then her equally direct response. It emphasizes the verbal nature of the decisive exchange.
* **go (Hebrew, _yâlak'_):** From H3212, "a primitive root (compare הָלַךְ); to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses); [idiom] again, away, bear, bring, carry (away), come (away), depart, flow, [phrase] follow(-ing), get (away, hence, him), (cause to, made) go (away, -ing, -ne, one's way, out), grow, lead (forth), let down, march, prosper, [phrase] pursue, cause to run, spread, take away (-journey), vanish, (cause to) walk(-ing), wax, [idiom] be weak." This verb is central to the verse, first in the question "Wilt thou go?" and then in Rebekah's emphatic "I will go." It signifies not merely physical movement but a decisive departure and commitment to a new path, embracing the journey and its implications.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And they called Rebekah, and said unto her":** This phrase indicates the family's action. After their own deliberations and the servant's insistence on immediate departure, they defer the ultimate decision to Rebekah. This act of "calling" her signifies the gravity of the moment and the respect given to her personal choice, even within the cultural context of arranged marriages. It sets the stage for her pivotal response.
* **"Wilt thou go with this man?":** This is the direct, loaded question posed to Rebekah. It is a singular, life-altering inquiry that demands a clear "yes" or "no." The phrase "this man" refers to Abraham's servant, but implicitly, it means "Wilt thou go to become the wife of Isaac, in a distant land, leaving everything familiar behind?" The question forces Rebekah to confront the full implications of the divine leading and her role in it.
* **"And she said, I will go.":** This is Rebekah's concise, unequivocal, and profoundly impactful answer. The Hebrew phrase, *'elekh* (אֵלֵךְ), is a simple first-person singular future tense of the verb "to go," conveying an unwavering resolve. There is no ambiguity, hesitation, or negotiation in her reply. Her immediate affirmation demonstrates her personal agency, her faith in the divine orchestration of events, and her courageous willingness to embrace an unknown future for the sake of God's covenant plan.

#### Literary Devices
The verse primarily employs **Dialogue** as its central literary device, presenting a direct question and a direct answer. This immediate verbal exchange creates dramatic tension and highlights the decisive nature of the moment. The brevity and conciseness of Rebekah's response, "I will go," serve as a powerful form of **Emphasis**, underscoring her unwavering resolve and conviction. This succinctness makes her statement particularly impactful and memorable, contrasting with the preceding familial deliberations. Furthermore, Rebekah's willing departure and commitment to an unseen future, based on the servant's testimony of divine guidance, functions as **Foreshadowing** of the faith required of Abraham's descendants and, ultimately, of all believers who are called to trust God for their future, even when the path is unclear.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Rebekah's decisive "I will go" stands as a foundational moment in the unfolding narrative of God's covenant with Abraham, illustrating the profound interplay between divine sovereignty and human response. While God's plan for Isaac's marriage was clearly orchestrated through the servant's divinely guided journey, Rebekah's willing and immediate consent was not merely a formality but a crucial act of faith that allowed the divine purpose to proceed without delay. Her decision to leave her familiar world for an unknown future, based on the testimony of God's leading, serves as a powerful model of faith and obedience, mirroring the initial call of Abraham himself. This pivotal moment ensures the continuity of the promised lineage, through which the Messiah would ultimately come, demonstrating the vital role of individual choices in God's grand redemptive narrative.

* [Genesis 12:1-4](/genesis/12-1-4 "God's Call to Abraham") - Abraham's initial act of faith in leaving his homeland at God's command sets a precedent for Rebekah's similar courageous departure.
* [Hebrews 11:8](/hebrews/11-8 "Abraham's Faith and Obedience") - This verse highlights Abraham's obedience by faith, going out "not knowing where he was going," a principle beautifully echoed in Rebekah's decision.
* [Proverbs 3:5-6](/proverbs/3-5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart") - Rebekah's willingness to go into the unknown demonstrates a profound trust in the divine hand guiding the servant, embodying the wisdom of trusting God's leading over one's own understanding.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Rebekah's response in [Genesis 24:58](/genesis/24-58 "Rebekah's decisive 'I will go'") offers timeless lessons for believers today, primarily concerning our posture toward God's calling and His sovereign will. When God's will becomes clear, even if it necessitates leaving our comfort zones, familiar surroundings, or facing an uncertain future, we are called to respond with faith and decisiveness, just as Rebekah did. Her example encourages us to trust in God's leading, even when we cannot fully comprehend the path ahead or the ultimate outcome, aligning with the biblical principle of [trusting in the Lord with all your heart](/proverbs/3-5 "Trusting the Lord with all your heart"). Our personal "I will go," our willing commitment to God's purposes, is essential for the unfolding of His divine plan in our individual lives and in the broader scope of His kingdom. It reminds us that obedience often requires courage to step into the unknown, confident in the One who calls.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "familiar" things might God be asking you to leave behind in order to follow His call more fully?**
* **In what areas of your life are you being called to exercise greater faith and decisiveness, even when the path ahead is unclear?**
* **How does Rebekah's immediate "I will go" challenge any hesitations or delays you might have in responding to God's known will?**

### FAQ
**Why was Rebekah's consent so important in an arranged marriage culture?**

Answer: While arranged marriages were common in the ancient Near East, Rebekah's personal consent was explicitly sought because the servant was pressing for an immediate departure, overriding the family's desire for her to stay longer ("a few days, at the least ten" in [Genesis 24:55](/genesis/24-55 "Rebekah's family requests a delay")). This moment highlights her agency and character, demonstrating that even within cultural norms, individual will and divine leading could intersect. Her active "I will go" was not merely a formality but a genuine inquiry into her willingness to embark on this life-altering journey immediately, and her decisive answer was crucial for the seamless progression of God's plan.

**Does Rebekah's immediate "I will go" imply she had no reservations or fears?**

Answer: The text does not explicitly state her inner feelings, but her concise "I will go" (אֵלֵךְ) conveys a firm and unwavering decision. While she may have had natural human reservations or fears about leaving her home for the unknown, the immediacy and directness of her reply emphasize her resolve and faith over any potential hesitation. It speaks to a profound trust in the divine hand she perceived orchestrating these events, enabling her to act decisively despite the magnitude of the change. Her response is a testament to a faith that overcomes potential fear, much like Abraham's faith in [Hebrews 11:8](/hebrews/11-8 "Abraham's Faith and Obedience").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Rebekah's decisive "I will go" serves as a powerful foreshadowing of the church's willing response to Christ, her unseen Bridegroom. Just as Rebekah left all that was familiar—her home, family, and known surroundings—to unite with Isaac, whom she had not yet met, so too the church, the bride of Christ, is called to leave the world's allure and follow Jesus, whom we have not seen, yet love ([1 Peter 1:8](/1_peter/1-8 "Loving Jesus though unseen")). Her courageous faith in embracing an unknown future for the sake of God's covenant promise prefigures the believer's faith in Christ, who calls us to a new life and an eternal inheritance ([Ephesians 1:11-14](/ephesians/1-11-14 "Our Inheritance in Christ")). Her pivotal role in the continuation of the Abrahamic lineage, through which the Messiah would ultimately come, underscores her participation in God's redemptive plan, which finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the true Son of Promise. The church's eager anticipation of the "marriage supper of the Lamb" ([Revelation 19:7-9](/revelation/19-7-9 "The Marriage Supper of the Lamb")) is the ultimate "I will go" to the divine Bridegroom who gave Himself for her ([Ephesians 5:25-27](/ephesians/5-25-27 "Christ's Love for the Church")).

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

Psalms 45:10

¶ Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father's house;

Psalms 45:11

So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he [is] thy Lord; and worship thou him.

Luke 1:38

And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.