Genesis 24:6

And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again.

And Abraham {H85} said {H559} unto him, Beware {H8104} thou that thou bring {H7725} not {H6435} my son {H1121} thither again {H7725}.

Avraham said to him, "See to it that you don't bring my son back there.

Abraham replied, โ€œMake sure that you do not take my son back there.

And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again.

Commentary

Context

Genesis chapter 24 recounts Abraham's diligent efforts to secure a wife for his son, Isaac. As Abraham was very old and Isaac was forty, the patriarch was concerned that Isaac marry someone from his own kindred, rather than a woman from the idolatrous Canaanites among whom they lived. He sends his chief servant (traditionally identified as Eliezer, though not named here) on a critical mission to Mesopotamia, to the land of Abraham's birth and family, to find a suitable bride. This verse contains a crucial and emphatic instruction from Abraham to his servant concerning Isaac's role in this plan.

Key Themes

  • Abraham's Unwavering Faith in the Promised Land: Abraham's command here underscores his absolute conviction that the land of Canaan was the divinely appointed place for his descendants. Having been called by God to leave his country and kindred, Abraham knew that Isaac, the heir of the covenant promises, must remain in the land God had sworn to give them. This instruction prevents Isaac from returning to the very place Abraham had been commanded to leave.
  • Preservation of the Covenant Line: The command directly impacts the continuity and purity of the covenant lineage. Isaac's presence in Canaan was essential for the fulfillment of God's promise to make Abraham a great nation in that land. Taking Isaac back to Mesopotamia, even temporarily, could have jeopardized this divine plan or diluted the focus on the promised inheritance.
  • Divine Guidance and Protection: Abraham's insistence reflects his deep trust in God's ability to guide the servant and bring the chosen bride to Isaac in Canaan. It highlights the principle that God's plans are best fulfilled when His people remain in the place and posture of His choosing. Abraham's faith was so profound that even when asked to sacrifice Isaac, he believed God could raise him from the dead, demonstrating his commitment to God's promises concerning Isaac and the land (Hebrews 11:19).

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "Beware thou that thou bring not" translates a very strong and emphatic Hebrew negative command. The word for "beware" (Hebrew: ืฉืึธืžึทืจ, shamar) implies a solemn warning, a guarding, or a watchful care. It conveys Abraham's absolute seriousness and the critical importance of this instruction. It's not merely advice, but a strict prohibition, indicating that under no circumstances should Isaac be removed from the land of promise.

Practical Application

Abraham's directive holds timeless lessons for believers today. It speaks to the importance of:

  • Commitment to God's Calling: Just as Abraham was committed to God's promise regarding the land, believers are called to remain steadfast in their spiritual walk and in the purposes God has for them.
  • Avoiding Retreat to Old Ways: The instruction not to bring Isaac "thither again" can symbolize not returning to old habits, environments, or spiritual conditions that God has called us to leave behind. Our spiritual inheritance is found in pressing forward, not looking back.
  • Trusting God's Provision: Abraham's faith that God would bring the right wife to Isaac in Canaan, rather than requiring Isaac to go to her, encourages us to trust God's provision and guidance in major life decisions, knowing He will bring about His perfect will in His appointed way and place.

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Cross-References

  • Hebrews 10:39 (3 votes)

    But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

  • Galatians 5:1 (3 votes)

    ยถ Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

  • 2 Peter 2:20 (3 votes)

    For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

  • 2 Peter 2:22 (3 votes)

    But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog [is] turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

  • Hebrews 11:9 (2 votes)

    By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as [in] a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

  • Hebrews 11:13 (1 votes)

    These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of [them], and embraced [them], and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

  • Hebrews 11:16 (1 votes)

    But now they desire a better [country], that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.