Genesis 24:21
in Genesis 24Meanwhile, the man watched her silently to see whether or not the LORD had made his journey a success.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And the man looked stedfastly on her, holding his peace, to know whether Jehovah had made his journey prosperous or not.
KJV
And the man wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether the Lord had made his journey prosperous or not.
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This verse in Genesis 24
Commentary
8 notes on this verseThe man, wondering at her - And he was so lost in wonder and astonishment at her simplicity, innocence, and benevolence, that he permitted this delicate female to draw water for ten camels, without ever attempting to afford her any kind of assistance! I know not which to admire most, the benevolence and condescension of Rebekah, or the cold and apparently stupid indifference of the servant of Abraham. Surely they are both of an uncommon cast.
This site's exposition
the man watched her silently
on Genesis 24:21-23
He says nothing while she works. He watches to see if the LORD had brought the errand off, and when the camels have finished he puts a gold ring and two gold bracelets on her, before a word about her family. Only then does he ask whose daughter she is, and whether there is room in her father's house.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
The dutiful servant therefore now saw God's providence distinctly. "He kept observing her closely," the text goes on, "and remained silent so as to know if the Lord had made his journey successful or not." What is the meaning of "kept observing her closely"? He kept studying the maiden's very words, her gaze, her walk, her appearance, everything else about her, and waited to see "if the Lord had successfully conducted his journey or not." You see, what had happened so far, the text is saying, showed the maiden's great virtue that exceeded ordinary limits. Hence, to reward her for her response and the offer of water, the text goes on, he pressed upon her "golden earrings and two bracelets." He carefully made enquiries about her, asking, "Whose daughter are you?" and "Is there room in your father's house for us to rest?"
The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices
But when he has the desired success, he worships God, not the angel. Whatever benefit we have by the ministration of angels, all the glory must be given to the Lord of the angels, Rev. xxii.
Thus God swears his servants to their work, that, having sworn, they may perform it. Swearing being an ordinance, not peculiar to the church, but common to mankind, is to be performed by such signs as are the common usages of our country. God's angels are ministering spirits, sent forth, not only for the protection, but guidance of the heirs of promise, Heb. i, 14.
And the man wondering at her,....
We have been wanting to ourselves, both in duty and in comfort, by neglecting to observe Providence. [3.] Upon enquiry he found, to his great satisfaction, that she was a near relation to his master, and that the family she was of was considerable, and able to give him entertainment,
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
Her comely appearance, her affable manners, her obliging courtesy in going down the steps to fetch water not only to him but to pour it into the trough for his camels, afforded him the most agreeable surprise. She was the very person his imagination had pictured, and he proceeded to reward her civility.
The words behind it
10 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְהָאִ֥ישׁ | vehaish | and the man | H376 → | 1663 times |
| מִשְׁתָּאֵ֖ה | mishtaeh | [was] gazing | H7583 → | |
| לָ֑הּ | lah | to <the> her | ||
| מַחֲרִ֕ישׁ | macharish | being silent | H2790 → | 74 times |
| לָדַ֗עַת | ladaat | to know | H3045 → | 945 times |
| הַֽהִצְלִ֧יחַ | hahitzliach | ¿ had he made successful | H6743 → | 65 times |
| יְהוָ֛ה | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| דַּרְכּ֖וֹ | darko | journey his | H1870 → | 707 times |
| אִם־ | ʾim- | or? | H518 → | 1069 times |
| לֹֽא׃ | lo' | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
וְהָאִ֥ישׁand the man
vehaishH376 →1663 times
מִשְׁתָּאֵ֖ה[was] gazing
mishtaehH7583 →
לָ֑הּto <the> her
lah
מַחֲרִ֕ישׁbeing silent
macharishH2790 →74 times
לָדַ֗עַתto know
ladaatH3045 →945 times
הַֽהִצְלִ֧יחַ¿ had he made successful
hahitzliachH6743 →65 times
יְהוָ֛הYahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
דַּרְכּ֖וֹjourney his
darkoH1870 →707 times
אִם־or?
ʾim-H518 →1069 times
לֹֽא׃not
lo'H3808 →5168 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Luke 2:19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
it leads to
Through
Luke 2:51Then He went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But His mother treasured up all these things in her heart.
it leads to
- Luke 2:19
But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
- Genesis 37:11
And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept in mind what he had said.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Luke 2:19
Through
Psalms 107:43Let him who is wise pay heed to these things and consider the loving devotion of the LORD.
it leads to
- Hosea 14:9
Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them. For the ways of the LORD are right, and the righteous walk in them but the rebellious stumble in…
- Jeremiah 9:12
Who is the man wise enough to understand this? To whom has the mouth of the LORD spoken, that he may explain it? Why is the land destroyed and scorched like a desert, so…
- Psalms 64:9
Then all mankind will fear and proclaim the work of God; so they will ponder what He has done.
- Hosea 14:9
Through
Genesis 24:12“O LORD, God of my master Abraham,” he prayed, “please grant me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham.
it leads to
- Genesis 24:27
saying, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not withheld His kindness and faithfulness from my master. As for me, the LORD has led me on the journey to…
- Genesis 24:27
Where this verse is studied
About Genesis
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, HOMILIES ON GENESIS 48.17; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.