Genesis 24:33
in Genesis 24Then a meal was set before the man, but he said, “I will not eat until I have told you what I came to say.” So Laban said, “Please speak.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And there was set food before him to eat: but he said, I will not eat, until I have told mine errand. And he said, Speak on.
KJV
And there was set meat before him to eat: but he said, I will not eat, until I have told mine errand. And he said, Speak on.
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This verse in Genesis 24
Commentary
9 notes on this verseI will not eat until I have told - In Hindoostan it is not unusual for a Brahmin to enter a house and sit down, and when meat is offered, refuse to eat till he has obtained the object of his errand. Here is a servant who had his master’s interest more at heart than his own. He refuses to take even necessary refreshment till he knows whether he is likely to accomplish the object of his journey.
This site's exposition
So the man came to the house
on Genesis 24:32-33
The camels are unloaded, feet are washed, and a meal is set before a man who has ridden a long way. He leaves it until the errand has been spoken. Genesis gives the whole exchange in two lines, and the answer he gets is Please speak.
This site's exposition
I will not eat until I have told
Adam Clarke compared a custom he knew from India, where a Brahmin would enter a house and refuse food until his errand was granted. For Clarke the refusal showed a servant who put his master's business before his own need. He eats at verse 54, once he has his answer.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
Consider … in this instance, I ask you, the servant's great prudence. What in fact did he say? "I will not eat until I have said my piece.""Whereas you have made a show of your resources," he says, "I, for my part, will not attach any importance to resting until I inform you of the reason why I was sent on this mission, why I arrived here from Canaan, and how I was guided to your house. Thus, by learning everything, you will give evidence of your own good dispositions toward my master."
The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices
Both the house and stable were well furnished, and Abraham's servant was invited to the free use of both. Particular care was taken of the camels; for a good man regardeth the life of his beast, Prov. xii. If the ox knows his owner to serve him, the owner should know his ox to provide for him that which is fitting for him.
How ingenious he was in the management of it; he approved himself, in this matter, both a prudent man and a man of integrity, faithful to his master by whom he was trusted, and just to those with whom he now treated.
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.
And there was set meat before them to eat,....
1 more voice on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
How ingenious he was in the management of it; he approved himself, in this matter, both a prudent man and a man of integrity, faithful to his master by whom he was trusted, and just to those with whom he now treated.
The words behind it
12 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיּוּשַׂ֤ם | vayusem | and it was put | H7760 → | 584 times |
| לְפָנָיו֙ | lefanav | <to> before him | H6440 → | 2123 times |
| לֶאֱכֹ֔ל | leekhol | to eat | H398 → | 810 times |
| וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ | vaiyomer | and he said | H559 → | 5305 times |
| לֹ֣א | lo' | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| אֹכַ֔ל | ʾokhal | I will eat | H398 → | 810 times |
| עַ֥ד | ʾad | until | H5704 → | 1261 times |
| אִם־ | ʾim- | <if> | H518 → | 1069 times |
| דִּבַּ֖רְתִּי | dibarti | I have spoken | H1696 → | 1141 times |
| דְּבָרָ֑י | devarai | words my | H1697 → | 1440 times |
| וַיֹּ֖אמֶר | vaiyomer | and he said | H559 → | 5305 times |
| דַּבֵּֽר׃ | daber | speak | H1696 → | 1141 times |
וַיּוּשַׂ֤םand it was put
vayusemH7760 →584 times
לְפָנָיו֙<to> before him
lefanavH6440 →2123 times
לֶאֱכֹ֔לto eat
leekholH398 →810 times
וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙and he said
vaiyomerH559 →5305 times
לֹ֣אnot
lo'H3808 →5168 times
אֹכַ֔לI will eat
ʾokhalH398 →810 times
עַ֥דuntil
ʾadH5704 →1261 times
אִם־<if>
ʾim-H518 →1069 times
דִּבַּ֖רְתִּיI have spoken
dibartiH1696 →1141 times
דְּבָרָ֑יwords my
devaraiH1697 →1440 times
וַיֹּ֖אמֶרand he said
vaiyomerH559 →5305 times
דַּבֵּֽר׃speak
daberH1696 →1141 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
Proverbs 22:29Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will be stationed in the presence of kings; he will not stand before obscure men.
it leads to
- 1 Kings 11:28
Now Jeroboam was a mighty man of valor. So when Solomon noticed that the young man was industrious, he put him in charge of the whole labor force of the house of Joseph.
- Matthew 25:21
His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!’
- Proverbs 12:24
The hand of the diligent will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor.
- Matthew 25:23
His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!’
- Proverbs 10:4
Idle hands make one poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.
- 1 Kings 11:28
Through
1 Timothy 6:2Those who have believing masters should not show disrespect because they are brothers, but should serve them all the more, since those receiving their good service are beloved believers. Teach and encourage these principles.
it leads to
- Colossians 4:1
Masters, supply your slaves with what is right and fair, since you know that you also have a Master in heaven.
- 1 Timothy 4:11
Command and teach these things.
- Genesis 16:4–5
And he slept with Hagar, and she conceived. But when Hagar realized that she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress.
- Colossians 4:1
Where this verse is studied
About Genesis
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; John Chrysostom, HOMILIES ON GENESIS 48.20; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.