Genesis 24:50
in Genesis 24Laban and Bethuel answered, “This is from the LORD; we have no choice in the matter.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from Jehovah: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good.
KJV
Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from the Lord: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good.
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This verse in Genesis 24
Commentary
8 notes on this verseLaban and Bethuel - These seem both to be brothers, of whom Laban was the eldest and chief; for the opinion of Josephus appears to be very correct, viz., that Bethuel, the father, had been some time dead. See note Gen 24:28. Bad or good - We can neither speak for nor against; it seems to be entirely the work of God, and we cordially submit: consult Rebekah; if she be willing, take her and go. See note Gen 24:58.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
Then, since God was conducting everything in the wake of the patriarch's prayers, the maiden's father and brother said to him, "This thing has come from the Lord; we cannot deny you, for good or ill." Your account shows the whole thing has happened by God's arrangement. So don't think we oppose the decisions of God; after all, it is beyond our powers to do it. Here, the maid is in your hands; "take her, and be on your way, and she will be wife to your master's son, as the Lord has said."
The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices
The thing proceedeth from the Lord - Providence smiles upon it, and we have nothing to say against it. A marriage is then likely to be comfortable when it appears to proceed from the Lord.
The thing proceedeth from the Lord - Providence smiles upon it, and we have nothing to say against it. A marriage is then likely to be comfortable when it appears to proceed from the Lord.
Then Laban and Bethuel answered,....
Note, A marriage is then likely to be comfortable when it appears to proceed from the Lord. (6.) Abraham's servant makes a thankful acknowledgment of the good success he had met with, [1.] To God: He worshipped the Lord,
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Then Laban and Bethuel answered--The brothers conduct all the marriage negotiations, their father being probably dead, and without consulting their sister. Their language seems to indicate they were worshippers of the true God.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
Then Laban and Bethuel answered--The brothers conduct all the marriage negotiations, their father being probably dead, and without consulting their sister. Their language seems to indicate they were worshippers of the true God.
The words behind it
14 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיַּ֨עַן | vaiyaan | and he answered | H6030 → | 331 times |
| לָבָ֤ן | lavan | Laban | H3837 → | 55 times |
| וּבְתוּאֵל֙ | uvetuel | and Bethuel | H1328 → | 10 times |
| וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ | vaiyomeru | and they said | H559 → | 5305 times |
| מֵיְהוָ֖ה | meyahweh | from Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| יָצָ֣א | yatza' | it has come out | H3318 → | 1067 times |
| הַדָּבָ֑ר | hadavar | the matter | H1697 → | 1440 times |
| לֹ֥א | lo' | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| נוּכַ֛ל | nukhal | we are able | H3201 → | 194 times |
| דַּבֵּ֥ר | daber | to speak | H1696 → | 1141 times |
| אֵלֶ֖יךָ | ʾeleikha | to you | H413 → | 5510 times |
| רַ֥ע | ra' | evil | H7451 → | 662 times |
| אוֹ־ | ʾov- | or | H176 → | 321 times |
| טֽוֹב׃ | tov | good | H2896 → | 538 times |
וַיַּ֨עַןand he answered
vaiyaanH6030 →331 times
לָבָ֤ןLaban
lavanH3837 →55 times
וּבְתוּאֵל֙and Bethuel
uvetuelH1328 →10 times
וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּand they said
vaiyomeruH559 →5305 times
מֵיְהוָ֖הfrom Yahweh
meyahwehH3068 →6520 times
יָצָ֣אit has come out
yatza'H3318 →1067 times
הַדָּבָ֑רthe matter
hadavarH1697 →1440 times
לֹ֥אnot
lo'H3808 →5168 times
נוּכַ֛לwe are able
nukhalH3201 →194 times
דַּבֵּ֥רto speak
daberH1696 →1141 times
אֵלֶ֖יךָto you
ʾeleikhaH413 →5510 times
רַ֥עevil
ra'H7451 →662 times
אוֹ־or
ʾov-H176 →321 times
טֽוֹב׃good
tovH2896 →538 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
Genesis 31:29I have power to do you great harm, but last night the God of your father said to me, ‘Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.’
it leads to
- Genesis 31:42
If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been with me, surely by now you would have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Genesis 31:42
Through
2 Samuel 13:22And Absalom never said a word to Amnon, either good or bad, because he hated Amnon for disgracing his sister Tamar.
it leads to
- Genesis 31:24
But that night God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream and warned him, “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.”
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Genesis 31:24
Through
Genesis 31:24But that night God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream and warned him, “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.”
it leads to
- Genesis 31:29
I have power to do you great harm, but last night the God of your father said to me, ‘Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.’
- Genesis 20:3
One night, however, God came to Abimelech in a dream and told him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken, for she is a married woman.”
- Genesis 31:29
Through
Psalms 118:23This is from the LORD, and it is marvelous in our eyes.
it leads to
- Job 5:9
the One who does great and unsearchable things, wonders without number.
- Ephesians 1:19–22
and the surpassing greatness of His power to us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of His mighty strength,
- Acts 13:41
‘Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish! For I am doing a work in your days that you would never believe, even if someone told you.’”
- Acts 4:13
When they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they marveled and took note that these men had been with Jesus.
- Job 5:9
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 48.25; 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.