Genesis 24:7
in Genesis 24The LORD, the God of heaven, who brought me from my father’s house and my native land, who spoke to me and promised me on oath, saying, ‘To your offspring I will give this land’—He will send His angel before you so that you can take a wife for my son from there.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Jehovah, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house, and from the land of my nativity, and who spake unto me, and who sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he will send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife for my son from thence.
KJV
The Lord God of heaven, which took me from my father’s house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.
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This verse in Genesis 24
Commentary
10 notes on this verseThe Lord God, etc. - He expresses the strongest confidence in God, that the great designs for which he had brought him from his own kindred to propagate the true religion in the earth would be accomplished; and that therefore, when earthly instruments failed, heavenly ones should be employed. He shall send his angel, probably meaning the Angel of the Covenant, of whom see Gen 15:7.
This site's exposition
The LORD, the God of heaven, who brought me from my father's house
on Genesis 24:7-8
Abraham quotes his own call back at the servant, the God who brought him from his father's house and his native land. He rests the whole errand on the oath about the land, that God would give it to his offspring. An angel goes ahead of the servant.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
Notice how previously, in placing the servant under oath, he instructed him about the Creator of all. Now, as Abraham was about to pray, he used the same words, by every means teaching the servant to have confidence in him and, in this spirit, set out on the journey, as also to trust in its outcome. You see, Abraham teaches him how much favor from the God of all Abraham had enjoyed from the outset and the fact that this same benefactor, who had plucked him from his own country, had managed his fortunes so well to this point. At the height of old age, God had granted him the birth of Isaac and would personally also take care of what lay ahead. "The Lord, the God of heaven and earth, who took me from my father's house and from the land where I was born," the same who spoke to me in the words, "I will give this land to you and your descendants," who has demonstrated such extraordinary care for me, "he will personally send his angel before you, and you will take a wife for my son from there."
Have confidence, Abraham is saying, and depart. I am convinced that the One who has demonstrated such great kindness in my regard will add this to his former blessings and send his angel before you. He will personally prepare the way before you; he will also personally make the woman known to you; you will take her and return. But should it happen—perish the thought—that she refuses to accompany you, you will be discharged from the obligation of the oath. "Nevertheless don't take my son there." You see, I have no doubt that the Lord will take care of you. Showing how he trusted in God's power, Abraham forbade the servant to conduct Isaac there. Then, after he had given detailed instructions to the servant and relieved him of concern (the servant, after all, was afraid he would be convicted of perjury if he failed to discharge his command), "he placed his hand under his thigh," the text goes on, "and gave him his oath on this matter," that he would not take Isaac there.
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
God will cause that to issue in our comfort in which we sincerely aim at his glory. God's promises, and our own experiences, are sufficient to encourage our dependence upon God, and our expectations from him, in all the affairs of this life. God's angels are ministering spirits, sent forth, not only for the protection, but for the guidance, of the heirs of promise, Heb. i.
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.
The Lord God of heaven, which took from my father's house, and from the land of my kindred,....
3 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
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.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
Genesis is both the book of beginnings and the book of dispensations. You know what use Paul makes of Sarah and Hagar, of Esau and Jacob, and the like. Genesis is, all through, a book instructing the reader in the dispensations of God towards man. Paul saith, in a certain place, "which things are an allegory," by which he did not mean that they were not literal facts, but that, being literal facts, they might also be used instructively as an allegory. So may I say of this chapter. It records what actually was said and done; but at the same time, it bears within it allegorical instruction with regard to heavenly things. The true minister of Christ is like this Eleazar of Damascus; he is sent to find a wife for his Master's son. His great desire is, that many shall be presented unto Christ in the day of his appearing, as the bride, the Lamb's wife. The faithful servant of Abraham, before he started, communed with his master; and this is a lesson to us, who go on our Lord's errands. Let us, before we engage in actual service, see the Master's face, talk with him, and tell to him any difficulties which occur to our minds. Before we get to work, let us know what we are at, and on what footing we stand. Let us hear from our Lord's own mouth what he expects us to do, and how far he will help us in the doing of it. I charge you, my fellow-servants, never to go forth to plead with men for God until you have first pleaded with God for men. Do not attempt to deliver a message which you have not first of all yourself received by his Holy Spirit. Come out of the chamber of fellowship with God into the pulpit of ministry among men, and there will be a freshness and a power about you which none shall be able to resist.
Genesis is both the book of beginnings and the book of dispensations. You know what use Paul makes of Sarah and Hagar, of Esau and Jacob, and the like. Genesis is, all through, a book instructing the reader in the dispensations of God towards man. Paul saith, in a certain place, "which things are an allegory," by which he did not mean that they were not literal facts, but that, being literal facts, they might also be used instructively as an allegory. So may I say of this chapter.
The words behind it
29 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| יְהוָ֣ה׀ | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| אֱלֹהֵ֣י | ʾelohei | [the] God of | H430 → | 2601 times |
| הַשָּׁמַ֗יִם | hashamayim | the heavens | H8064 → | 421 times |
| אֲשֶׁ֨ר | ʾasher | who | H834 → | 5497 times |
| לְקָחַ֜נִי | lekachani | he took me | H3947 → | 966 times |
| מִבֵּ֣ית | mibeit | from [the] household of | H1004 → | 2046 times |
| אָבִי֮ | ʾavi | father my | H1 → | 1212 times |
| וּמֵאֶ֣רֶץ | umeeretz | and from [the] land of | H776 → | 2504 times |
| מֽוֹלַדְתִּי֒ | moladti | kindred my | H4138 → | 22 times |
| וַאֲשֶׁ֨ר | vaasher | and who | H834 → | 5497 times |
| דִּבֶּר־ | diber- | he spoke | H1696 → | 1141 times |
| לִ֜י | li | to <the> me | ||
| וַאֲשֶׁ֤ר | vaasher | and who | H834 → | 5497 times |
| נִֽשְׁבַּֽע־ | nishba'- | he swore an oath | H7650 → | 186 times |
| לִי֙ | li | to <the> me | ||
| לֵאמֹ֔ר | lemor | <to> saying | H559 → | 5305 times |
| לְזַ֨רְעֲךָ֔ | lezarakha | to offspring your | H2233 → | 229 times |
| אֶתֵּ֖ן | ʾeten | I will give | H5414 → | 2011 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| הָאָ֣רֶץ | haaretz | the land | H776 → | 2504 times |
| הַזֹּ֑את | hazot | <the> this | H2063 → | 603 times |
| ה֗וּא | hu' | he | H1931 → | 1879 times |
| יִשְׁלַ֤ח | yishlach | he will send | H7971 → | 845 times |
| מַלְאָכוֹ֙ | malakho | angel his | H4397 → | 213 times |
| לְפָנֶ֔יךָ | lefaneikha | <to> before you | H6440 → | 2123 times |
| וְלָקַחְתָּ֥ | velakachta | and you will take | H3947 → | 966 times |
| אִשָּׁ֛ה | ʾishah | a wife | H802 → | 781 times |
| לִבְנִ֖י | livni | for son my | H1121 → | 4930 times |
| מִשָּֽׁם׃ | misham | from there | H8033 → | 834 times |
יְהוָ֣ה׀Yahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
אֱלֹהֵ֣י[the] God of
ʾeloheiH430 →2601 times
הַשָּׁמַ֗יִםthe heavens
hashamayimH8064 →421 times
אֲשֶׁ֨רwho
ʾasherH834 →5497 times
לְקָחַ֜נִיhe took me
lekachaniH3947 →966 times
מִבֵּ֣יתfrom [the] household of
mibeitH1004 →2046 times
אָבִי֮father my
ʾaviH1 →1212 times
וּמֵאֶ֣רֶץand from [the] land of
umeeretzH776 →2504 times
מֽוֹלַדְתִּי֒kindred my
moladtiH4138 →22 times
וַאֲשֶׁ֨רand who
vaasherH834 →5497 times
דִּבֶּר־he spoke
diber-H1696 →1141 times
לִ֜יto <the> me
li
וַאֲשֶׁ֤רand who
vaasherH834 →5497 times
נִֽשְׁבַּֽע־he swore an oath
nishba'-H7650 →186 times
לִי֙to <the> me
li
לֵאמֹ֔ר<to> saying
lemorH559 →5305 times
לְזַ֨רְעֲךָ֔to offspring your
lezarakhaH2233 →229 times
אֶתֵּ֖ןI will give
ʾetenH5414 →2011 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
הָאָ֣רֶץthe land
haaretzH776 →2504 times
הַזֹּ֑את<the> this
hazotH2063 →603 times
ה֗וּאhe
hu'H1931 →1879 times
יִשְׁלַ֤חhe will send
yishlachH7971 →845 times
מַלְאָכוֹ֙angel his
malakhoH4397 →213 times
לְפָנֶ֔יךָ<to> before you
lefaneikhaH6440 →2123 times
וְלָקַחְתָּ֥and you will take
velakachtaH3947 →966 times
אִשָּׁ֛הa wife
ʾishahH802 →781 times
לִבְנִ֖יfor son my
livniH1121 →4930 times
מִשָּֽׁם׃from there
mishamH8033 →834 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
Psalms 34:7The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and he delivers them.
it leads to
- Daniel 6:22
My God sent His angel and shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, for I was found innocent in His sight, and I have done no wrong against you, O…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Psalms 91:11
For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.
- Hebrews 1:14
Are not the angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
- 2 Kings 19:35
And that very night the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 men in the camp of the Assyrians. When the people got up the next morning, there were all the…
- 2 Kings 6:17
Then Elisha prayed, “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.” And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw that the hills were full of horses and…
- Daniel 6:22
Through
Hebrews 1:14Are not the angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
it leads to
- Psalms 34:7
The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and he delivers them.
- Psalms 103:20–21
Bless the LORD, all His angels mighty in strength who carry out His word, who hearken to the voice of His command.
- Psalms 91:11–12
For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.
- Psalms 34:7
Where this verse is studied
About Genesis
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Charles Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 2047: “No Compromise” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition); John Calvin, Commentary on Genesis; John Chrysostom, HOMILIES ON GENESIS 48.11; John Chrysostom, HOMILIES ON GENESIS 48.12; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.