Genesis 24:2

Genesis 24:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:
• New International Version (NIV)He said to the senior servant in his household, the one in charge of all that he had, “Put your hand under my thigh.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his household, who had charge of all that he had, "Put your hand under my thigh,
• New King James Version (NKJV)So Abraham said to the oldest servant of his house, who ruled over all that he had, “Please, put your hand under my thigh,

Context of Genesis 24:2

1Abraham was now a very old man, and the Lord had blessed him in every way. One day Abraham said to his oldest servant, the man in charge of his household, “Take an oath by putting your hand under my thigh. 3Swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and earth, that you will not allow my son to marry one of these local Canaanite women. 4Go instead to my homeland, to my relatives, and find a wife there for my son Isaac.”

Genesis 24:2 word by word

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אַבְרָהָ֗ם אֶל־עַבְדּוֹ֙ זְקַ֣ן בֵּית֔וֹ הַמֹּשֵׁ֖ל בְּכָל־אֲשֶׁר־ל֑וֹ שִֽׂים־נָ֥א יָדְךָ֖ תַּ֥חַת יְרֵכִֽי׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Abrahamאַבְרָהָם'abrâhâm · AbrahamH85
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• unto his eldestזָקֵןzâqên · oldH2205
• servantעֶ֫בֶד‛ebed · servant/slaveH5650
• of his houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: householdH1004
• that ruled overמָשַׁלmâshal · to ruleH4910
• all that he had, Putשׂוּםώûm ώîym · to set: putH7760
• I pray thee, thy handיָדyâd · hand: swearH3027
• under my thighיָרֵךְyârêk · thighH3409

Cross-references for Genesis 24:2

• Genesis 15:2But Abram replied, “O Sovereign Lord, what good are all your blessings when I don’t even have a son? Since you’ve given me no children, Eliezer of Damascus, a servant in my household, will inherit all my wealth.
• 1 Timothy 5:17Elders who do their work well should be respected and paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching.
• Genesis 24:10Then he loaded ten of Abraham’s camels with all kinds of expensive gifts from his master, and he traveled to distant Aram-naharaim. There he went to the town where Abraham’s brother Nahor had settled.
• Genesis 39:4This pleased Potiphar, so he soon made Joseph his personal attendant. He put him in charge of his entire household and everything he owned.
• Genesis 44:1When his brothers were ready to leave, Joseph gave these instructions to his palace manager: “Fill each of their sacks with as much grain as they can carry, and put each man’s money back into his sack.
• Genesis 24:9So the servant took an oath by putting his hand under the thigh of his master, Abraham. He swore to follow Abraham’s instructions.
• Genesis 47:29As the time of his death drew near, Jacob called for his son Joseph and said to him, “Please do me this favor. Put your hand under my thigh and swear that you will treat me with unfailing love by honoring this last request: Do not bury me in Egypt.
• 1 Chronicles 29:24All the officials, the warriors, and the sons of King David pledged their loyalty to King Solomon.

Commentaries on Genesis 24:2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2Eldest servant - As this eldest servant is stated to have been the ruler over all that he had, it is very likely that Eliezer is meant. See Genesis 15:2, Genesis 15:3. Put, I pray thee, thy hand - See note on Genesis 24:9.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-67Verses 1-67 - The Marriage of Isaac 26. קרד qādad “bow the head.” השׁתחוה shâchâh “bow the body.” 29. לבן lābān “Laban, white.” In this circumstantial account of the marriage of Isaac, we have a beautiful picture of ancient manners in the East, the living original of which the present customs of that cradle of mankind are a striking copy. Genesis 24:1-9 Abraham binds the chief servant of his house to seek a wife for his son Isaac among his kindred…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2The servant placed his hand under Abraham's thigh (compare 47:29). This was the custom when making a serious oath. The servant accepted the responsibility of completing this mission.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. said unto his eldest servant--Abraham being too old, and as the heir of the promise not being at liberty to make even a temporary visit to his native land, was obliged to intrust this delicate mission to Eliezer, whom, although putting entire confidence in him, he on this occasion bound by a solemn oath. A pastoral chief in the present day would follow the same course if he could not go himself.Read the comment

Topics related to Genesis 24:2

• Oath

In the dictionaries

• Abraham
• Abraham, Abram
• Eliezer
• Follow
• Governor
• Hivites
• Isaac
• Laban
• Light
• Lord

Commentaries on Genesis 24

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings