Genesis 24:1 kjv
And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things.
Genesis 24:1 nkjv
Now Abraham was old, well advanced in age; and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things.
Genesis 24:1 niv
Abraham was now very old, and the LORD had blessed him in every way.
Genesis 24:1 esv
Now Abraham was old, well advanced in years. And the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things.
Genesis 24:1 nlt
Abraham was now a very old man, and the LORD had blessed him in every way.
Genesis 24 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 12:2 | I will make you into a great nation... I will bless you and make your name great... you will be a blessing. | God's initial promise of blessing to Abraham. |
| Gen 13:2 | Abram had become very wealthy in livestock and in silver and gold. | Early fulfillment of material blessings. |
| Gen 15:15 | You will go to your fathers in peace and be buried in a good old age. | Prophecy of Abraham's peaceful, long life. |
| Gen 21:1 | The LORD visited Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah as He had promised. | God's faithfulness to promises, specifically Isaac's birth. |
| Gen 25:8 | Then Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of days, and was gathered to his people. | Abraham's full and complete life, affirming Gen 15:15. |
| Deut 6:3 | Hear, O Israel, and be careful to observe it, that it may be well with you and that you may multiply greatly... | Promise of well-being and multiplication for obedience. |
| Deut 33:23 | And of Naphtali he said, “O Naphtali, satisfied with favor, and full of the blessing of the LORD...” | Describes one 'full of blessing'. |
| Job 5:26 | You will come to the grave in full vigor, like sheaves gathered in season. | Imagery of a full life before death. |
| Ps 23:1 | The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. | God as the ultimate provider, leading to contentment. |
| Ps 90:10 | The days of our years are seventy, or eighty, if due to strength... | Reference to longevity as a blessing. |
| Prov 10:22 | The blessing of the LORD brings wealth, without painful toil for it. | Blessing bringing prosperity without struggle. |
| Ecc 12:7 | And the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. | Acknowledging the natural course of life and death. |
| Isa 58:11 | The LORD will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land... | God's provision and satisfaction of needs. |
| Matt 6:33 | But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. | Prioritizing God leads to holistic provision. |
| Lk 1:6 | And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord. | Exemplifies blameless walking, like Abraham's obedience. |
| Rom 4:9-12 | Is this blessing then only for the circumcised...? | Abraham as the father of faith, blessed prior to ceremony. |
| Heb 6:13-14 | When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself... | God's absolute certainty in fulfilling His promise to bless. |
| Heb 11:8-10 | By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place... obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. | Abraham's faithful obedience leading to God's blessing. |
| Heb 11:12 | And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars... | God enabling fruitfulness despite natural limitations. |
| Jas 2:23 | And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness,” and he was called a friend of God. | Connection between faith, righteousness, and divine favor. |
| 1 Pet 3:10-12 | For “Whoever would love life and see good days, must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech.” | General principle connecting righteousness to a good life. |
| 3 Jn 1:2 | Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. | Holistic prosperity desired for believers. |
Genesis 24 verses
Genesis 24 1 Meaning
Genesis 24:1 introduces Abraham at a significant stage of his life, emphasizing his advanced age and the comprehensive blessing bestowed upon him by the LORD. It signals the approaching fulfillment of God's covenant promises, setting the scene for the continuation of his lineage through Isaac. The verse portrays a patriarch who has experienced the fullness of divine favor, signifying not only material prosperity but also spiritual completion and favor in every aspect of life as a result of God's faithful hand.
Genesis 24 1 Context
Genesis 24:1 opens a new chapter in the patriarchal narrative, following significant events. Chapter 23 describes Sarah's death and Abraham's purchase of a burial plot in Hebron, emphasizing his commitment to the promised land and the beginning of the "cemetery of hope." Before this, chapter 22 recounts Abraham's ultimate test of faith – the offering of Isaac, followed by God's renewed and expanded covenant promise (Gen 22:15-18). Thus, chapter 24 immediately follows profound demonstrations of Abraham's faith and God's faithfulness. Abraham is portrayed as old, indicating the end of an era for him personally, yet the emphasis on God's comprehensive blessing upon him sets the stage for the crucial task of securing Isaac's wife, a necessity for the continuation of the divine lineage and the fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant promises. The verse marks a pivot from personal challenges to generational continuation.
Genesis 24 1 Word analysis
- Now Abraham: The narrative flow continues, focusing on the progenitor of the covenant people.
- was old, (Hebrew: zaqen - זָקֵן): Signifies advanced in age, an elder. In biblical culture, age conveyed wisdom, experience, and honor. It's a natural state, not a deficit, in the context of divine blessing. Abraham is around 140 years old at this point, Isaac being about 40.
- stricken in days; (Hebrew: ba ba-yamim - בָּא בַּיָּמִים): Literally "came into days" or "entered into days." This is an idiom expressing extreme old age, a fullness of life's span. It's a gracious way to describe someone nearing the end of their natural life, yet fully having experienced their allotted time. This phrasing appears in significant moments for patriarchs like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Job, signaling a life richly lived according to God's purpose. It implies a completed, mature existence.
- and the LORD (Hebrew: Yahweh - יְהוָה): Refers to God as the covenant-keeping God, the personal God of Abraham who had established the promises. It underscores that the blessings come directly from the sovereign, faithful God.
- had blessed Abraham (Hebrew: barak - בָּרַךְ): This verb means "to bless," implying an impartation of divine favor, power, and prosperity. It is a recurring theme in Abraham's life, tracing back to the foundational promise in Gen 12. The active perfect tense indicates a completed action with ongoing results; the blessing was already done and its effects were fully present.
- in all things. (Hebrew: bakkol - בַּכֹּל): This comprehensive phrase means "in everything" or "in all ways." It's not limited to material wealth but encompasses all aspects of life: family (Isaac's birth despite Sarah's barrenness, their eventual multiplication), spiritual prosperity (his walk with God, righteousness by faith), physical well-being, reputation, wisdom, and divine favor in his ventures. This highlights the completeness and sufficiency of God's provision for Abraham, testifying to His faithfulness to fulfill Gen 12:2-3 beyond human expectation. It positions Abraham as the exemplary recipient of holistic divine blessing.
- Words-group analysis: "Old, stricken in days" portrays a venerable figure at the pinnacle of his life, ready for the transition of leadership, yet not diminished. This prepares the reader for Abraham's concern about Isaac's lineage. "The LORD had blessed Abraham in all things" encapsulates the summation of God's work in Abraham's life. It reassures the reader that despite Abraham's age and the upcoming challenge of finding a bride for Isaac, God’s favor continues to rest comprehensively on His servant and his family. This sets the stage with divine affirmation and enables Abraham to act confidently under God’s leading for the next step of covenant fulfillment.
Genesis 24 1 Bonus section
The depiction of Abraham as "old, stricken in days" resonates with the biblical ideal of a long, full life lived in fellowship with God, a life considered blessed (e.g., Ps 90:10; Prov 3:16). This is often presented as a fruit of faithfulness. The comprehensive blessing "in all things" indicates the Lord's thoroughness in His provisions for those He chooses for His redemptive purposes. It foreshadows the even greater spiritual blessings available through the ultimate Seed of Abraham, Jesus Christ (Gal 3:16, Eph 1:3). This verse reinforces the truth that God's commitment to His covenant is steadfast across generations and in every detail of the believer's life. Abraham's old age does not hinder God's purposes but rather testifies to the duration and depth of His enduring grace.
Genesis 24 1 Commentary
Genesis 24:1 serves as an eloquent summary of God's unwavering faithfulness to Abraham, setting the spiritual and physical context for the ensuing narrative. Abraham is not merely old but "stricken in days," a term signifying a rich, full life, underscoring the completeness of his earthly journey under divine guidance. The pivotal statement, "the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things," encapsulates the fulfillment of God's earlier covenant promises. This blessing transcends material prosperity; it encompasses Abraham's spiritual maturity, his thriving family (even against natural odds with Isaac's birth), his renown, and the peace of knowing God's presence and provision in every area. This holistic favor positions Abraham not as a man at the twilight of his life in decline, but as one perfected and filled by God's abundant grace, equipped for his final act of securing the covenant lineage through Isaac. It serves as a testimony that obedience and faith are met with comprehensive divine blessing, ensuring that God's plans proceed unhindered by human limitations or circumstances.