Genesis 24:10 Meaning, Commentary and Cross References KJV NIV ESV NLT

Genesis 24:10 kjv

And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor.

Genesis 24:10 nkjv

Then the servant took ten of his master's camels and departed, for all his master's goods were in his hand. And he arose and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor.

Genesis 24:10 niv

Then the servant left, taking with him ten of his master's camels loaded with all kinds of good things from his master. He set out for Aram Naharaim and made his way to the town of Nahor.

Genesis 24:10 esv

Then the servant took ten of his master's camels and departed, taking all sorts of choice gifts from his master; and he arose and went to Mesopotamia to the city of Nahor.

Genesis 24:10 nlt

Then 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 24 10 Cross References

Verse	Text	Reference
Gen 12:1-4	The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country... and I will bless you..." So Abram departed...	Abraham's journey initiated by divine call.
Gen 13:2	Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold.	Abraham's wealth, source of the "goods."
Gen 15:2	Abraham said, “Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?”	Mentions Eliezer as trusted servant/heir before Isaac's birth.
Gen 24:2-4	Abraham said to his servant, "Put your hand under my thigh. I want you to swear by the LORD... that you will not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites."	The servant's solemn oath and the clear instructions.
Gen 24:22	Then the man took a golden ring... and two bracelets...	Evidence of the "goods" as gifts for the prospective bride.
Gen 24:53	The servant brought out articles of silver and gold and clothing... and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave valuable gifts to her brother and mother.	The application of the "goods" as gifts and dowry.
Gen 26:12	Isaac planted crops in that land and a hundredfold... The Lord blessed him.	Illustrates God's continued blessing and prosperity within the covenant line.
Exod 4:20	Moses took his wife and sons, put them on a donkey, and started back to Egypt.	Example of ancient travel preparations for a significant mission.
Num 10:33	So they set out from the mountain of the Lord and traveled for three days. The ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them for the three days’ journey...	God guiding His people on a journey.
Judg 14:12-13	Samson said to them, “Let me tell you a riddle... I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothes.”	Cultural custom of giving significant gifts (dowry/gifts).
1 Sam 9:7-8	The servant said, “But look, if we go, what can we bring the man of God? The food in our sacks is gone...”	Highlight lack of provisions, contrasting with Gen 24:10's abundance.
1 Kings 10:1-2	The queen of Sheba... came to Jerusalem with a very great retinue, with camels bearing spices, and very much gold and precious stones.	Camels as vehicles of immense wealth and transport for a notable visit.
Ezra 7:6	This Ezra came up from Babylon. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses... The king granted him everything he asked, for the hand of the LORD his God was on him.	God's provision and favor for a faithful servant on a specific mission.
Neh 2:9	So I went to the governors of Trans-Euphrates and gave them the king’s letters. The king also provided an army officer and cavalry to go with me.	State-level provision for an important mission.
Luke 10:3-4	“Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or a bag or sandals."	Contrasting Christ's instructions to disciples to go without provisions, relying solely on God.
Phil 4:19	My God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.	God's divine provision for those on His mission.
Heb 11:8-9	By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.	Echoes Abraham's journey of faith, setting a precedent for Isaac's future.
Heb 11:13	All these people died in faith, without having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar...	Covenant promises driving generations' actions.
Matt 25:14-15	For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property... To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one...	Illustrates a master entrusting valuable resources to faithful servants for a specific task.
1 Pet 4:10	Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.	Believers as stewards of God's blessings, like Abraham's servant.
Prov 22:29	Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.	Servant's skill and trustworthiness recognized by Abraham.
Gal 4:4-5	But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law...	God sending His Son (analogy to the Son receiving a bride) at the appointed time.
Eph 5:25-27	Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her... to present her to himself as a radiant church...	The church as Christ's bride, echoing the bride search.

Genesis 24 verses

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Genesis 24 10 Meaning

Genesis 24:10 describes the pivotal moment when Abraham's eldest servant embarked on his divine mission to find a wife for Isaac. This verse highlights the substantial preparation and lavish provision bestowed upon the servant, indicating the profound importance Abraham placed on this undertaking. The servant took ten camels, laden with various valuable goods from Abraham's possessions, signifying the wealth and blessings entrusted to him for the journey and for presenting as a dowry or gifts. He then departed, making his way toward Mesopotamia, specifically to the city of Nahor, which was Abraham's ancestral homeland and where his relatives resided. The verse underscores the methodical and well-equipped beginning of a journey directed by faith and specific instructions.

Genesis 24 10 Context

Genesis chapter 24 is entirely devoted to the search for Isaac's wife. Abraham, now old and confident in God's blessings (Gen 24:1), initiates this crucial mission. His primary concern is that Isaac marry someone from his own kindred, avoiding the idolatrous Canaanites, thereby preserving the covenant line and ensuring its purity. This sets the stage for the selection process. Verse 10 specifically details the preparation and departure of Abraham's eldest and most trusted servant, whom earlier texts identify as Eliezer (Gen 15:2), equipped with immense resources for his journey back to Mesopotamia to find a suitable bride. The broader historical context is the patriarchal period, where alliances, inheritance, and lineage purity were paramount, and marriage was often arranged by family elders. Travel was arduous, making the careful preparation with camels and goods not just a sign of wealth but also a necessity for such a long and significant journey.

Genesis 24 10 Word analysis

And the servant:
- Hebrew: הָעֶבֶד (hāeved).Ebed` means servant, slave, or bondservant. In Abraham's household, this term likely implies a highly trusted, integral member, given significant responsibility and authority, not merely a common laborer. This highlights fidelity and the gravity of the entrusted mission. The definite article "the" points to a specific, well-known servant, presumably Eliezer, identified in Gen 15:2 as the manager of Abraham's household and initially his potential heir.
took:
- Hebrew: וַיִּקַּח (vayyiqqaḥ). This verb indicates active possession and intent, not merely carrying. The servant took them for a purpose.
ten camels:
- Hebrew: עֲשָׂרָה גְמַלִּים (aśārāh gəmallîm). "Ten" (10) can often symbolize completeness or fullness in biblical numerology, suggesting adequate provision. Camels were the primary means of transport for goods and people across arid regions in the ancient Near East due to their endurance and capacity to carry heavy loads. Taking ten camels speaks volumes about the substantial nature of the journey, the amount of gifts/provisions, and Abraham's immense wealth and strategic foresight. It also underlines the scale of the "goods" mentioned later in the verse.
of the camels of his master:
- Hebrew: מִגְּמַלֵּי אֲדֹנָיו (miggəmallê ăḏōnāyw). Emphasizes Abraham's ownership (אֲדֹנָיו,ăḏōnāyw`, master/lord), signifying that all resources for this divine mission came directly from Abraham, ultimately representing God's provision for Isaac through Abraham. It removes any doubt about the source of the assets.
and departed:
- Hebrew: וַיֵּלֶךְ (vayyēleḵ). Simple verb indicating setting off on a journey. It denotes action and the beginning of the venture.
for all the goods of his master were in his hand:
- Hebrew: וְכָל-טוּב אֲדֹנָיו בְּיָדוֹ (wəḵol-ṭūv `ăḏōnāyw bəyāḏô). This is a crucial phrase.
  - טוּב (ṭūv) meaning "good," "goodness," "bounty," "prosperity," "blessings," "fine things," or "riches." This refers to precious items like silver, gold, clothing, and other valuables suitable for dowry and gifts (Gen 24:53). It was not just necessities but an impressive display of wealth.
  - בְּיָדוֹ (bəyāḏô), literally "in his hand," signifies that these goods were under his control and at his disposal. This denotes full authority and responsibility entrusted to the servant to use these resources as he deemed fit for the mission's success, implying Abraham's immense trust. It’s a metaphor for plenipotentiary power.
and he arose:
- Hebrew: וַיָּקָם (vayyāqām). Often used in biblical narratives to mark the beginning of an important action or journey. It suggests a decisive and deliberate initiation of the task, reinforcing the servant's resolve and the weight of the mission.
and went:
- Hebrew: וַיֵּלֶךְ (vayyēleḵ). Repeats the idea of travel, reinforcing the onward movement after "arising."
to Mesopotamia:
- Hebrew: אֶל-אֲרַם נַהֲרַיִם (el-'ăram nahărayim). "Aram of the Two Rivers." This is the region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, the area of northern Mesopotamia where Abraham's family originated (cf. Gen 11:31 for Ur of the Chaldees, but specifically Haran for Abraham's later family movements). It defines the geographic destination, emphasizing the servant's adherence to Abraham's instruction to find a wife from his own people.
unto the city of Nahor:
- Hebrew: אֶל-עִיר נָחוֹר (el-'îr nāḥôr). Nahor was Abraham's brother (Gen 11:27), whose family also migrated to Haran (Gen 12:4, Gen 27:43). This precise destination further narrows the search, indicating Abraham’s desire for a kinswoman for Isaac and the servant's precise obedience to this directive.

Genesis 24 10 Bonus section

The detail about "ten camels" and "all the goods" serves not only as a realistic portrayal of ancient Near Eastern travel and negotiation customs but also carries symbolic weight. In the broader narrative, these represent the immense spiritual resources and blessings that God bestows upon His servants who embark on His missions. The journey of Abraham's servant is often seen as a type or foreshadowing: the servant (representing the Holy Spirit or a divine agent) sent by the Father (Abraham) to find a bride (the Church) for the Son (Isaac), providing ample spiritual resources and gifts for the Church. The specific and trusted role of the servant also emphasizes the need for faithful stewardship of God-given resources in any undertaking for the kingdom of God. This entire episode is a testament to Abraham's unyielding faith, even in old age, in God's faithfulness to fulfill His covenant promises, extending to the provision of a suitable partner for his son through diligent and well-resourced means.

Genesis 24 10 Commentary

Genesis 24:10 marks the launch of Abraham's divinely inspired quest to secure a wife for Isaac, highlighting a profound display of faith and methodical planning. The meticulous preparation — ten camels laden with substantial goods — signifies Abraham's wealth and, more importantly, the strategic importance of the mission. This wasn't merely a journey; it was an embassy designed to uphold and advance the covenantal promise. The provision of "all the goods of his master" in the servant's hand underscored his immense authority and the deep trust Abraham placed in him, allowing him to represent Abraham with full capacity to negotiate and offer lavish gifts, essential for securing a bride in that culture. The servant's direct obedience to go to "Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor" showcases his faithfulness to the specific instructions given by Abraham, reflecting a meticulous pursuit of God's will. This journey is not random; it is guided by a specific directive and aims for a precise destination within Abraham's kinship, illustrating the importance of seeking a spouse within the covenant community. Ultimately, this verse sets the stage for God's providential guidance, where elaborate human planning meets divine orchestration to fulfill a promise.