Genesis 24:12 kjv

And he said O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and show kindness unto my master Abraham.

Genesis 24:12 nkjv

Then he said, "O LORD God of my master Abraham, please give me success this day, and show kindness to my master Abraham.

Genesis 24:12 niv

Then he prayed, "LORD, God of my master Abraham, make me successful today, and show kindness to my master Abraham.

Genesis 24:12 esv

And he said, "O LORD, God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today and show steadfast love to my master Abraham.

Genesis 24:12 nlt

"O LORD, God of my master, Abraham," he prayed. "Please give me success today, and show unfailing love to my master, Abraham.

Genesis 24 verses

Genesis 24 12 Meaning

Genesis 24:12 records the earnest prayer of Abraham's servant to the LORD. As he approached Nahor's city on his crucial mission, he petitioned God for clear divine guidance and immediate success in finding the right wife for Isaac, expressing his desire that this outcome would demonstrate God's loyal covenant faithfulness to his master Abraham.

Genesis 24 12 Context

Genesis chapter 24 is entirely devoted to the search for a suitable wife for Isaac, the son of promise. Abraham, being very old, takes definitive action to secure Isaac's lineage within his family's kindred and away from the Canaanites. He solemnly binds his chief servant by an oath to go back to his homeland, Mesopotamia, to find a wife. This specific verse (24:12) occurs just after the servant, having traveled hundreds of miles with ten of Abraham's camels, arrives at Nahor's city and stations himself at a well outside the city walls in the evening, when women typically came out to draw water. The historical and cultural context underscores the importance of tribal purity, the practice of arranged marriages within extended families, and the significance of hospitality, especially concerning water in an arid land. The well was a common meeting place and the servant's choice to wait there demonstrates practical wisdom combined with a profound reliance on divine intervention.

Genesis 24 12 Word analysis

• And he said: Signifies the beginning of a deliberate, direct address to God by the servant after arriving at the critical juncture of his mission. It immediately shifts focus to the spiritual aspect of his endeavor.
• O LORD (אֲדֹנָי, 'ăḏōnāy): A sacred title for God, emphasizing His absolute sovereignty, mastery, and authority. The servant, despite being anonymous to us, approaches God with deep reverence, acknowledging Him as his master's ultimate Lord. This personal address reflects a deep relationship with the God of Abraham.
• God of my master Abraham (אֱלֹהֵי אֲדֹנִי אַבְרָהָם, Elohei Adonai Avraham): This specific invocation roots the prayer firmly in the Abrahamic covenant. The servant understands his mission is not merely for Abraham's convenience, but an integral part of God's larger promise to Abraham. He calls upon the God who has a covenantal relationship with Abraham, reminding God of His commitment and faithfulness.
• Please (נָא, nāʾ): An intensifier indicating earnest request, entreaty, or petition. It conveys humility and a fervent desire, akin to "I beseech you" or "pray tell."
• Grant me success (הַקְרֵה נָא לְפָנַי הַיּוֹם, haqreh na lefanai hayyom): Literally, "cause to happen before me today," or "bring to meet me today." This is a prayer for divine orchestration and providential arrangement. The servant is not asking for just any outcome, but for God to directly intervene and "cause to meet" him the designated person, demonstrating immediate and undeniable divine guidance.
• Today (הַיּוֹם, hayyom): Expresses a sense of urgency and expectation of immediate divine action. The servant isn't asking for general success over time but a specific, timely, and observable breakthrough now.
• And show (וַעֲשֵׂה־, wəʿaśēh): Literally "and do" or "and act." This reinforces the request for active divine intervention.
• Steadfast love (חֶסֶד, ḥeseḏ): This is a rich, foundational Hebrew theological term signifying loyal love, enduring mercy, kindness, covenant faithfulness, and reliability. It denotes love demonstrated through faithfulness to an agreement or commitment. The servant asks God to manifest this specific attribute—His unwavering, dependable commitment—towards Abraham through the success of his mission.
• To my master Abraham (עִם אֲדֹנִי אַבְרָהָם, 'im adoni Avraham): Reiteration that the ultimate purpose of this success is not primarily for the servant's ease or even Isaac's comfort, but as a demonstration of God's loyalty and ongoing blessing toward Abraham in fulfillment of His promises. The servant sees himself as an instrument in God's unfolding plan for Abraham's household.

Words-group analysis:

• "O LORD, God of my master Abraham": This powerful opening establishes the nature of the servant's prayer: it is a prayer to the sovereign God who has entered into a covenant relationship with Abraham, indicating reliance on God's established character and promises. It’s an acknowledgment of God's specific identity and faithfulness.
• "Please, grant me success today": This phrase combines humility, specific request, and a sense of immediacy. The servant knows he needs direct divine intervention for the enormity and specificity of his task and expresses a hopeful expectation that God will act swiftly.
• "And show steadfast love to my master Abraham": The ultimate aim of the prayer. The servant understands that success in this mission will not only be beneficial for Isaac but, more importantly, will serve as a visible manifestation of God's ongoing faithful and covenantal love towards Abraham, demonstrating God's continued commitment to His promises.

Genesis 24 12 Bonus section

• The Servant's Anonymity: The fact that Abraham's chief servant remains unnamed in Genesis highlights God's central role. His lack of a personal name directs attention away from his identity and towards his function as an agent in God's sovereign plan and the source of his successful mission: the God of Abraham.
• Model of Discernment: While the prayer is specific, the manner of testing for a suitable spouse is practical and aligns with godly character (kindness, diligence, hospitality, generosity), showing that asking for a sign does not negate human wisdom but complements it.
• God's Sovereignty and Human Prayer: This prayer beautifully illustrates the tension and synergy between God's sovereign plan and human earnest prayer. God had already purposed to bless Abraham and raise up Isaac’s lineage, yet the servant’s fervent and specific prayer was instrumental in the execution of that plan. It suggests that God often works through the humble prayers of His people.

Genesis 24 12 Commentary

Genesis 24:12 is a profound model of prayer rooted in faith, practical wisdom, and dependence on God's providence. Abraham's servant arrives at a pivotal moment and, instead of relying on chance or his own cunning, immediately turns to the LORD. His prayer is characterized by a specific request for immediate divine guidance ("success today"), acknowledging God's sovereignty ("O LORD"), appealing to God's covenantal faithfulness ("God of my master Abraham"), and seeking a clear demonstration of His loyal love ("steadfast love"). He implicitly asks for a divine 'sign' in the context of the cultural practices around wells and hospitality, knowing that such a demonstration would be unmistakably from God. This highlights the servant's humble recognition that the task is too important to be left to human devices and must be guided by divine hand, all to fulfill God's promises to Abraham. This teaches believers to be specific in prayer, to depend fully on God's leading in crucial decisions, and to frame our petitions not just for our own benefit, but in alignment with God's overarching purposes and glory.