Genesis 24:16 kjv

And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up.

Genesis 24:16 nkjv

Now the young woman was very beautiful to behold, a virgin; no man had known her. And she went down to the well, filled her pitcher, and came up.

Genesis 24:16 niv

The woman was very beautiful, a virgin; no man had ever slept with her. She went down to the spring, filled her jar and came up again.

Genesis 24:16 esv

The young woman was very attractive in appearance, a maiden whom no man had known. She went down to the spring and filled her jar and came up.

Genesis 24:16 nlt

Rebekah was very beautiful and old enough to be married, but she was still a virgin. She went down to the spring, filled her jug, and came up again.

Genesis 24 verses

Genesis 24 16 Meaning

Genesis 24:16 introduces Rebekah as the specific individual God intended for Isaac, detailing her physical perfection, moral purity, and diligence. The verse establishes her beauty as remarkable, noted by all observers, and critically confirms her virginity and lack of sexual experience, signifying her undefiled state. It then describes her ordinary yet telling act of going to the community well, filling her water jar, and returning. This combination of intrinsic purity, appealing presence, and active helpfulness highlights her qualifications for becoming a matriarch of God's covenant people.

Genesis 24 16 Context

Genesis chapter 24 details Abraham's critical mission to find a suitable wife for his son Isaac, a woman who must not be a Canaanite. He sends his chief servant, Eliezer, to his homeland in Mesopotamia with explicit instructions and a specific test. The servant's journey and prayer for divine guidance at a well are pivotal to this verse. Rebekah's description here directly follows her arrival at the well where Eliezer has just prayed for a sign: that the chosen woman would not only offer him water but also offer to water his camels. This verse is the narrator's crucial confirmation to the reader of Rebekah's suitability according to not only the servant's specific requests, but also the broader divine standard of purity and capability essential for Isaac's bride and the future of God's covenant line. Historically and culturally, wells were central to village life, often serving as gathering places where marriages were frequently initiated due to the regular interactions that occurred there. Virginity was paramount in patriarchal societies, ensuring legitimate lineage and honoring the purity of the marital covenant.

Genesis 24 16 Word analysis

• The maiden (הַנַּעֲרָה hanna‘arah): Literally "the young woman" or "the girl." This term refers to a specific, identifiable young, unmarried female. Its definiteness "the" points to Rebekah as already identified by the narrative for the reader. In a biblical context, a na‘arah would be expected to assist with household duties, including drawing water.
• was very beautiful to look at (טוֹבַת מַרְאֶה מְאֹד tovath mareh m'od):
  • Tovath Mareh means "good of appearance" or "pleasant to look upon." This phrase emphasizes external attractiveness. Beauty in the Bible can signify divine favor (e.g., Sarah, Rachel, Esther) but also potential temptation (e.g., Daughters of Men in Gen 6) or merely a descriptive trait. Here, it establishes her desirable physical presence.
  • M'od means "very" or "exceedingly," intensifying her beauty, making it notably striking. This outward beauty sets her apart.
• a virgin (בְתוּלָה betulah): This term unequivocally defines her sexual status as never having engaged in sexual intercourse. In ancient Near Eastern societies, virginity was highly prized for marriage, symbolizing purity, honor, and assurance of legitimate offspring, crucial for the continuity of Abraham's lineage.
• no man had ever lain with her (וְאִישׁ לֹא יְדָעָהּ v'ish lo yedā'ah): Literally "and a man did not know her." The Hebrew verb יָדַע (yada', to know) is frequently used as a euphemism for sexual intimacy (e.g., Gen 4:1; Num 31:17). This phrase explicitly reinforces and clarifies the previous statement "a virgin," removing any ambiguity. It means she was completely chaste, never having experienced sexual union with anyone. This detail underscores her purity and moral integrity, a fundamental requirement for the wife of Isaac, a patriarch in the line of God's covenant.
• She went down to the spring (וַתֵּרֶד אֶל־הַמַּעְיָנָה vatēred el-hamma‘yānah):
  • Vatēred (and she went down): Denotes movement from a higher elevation to a lower one, typical for reaching a water source. It highlights her regular daily activity.
  • Ma‘yānah (spring/well): In arid lands, springs were vital communal gathering spots and sources of life. Many significant biblical encounters and betrothal narratives occur at wells (e.g., Gen 29: Rachel meets Jacob; Ex 2: Zipporah meets Moses; John 4: Samaritan woman meets Jesus), signifying them as places of divine appointments and providential meetings.
• filled her jar (וַתְּמַלֵּא כַדָּהּ vatmallē khaddāh): Describes her industriousness and role in contributing to her household. It signifies her capability and readiness for domestic duties, aligning with the expected characteristics of a capable wife. The "jar" (kad) refers to a specific vessel for carrying water.
• and came up again (וַתָּעַל vatta‘al): Implies she completed her task, carrying the full jar back from the spring. This detail completes the practical aspect of her visit to the well and signifies her return to be encountered by Abraham's servant.

Genesis 24 16 Bonus section

• The detail of Rebekah's virginity ("no man had ever lain with her") is more than a cultural expectation; it underlines a foundational principle for God's covenant. An undefiled womb for the promised seed ensured purity within the lineage leading to Christ.
• The repetitive description of her actions at the well ("went down," "filled," "came up") portrays a simple, accessible, and industrious woman. This industriousness directly contrasted with idleness and would be a desirable trait for the wife of a man of substance like Isaac, representing a practical capability vital for the household and community.
• Rebekah's encounter at the well, following immediately after Abraham's servant's specific prayer for a sign involving a woman drawing water, is a direct example of divine providence at work. Her actions confirm her as the one God selected, highlighting how God orchestrates even ordinary daily tasks for His sovereign plan.

Genesis 24 16 Commentary

Genesis 24:16 serves as a divine affirmation of Rebekah's suitability, carefully detailing the precise characteristics necessary for Isaac's wife and the continued covenant lineage. Her exceptional beauty marks her as noteworthy, capturing immediate attention. More profoundly, her unblemished virginity, explicitly clarified by the statement that "no man had ever lain with her," assures her complete sexual purity—a non-negotiable trait for establishing a righteous and untainted family line. This was essential for the Messianic lineage, ensuring its purity from human defilement. Beyond physical and moral perfection, her simple act of going to the spring, filling her jar, and returning reveals her diligence and practical readiness for domestic life. This verse beautifully demonstrates how outward appearance, inner purity, and industriousness converged in Rebekah, providentially preparing her to be God's chosen one, aligning perfectly with Abraham's mission and the servant's prayer for divine guidance. This ideal blend underscores God's meticulous care in guiding the most crucial choices for His covenant people.