Genesis 24:35 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Genesis 24:35 kjv
And the LORD hath blessed my master greatly; and he is become great: and he hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and menservants, and maidservants, and camels, and asses.
Genesis 24:35 nkjv
The LORD has blessed my master greatly, and he has become great; and He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male and female servants, and camels and donkeys.
Genesis 24:35 niv
The LORD has blessed my master abundantly, and he has become wealthy. He has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, male and female servants, and camels and donkeys.
Genesis 24:35 esv
The LORD has greatly blessed my master, and he has become great. He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male servants and female servants, camels and donkeys.
Genesis 24:35 nlt
"And the LORD has greatly blessed my master; he has become a wealthy man. The LORD has given him flocks of sheep and goats, herds of cattle, a fortune in silver and gold, and many male and female servants and camels and donkeys.
Genesis 24 35 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 12:2 | I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great... | Abrahamic covenant promise of blessing. |
| Gen 13:2 | Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. | Confirms Abraham's pre-Gen 24 wealth. |
| Gen 15:1 | "Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward." | God promises to be Abraham's protector & reward. |
| Gen 22:17 | That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thee... | God reiterates blessings and multiplication. |
| Gen 24:1 | And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the LORD had blessed... | Broader context of Abraham already being blessed. |
| Gen 26:12-13 | Isaac sowed... and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him. | Blessing extends to Isaac, confirming God's faithfulness. |
| Deut 8:18 | But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth. | God is the ultimate source of wealth. |
| Prov 10:22 | The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it. | God's blessing brings true wealth without toil. |
| Ps 112:1-3 | Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD... Wealth and riches shall be in his house. | Righteous receive material blessings. |
| Ps 113:7-8 | He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill; | God's power to elevate the humble and poor. |
| Job 1:3 | His substance also was seven thousand sheep... and a very great household... | Example of a righteous man blessed with wealth. |
| 1 Chr 29:12 | Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all... | All wealth and honor originate from God. |
| Dan 2:48 | Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts... | God enables human elevation and favor. |
| Eccl 5:19 | Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth... it is the gift of God. | Wealth as a divine gift to be enjoyed. |
| Phil 4:19 | But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. | God supplies needs for believers. |
| 1 Tim 6:17 | Charge them that are rich... that they trust not in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; | God is the giver of all good things, riches are not to be trusted in themselves. |
| 3 Jn 1:2 | Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health... | God desires believer's overall prosperity, including physical and material. |
| Matt 6:19-21 | Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth... but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven. | Contrast between earthly and heavenly treasure, spiritual wealth over material. |
| Luke 12:15 | And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. | Warning against materialism and focusing on worldly possessions alone. |
| Gal 3:8-9 | And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. | Abraham's blessing ultimately for all nations through faith. |
| Eph 1:3 | Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: | Focus shifts to spiritual blessings in the New Covenant. |
| Acts 3:6 | Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee... | Apostles prioritizing spiritual over material in specific context. |
| Neh 9:7-8 | Thou art the LORD the God... and didst find his heart faithful before thee, and madest a covenant with him... | God's faithfulness to His covenant with Abraham, seen in his prosperity. |
Genesis 24 verses
Genesis 24 35 meaning
Genesis 24:35 explains how Abraham's servant is conveying the great material wealth and esteemed status that the LORD, the covenant God, has bestowed upon his master, Abraham. This abundance—encompassing livestock, precious metals, and numerous servants—is presented as clear evidence of divine favor and faithfulness to Abraham's covenant, thereby establishing his suitability and trustworthiness in the sight of Rebekah's family for the prospective marriage to Isaac. It underscores that Abraham's prosperity is a direct blessing from God.
Genesis 24 35 Context
This verse is uttered by Abraham's unnamed senior servant (often identified as Eliezer of Damascus from Gen 15:2), as he recounts Abraham's success and God's faithfulness to Rebekah's family in Haran. The larger context of Genesis chapter 24 is Abraham's quest to find a wife for his son Isaac, ensuring she is from his own kindred and not a Canaanite. The servant's mission is divinely guided, highlighted by the providential meeting at the well. His detailed explanation of Abraham's wealth and status is crucial: it not only establishes Abraham's standing as a highly favored patriarch, making Isaac a desirable match, but also implicitly demonstrates that God is with Abraham, and therefore with Isaac, providing assurance and divine sanction to the marriage proposal. The servant's narrative effectively sets the stage for Laban's family to agree to the union, rooted in an understanding of Abraham's divinely granted prosperity.
Genesis 24 35 Word analysis
- And the Lord: "And" (וַ - ve-) connects this statement to the servant's ongoing narrative. "The Lord" (יְהוָה - YHWH) refers to the personal, covenant God of Israel. This immediately points to the divine source of Abraham's blessings, distinguishing it from pagan concepts of luck or blessings from other deities. It emphasizes God's active involvement.
- hath blessed: (בֵּרַךְ - barakh). The Hebrew root implies the imparting of power for success, fertility, or prosperity. Here, it signifies divine bestowal of favor and abundance, a fulfillment of God's covenant promises to Abraham (Gen 12:2-3). This blessing is active and ongoing, confirming God's faithfulness.
- my master: (אֲדֹנִי - adoni). This respectfully refers to Abraham. It highlights the servant's loyalty and his recognition of Abraham's authoritative status within the household and before God.
- greatly: (מְאֹד - me'od). This adverb emphasizes the extensive and overwhelming nature of the blessing. It means "very much" or "exceedingly," underscoring the magnitude of God's favor.
- and he is become great: (וַיִּגְדַּל - vayyigdal). From the root gadal (to be or become great, strong, powerful). This refers to Abraham's increased stature, influence, and fame, not just his material wealth. It points to his rising prominence among the people of the land, fulfilling the promise to "make your name great" (Gen 12:2).
- and he hath given him: This phrase reiterates that God is the active provider of all these tangible assets, reinforcing the divine origin of Abraham's prosperity.
- flocks, and herds: These were primary indicators of wealth in the nomadic, pastoral society of the Ancient Near East. Flocks (small livestock like sheep and goats) and herds (large livestock like cattle) provided food, clothing, and capital. They symbolized productivity and sustenance.
- and silver, and gold: These precious metals served as currency, a store of wealth, and raw materials for valuable objects. Their possession indicated significant purchasing power and high status in an age without coined money.
- and menservants, and maidservants: The ownership of numerous servants indicated a large and prosperous household, contributing to labor, social standing, and sometimes forming a personal army. It signifies a thriving and expanding household unit.
- and camels, and asses: Camels were vital for desert travel and trade, indicating mobility and access to distant markets. Asses were crucial for shorter-distance transport of goods and people. Both were valuable assets for a semi-nomadic patriarchal family.
Words-group analysis:
- "And the Lord hath blessed my master greatly; and he is become great": This opening emphasizes the twin aspects of God's blessing: material prosperity ("blessed my master greatly") and enhanced social/personal standing ("he is become great"). The linking of these two ideas highlights that divine favor results in both tangible and intangible forms of success, confirming the promises made to Abraham. The rhetorical force lies in attributing all of Abraham's success directly to YHWH, affirming His omnipotence and faithfulness to the covenant.
- "and he hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and menservants, and maidservants, and camels, and asses": This comprehensive list details the specific forms of wealth God has bestowed upon Abraham. It is an exhaustive catalogue of patriarchal assets, conveying an image of extraordinary abundance and stability. The specificity makes the claim highly credible to the listener and illustrates the concrete manifestation of divine blessing. Each item underscores Abraham's immense resources and capability as a powerful, blessed chieftain.
Genesis 24 35 Bonus section
The servant's precise enumeration of Abraham's wealth serves a specific rhetorical purpose: to impress upon Rebekah's family the full extent of God's favor upon Abraham. This isn't just boasting; it's providing undeniable evidence of a powerful, trustworthy patriarch chosen and abundantly blessed by the true God. This economic display ensured the family would take the marriage proposal seriously, understanding that this union was backed by divine prosperity and authority. Furthermore, this emphasis on God as the giver of wealth stands in contrast to common pagan beliefs where prosperity might be attributed to personal luck, rituals to specific minor deities, or accumulated by human effort alone. Here, wealth is a direct sign of covenant blessing from the sovereign LORD.
Genesis 24 35 Commentary
Genesis 24:35 provides a vivid description of God's comprehensive blessing upon Abraham, articulated through his servant. The servant’s intention is clear: to establish Abraham's prosperity as undeniable evidence of God's faithfulness to His covenant promises, making Isaac a highly desirable and divinely sanctioned suitor. The catalog of assets, from livestock to precious metals and a large household, represents the sum of a patriarch's wealth in that era. It signifies not merely material gain, but Abraham's elevated status and influence—his "greatness"—all explicitly attributed to the LORD. This blessing was purposeful, enabling Abraham's family to continue its divinely ordained lineage through Isaac. It serves as an early example of God's readiness to bless His faithful servants, demonstrating His covenant commitment in tangible ways. Abraham's wealth was never merely for personal aggrandizement but was integral to fulfilling God's broader redemptive plan.