Genesis 24:4 kjv

But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.

Genesis 24:4 nkjv

but you shall go to my country and to my family, and take a wife for my son Isaac."

Genesis 24:4 niv

but will go to my country and my own relatives and get a wife for my son Isaac."

Genesis 24:4 esv

but will go to my country and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son Isaac."

Genesis 24:4 nlt

Go instead to my homeland, to my relatives, and find a wife there for my son Isaac."

Genesis 24 verses

Genesis 24 4 Meaning

Abraham instructs his senior servant to embark on a journey back to Abraham's land of origin and among his own relatives. The singular purpose of this mission is to secure a wife for his son Isaac, specifically from within his kinsfolk, thus avoiding any woman from the local Canaanite inhabitants. This directive emphasizes Abraham's deep concern for the spiritual and ancestral purity of the covenant lineage, crucial for the fulfillment of God's promises.

Genesis 24 4 Context

Genesis chapter 24 details the search for Isaac's wife. Abraham, advanced in years and desiring to see the continuation of God's covenant through Isaac, takes solemn measures to secure a bride. Verses 1-3 set the stage, emphasizing Abraham's immense wealth, his age, and the sacred oath he administers to his most trusted servant, binding him specifically not to choose a wife from the surrounding Canaanites. Verse 4 then provides the crucial positive instruction: where the servant must go to find Isaac's partner. This reflects Abraham's faith that God would provide the proper spouse from his own kin, preserving the distinctiveness and purity of the promised lineage against the prevailing idolatry and moral corruption of Canaan. The historical context includes Abraham's prior departure from his homeland at God's command (Gen 12:1), and now a partial return, not to resettle, but solely to draw a partner for the covenant heir from that family reservoir. This narrative subtly establishes an indirect polemic against casual intermarriage with foreign, idolatrous peoples, advocating instead for the preservation of spiritual heritage within the faith community.

Genesis 24 4 Word analysis

• וְאֶל־אַרְצִי (ve'el-artzî): "and to my land/country."
  • Significance: אָרֶץ (arets) generally refers to a specific geographic territory. In this context, it designates the region from which Abraham himself originated – specifically Haran, where his father Terah settled after leaving Ur of the Chaldees, and where some of his kin remained. It signifies Abraham's original, familial home, not the Promised Land (Canaan). The repetition of "my" ("my land," "my kindred") underscores Abraham's personal and familial connection to this source. This decision is critical as it highlights the deliberate choice to preserve ancestral identity over geographical convenience.
• וְאֶל־מוֹלַדְתִּי (ve'el-môladtî): "and to my kindred/relatives/birthplace."
  • Significance: מוֹלֶדֶת (moledet) denotes not only birthplace but strongly implies one's immediate and extended family or lineage—the clan. It carries a sense of shared identity, customs, and potentially, faith (even if nascent or mixed, as seen later with Laban). This instruction clarifies that the desired wife must be a blood relative, ensuring a connection to Abraham's direct family tree. This safeguarded the integrity of the messianic line by mitigating spiritual contamination from pagan Canaanite practices and beliefs, reinforcing the distinctiveness of Abraham's household.
• תֵּלֵךְ (tēlēḵ): "you shall go."
  • Significance: This is a verbal form indicating a direct, imperative command, though here used as a jussive/cohortative form suggesting firm instruction or resolve. It denotes movement and direction, stressing the servant's required action and destination. The verb emphasizes Abraham's authority and the binding nature of the task. It's an active mandate, requiring immediate obedience and a dedicated journey.
• וְלָקַחְתָּ (ve'lāqaḥtā): "and you shall take."
  • Significance: לָקַח (lāqaḥ) is a common verb meaning "to take, receive, acquire." Here, it explicitly indicates the objective: acquiring a wife. It highlights the decisive act of selection and removal (taking her from her family). This implies careful discernment and negotiation, not just passive waiting. The consecutive waw here makes it the logical consequence of "going" – the purpose of the journey.
• אִשָּׁה (ishshah): "a wife."
  • Significance: A straightforward term for "woman" or "wife." Its inclusion here specifies the nature of the "taking"—it's for the purpose of marriage, implying a covenantal union, not merely a woman to serve. It underscores the ultimate goal of the servant's mission.
• לִבְנִי לְיִצְחָק (livnî l'Yiṣḥāq): "for my son, for Isaac."
  • Significance: The double designation "for my son, for Isaac" emphasizes the singular importance of Isaac in the covenant narrative. He is the promised son (Gen 17:19; 21:12), through whom the great nation will come. The repetition ensures clarity and highlights the immense stake in this marital decision. Isaac is not just a son; he is the designated heir to God's promises, making the selection of his wife a matter of covenantal obedience and future prosperity.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "but you shall go to my country and to my kindred": This phrase outlines the where of the mission. It is a specific instruction directing the servant back to Abraham's geographical and familial roots in Mesopotamia. This choice highlights the concern for a compatible lineage and cultural background, rather than relying on integration with the surrounding Canaanite tribes, who were estranged from Abraham's God. It implies a sense of shared heritage beyond mere geography, focusing on the quality and faith of the prospective bride's family.
• "and take a wife for my son Isaac": This phrase details the what and for whom. It's a precise mandate to secure a spouse, not just any female, but one suitable for Isaac. The explicit naming of Isaac reinforces his unique status as the son of promise and heir to the covenant. This specific aim demonstrates Abraham's faith that God's plan for succession required not only the right male heir but also a divinely-ordained spouse who would continue the godly line. The servant is a direct agent of Abraham’s will, fulfilling a vital role in securing the lineage’s future.

Genesis 24 4 Bonus section

• Abraham's command reflects a "reverse migration" for a specific spiritual purpose: sending a servant back to a place he was commanded to leave (Gen 12:1). This underscores that the departure from Ur and Haran was not an abandonment of his familial ties for all purposes, but for residing in the Promised Land.
• The emphasis on taking a wife from "kindred" also served practical and social purposes. Marrying within the family structure provided cultural familiarity, shared traditions, and ensured an existing network of support for the new wife, easing her transition into Isaac’s household in a foreign land.
• This directive highlights the high degree of trust Abraham placed in his servant. This servant (likely Eliezer, though not explicitly named in chapter 24) embodies faithful stewardship and absolute loyalty to Abraham's spiritual vision and the divine promises.
• The journey from Canaan back to Paddan-Aram (Haran) was arduous and dangerous, requiring significant trust and divine intervention. This detail, though not in the verse itself, amplifies Abraham’s resolve and faith that God would oversee the journey's success.
• This specific act by Abraham laid down a foundational pattern for Israel's later laws regarding marriage and maintaining separation from idolatrous nations (Deut 7:3-4). It's an early theological precedent for God's people maintaining distinctness.

Genesis 24 4 Commentary

Genesis 24:4 encapsulates Abraham's deep faith and strategic wisdom regarding the perpetuation of the divine covenant through Isaac. His command is more than a patriarchal preference; it is a profound spiritual decision rooted in his understanding of God's promises. By sending his servant back to his own "country and kindred," Abraham actively safeguarded Isaac's lineage from the spiritual contamination prevalent in Canaan. This was a direct contrast to the negative example later set by Esau's marriage to Hittite women (Gen 26:34-35), which brought grief to Isaac and Rebekah, demonstrating the wisdom behind Abraham's caution.

Abraham recognized that Isaac’s spouse was not merely a companion but a crucial partner in raising the next generation of covenant people. Marrying from his own relatives increased the likelihood of finding a woman who shared (or was amenable to) the foundational understanding of the one true God, as opposed to the polytheistic and immoral practices of the Canaanites. This commitment reflects a timeless biblical principle: the importance of believers marrying within the faith (2 Cor 6:14), to foster spiritual unity and raise children in a godly environment. The meticulousness of Abraham's instruction and the solemn oath taken by the servant highlight the gravity of the mission and Abraham's unwavering trust in divine providence even through human agency. This act was pivotal in maintaining the integrity of the messianic line, leading ultimately to Christ.