Genesis 24 40

Genesis 24:40 kjv

And he said unto me, The LORD, before whom I walk, will send his angel with thee, and prosper thy way; and thou shalt take a wife for my son of my kindred, and of my father's house:

Genesis 24:40 nkjv

But he said to me, 'The LORD, before whom I walk, will send His angel with you and prosper your way; and you shall take a wife for my son from my family and from my father's house.

Genesis 24:40 niv

"He replied, 'The LORD, before whom I have walked faithfully, will send his angel with you and make your journey a success, so that you can get a wife for my son from my own clan and from my father's family.

Genesis 24:40 esv

But he said to me, 'The LORD, before whom I have walked, will send his angel with you and prosper your way. You shall take a wife for my son from my clan and from my father's house.

Genesis 24:40 nlt

He responded, 'The LORD, in whose presence I have lived, will send his angel with you and will make your mission successful. Yes, you must find a wife for my son from among my relatives, from my father's family.

Genesis 24 verses

Genesis 24 40 meaning

Abraham confidently assures his servant that the Lord, before whom he consistently walks in obedience and faith, will supernaturally intervene. This divine assistance will come in the form of His angel, who will accompany the servant and ensure the successful and prosperous completion of his mission: to find a suitable wife for Isaac from Abraham's own extended family. This reflects Abraham's unwavering trust in God's covenant promises and His active guidance in fulfilling them.

Genesis 24 40 Context

Genesis 24 recounts the critical mission of Abraham's eldest servant, Eliezer, to find a wife for Isaac. Abraham, now old and desiring to secure Isaac's lineage and the fulfillment of God's covenant promises, makes the servant swear an oath not to take a wife for Isaac from among the Canaanites, but to return to Abraham's homeland and kindred. The servant raises a practical concern: what if the woman is unwilling to follow? In response, Genesis 24:40 is Abraham's profound declaration of faith and assurance. He appeals to God's past faithfulness and current commitment to guide the servant, highlighting the divine promise to provide for the covenant heir's wife from the specified lineage, thus preserving the purity of the messianic line. This verse underscores Abraham's absolute trust in the Lord's providential care over seemingly ordinary yet divinely significant life events.

Genesis 24 40 Word analysis

• And he said unto me: Abraham (the master) is speaking directly and personally to his servant (Eliezer), establishing a firm and confident declaration based on his long-standing relationship with God.

• The Lord: Hebrew: YHWH (יהוה), the covenant name of God. This specific name emphasizes God's self-existence, eternal nature, and His faithful, personal relationship with His people, particularly Abraham and his descendants. It signifies God as the reliable fulfiller of His promises.

• before whom I walk: Hebrew: halak (הָלַךְ) – to walk, implying a lifestyle of intimate fellowship, continuous obedience, and close communion with God. This phrase signifies a consistent, active, and devoted relationship marked by faith and integrity (Gen 17:1; 48:15). Abraham's confidence is rooted in his lived experience with this faithful God.

• will send his angel: Hebrew: malak (מַלְאָךְ) – a messenger, a representative, an agent. This often refers to celestial beings, but in the Old Testament, the "Angel of the Lord" can also be a manifestation of God Himself (the pre-incarnate Christ), signifying direct divine intervention and guidance. It highlights God's active involvement and provision beyond human capability (Exo 23:20).

• with thee: Personal accompaniment, assuring the servant that he will not be alone; divine presence and aid will be constant throughout his journey.

• and prosper thy way: Hebrew: tsalach (צָלַח) – to rush, be successful, to advance, to go through. Hebrew: derek (דֶּרֶךְ) – way, path, journey, course of life. This phrase guarantees divine enabling and success for the mission. God is actively involved not only in guarding but in ensuring the desired outcome, meaning obstacles will be removed or overcome to achieve the specific goal (Psa 1:3).

• and thou shalt take a wife: Hebrew: laqach (לָקַח) – to take, acquire. The specific objective of the journey. The assurance indicates it will indeed happen.

• for my son: Refers to Isaac, the chosen heir, through whom the covenant promises of a great nation and land are to be fulfilled, eventually leading to the Messiah. This emphasizes the vital importance of the mission.

• of my kindred: Hebrew: moledeth (מוֹלֶדֶת) – birthplace, lineage, kinsfolk. This emphasizes finding a wife from his bloodline, a continuation of the initial command to Abraham to leave his moledeth (Gen 12:1), but now to retrieve a blessing from it for the next generation.

• and of my father's house: Hebrew: beth-'ab (בֵּית־אָב) – paternal household. This narrows the scope further to the direct family unit. This ensures spiritual and cultural compatibility and avoids the contamination of pagan Canaanite practices, crucial for maintaining the purity of the promised lineage.

• "The Lord... will send his angel with thee, and prosper thy way": This phrase beautifully encapsulates divine providence. It's not a mere hope, but a declaration of certainty from a man who has experienced God's faithfulness. God isn't just a distant observer but an active, intervening agent in the lives of those who walk with Him.

• "take a wife for my son of my kindred, and of my father's house": This phrase emphasizes the endogamous nature of marriage in this foundational period, crucial for preserving covenant identity and preventing spiritual assimilation with surrounding pagan cultures (Deu 7:3-4). It ensures that the messianic line remains pure and distinct.

Genesis 24 40 Bonus section

• Divine Guidance in Specifics: This verse demonstrates God's involvement in seemingly "secular" or personal decisions, particularly marriage, showing that He is interested in guiding every aspect of the lives of His faithful servants, especially when it aligns with His larger redemptive plan.
• Abraham's Faith as a Model: Abraham's confidence did not stem from knowing how the angel would guide or who the woman would be, but from who God is. This serves as a model for believers to trust God's leading even when the specific path is unknown.
• Foreshadowing of God's Spirit: While referring to an "angel," this could also be seen as a foreshadowing of God's divine presence and the Holy Spirit's guidance provided to believers in the New Covenant, helping them to discern God's will and walk in His ways (John 14:26, Rom 8:14).
• The Importance of the Lineage: The repeated emphasis on "my kindred" and "my father's house" highlights the critical necessity of a pure, chosen lineage for the unfolding of God's redemptive plan through Isaac, Jacob, and ultimately, Christ. This was not a tribal preference, but a divine command to preserve the covenant people.

Genesis 24 40 Commentary

Genesis 24:40 reveals Abraham's deep theological understanding and unwavering faith rooted in his personal experience with YHWH. He assures his servant not by wishful thinking but by a declaration of God's character and past actions. The "Lord, before whom I walk" is crucial; it signifies a relational confidence—Abraham knew God personally through decades of obedient fellowship, which fueled his conviction that this faithful God would fulfill His purpose. The promise of God sending "His angel" speaks of direct, divine superintendence, not merely a good wish but supernatural guidance and protection for a divinely ordained mission. This mission was paramount: finding a covenantally pure wife for Isaac was essential for the continuation of the promised lineage leading to the Messiah. The success promised for "thy way" is thus not a general blessing but specific to this particular sacred task. The verse therefore is a profound testimony to God's active providence, His commitment to His covenant promises, and His readiness to provide supernatural aid to those who walk in His way, even in the intricate details of life like choosing a spouse, especially when it concerns His greater redemptive plan.