Genesis 24:50 kjv

Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from the LORD: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good.

Genesis 24:50 nkjv

Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, "The thing comes from the LORD; we cannot speak to you either bad or good.

Genesis 24:50 niv

Laban and Bethuel answered, "This is from the LORD; we can say nothing to you one way or the other.

Genesis 24:50 esv

Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, "The thing has come from the LORD; we cannot speak to you bad or good.

Genesis 24:50 nlt

Then Laban and Bethuel replied, "The LORD has obviously brought you here, so there is nothing we can say.

Genesis 24 verses

Genesis 24 50 Meaning

Genesis 24:50 conveys the immediate and unanimous response of Laban and Bethuel to Abraham's servant's account. They acknowledge that the entire matter, from the servant's journey to the miraculous provision of Rebekah, originates directly from the Lord. Therefore, recognizing divine intervention, they declare themselves unable to voice any objection or offer any alternative proposal, effectively submitting to God's revealed will in the marriage of Rebekah to Isaac.

Genesis 24 50 Context

Genesis chapter 24 details Abraham's critical mission to find a suitable wife for his son Isaac, ensuring he does not marry a Canaanite woman but one from Abraham's own people. Abraham, by now old and wealthy, makes his trusted servant swear an oath to fulfill this task. The servant journeys to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor, and prayerfully seeks divine guidance for identifying Isaac's intended spouse. God responds precisely, leading him to Rebekah, who fits the exact description sought in prayer. After confirming her identity as Abraham's relative and recounting his providential journey, the servant is brought into Rebekah's home. Laban (Rebekah's brother) and Bethuel (her father) then hear the servant's full account, from Abraham's prosperity and desire for Isaac's wife to the miraculous confirmation by God through the specific sign. Verse 50 records their profound, divinely informed acknowledgment of these events, culminating in their surrender to what they perceive as God's unmistakable hand.

Genesis 24 50 Word analysis

• Then Laban and Bethuel: (Hebrew: וַיַּעַן לָבָן וּבְתוּאֵל, Vay-ya'an Lavan u'Vtuel) Laban is Rebekah's brother, Bethuel is her father. Laban being mentioned first is notable; some scholars suggest he had taken on a more prominent, perhaps leadership, role in the household, possibly due to Bethuel's advanced age or passivity, indicating his more assertive voice in the family's affairs.
• answered and said: (Hebrew: וַיֹּאמְרוּ vay-yomru) This indicates a definitive and solemn response given after hearing the full narrative. It suggests not just speaking, but formally giving a decision.
• The thing: (Hebrew: הַדָּבָר, Ha-davar) "Davar" means 'word,' 'matter,' 'thing,' or 'affair.' Here, it encapsulates the entire proposal, the servant's story, and all the preceding circumstances—the whole providential arrangement orchestrated by God. It refers to the entirety of what transpired.
• comes from the Lord; (Hebrew: מֵיְהוָה יָצָא, meY'hovah yatzah)
  • from the Lord (Yahweh): Employs the sacred personal name of God, indicating a direct, personal, and active involvement of the covenant God. It signifies divine initiation and intervention.
  • comes (yatzah): Literally, "has gone forth" or "has proceeded." It emphasizes the divine origin and flow, signifying that the entire situation emanated directly from God's will and purpose. It's not mere coincidence, but intentional divine action.
• we cannot speak to you bad or good. (Hebrew: לֹא נוּכַל לְדַבֵּר אֵלֶיךָ רַע אוֹ טוֹב, lo nukhal l'dabber eilekha ra' o tov)
  • we cannot (lo nukhal): Expresses utter inability and powerlessness. It is not just "we will not" but "we are not able to." This shows their conviction that to object would be to fight against God Himself.
  • speak to you (l'dabber eilekha): Refers to discussing, debating, or raising objections with the servant regarding the proposition.
  • bad or good (ra' o tov): A Hebrew idiom signifying "anything at all" – neither to criticize it (bad) nor to enhance it by adding conditions or negotiations (good). It conveys their complete acceptance without reservation or alteration because they recognize its divine source. It signifies absolute silence or non-interference with God's work.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Laban and Bethuel answered and said": Signifies an immediate and united family consensus, reflecting their shared conviction concerning the divine nature of the servant's mission. The prominence of Laban highlights his role in the family's decision-making.
• "The thing comes from the Lord": This phrase represents the theological core of the verse. It is an extraordinary admission of God's active involvement in human affairs, specifically concerning lineage and marriage for His covenant purposes. They acknowledge divine causality.
• "we cannot speak to you bad or good": This expresses the human response to recognized divine sovereignty. It demonstrates their powerlessness to alter or resist what God has orchestrated. It is a surrender to God's indisputable will, rendering any debate or negotiation futile and unnecessary.

Genesis 24 50 Bonus section

• The uncharacteristic acknowledgment of "the Lord" (Yahweh) by Laban and Bethuel, who come from a region with polytheistic traditions, highlights the compelling evidence of divine intervention through Abraham's servant's miraculous account. It implies an overwhelming manifestation of God's hand that even those potentially outside a full covenant relationship are forced to acknowledge His direct involvement.
• The phrase "bad or good" is an important Hebrew idiom expressing totality or inability to respond in any way. For example, in 2 Sam 13:22, it implies a refusal to discuss a matter at all. In this context, it implies that no word of critique, praise, or suggestion could be uttered against the divinely appointed course.
• This verse establishes a pattern of God's personal involvement in choosing partners for those in the Abrahamic lineage, indicating the theological significance of marriage as part of God's covenant plan and highlighting divine forethought in preserving the lineage through whom the Messiah would come.

Genesis 24 50 Commentary

Genesis 24:50 stands as a profound testament to divine providence and human recognition of God's sovereign will. Laban and Bethuel's declaration—"The thing comes from the Lord; we cannot speak to you bad or good"—is a spontaneous, unanimous acknowledgment that God Himself has orchestrated this match. They discern a divine decree beyond mere human arrangement, compelling them to absolute acquiescence. Their inability to "speak bad or good" signifies complete submission: no objection, no negotiation, no addition or subtraction can be made to what God has clearly set forth. This pivotal moment underscores that God directly intervenes in crucial life events to fulfill His covenantal promises, particularly regarding the preservation of the Messianic lineage, and demonstrates that His will is ultimately irresistible and beyond human alteration or critique.