Genesis 24:52 kjv

And it came to pass, that, when Abraham's servant heard their words, he worshipped the LORD, bowing himself to the earth.

Genesis 24:52 nkjv

And it came to pass, when Abraham's servant heard their words, that he worshiped the LORD, bowing himself to the earth.

Genesis 24:52 niv

When Abraham's servant heard what they said, he bowed down to the ground before the LORD.

Genesis 24:52 esv

When Abraham's servant heard their words, he bowed himself to the earth before the LORD.

Genesis 24:52 nlt

When Abraham's servant heard their answer, he bowed down to the ground and worshiped the LORD.

Genesis 24 verses

Genesis 24 52 Meaning

Genesis 24:52 describes Abraham's servant's immediate and profound act of worship and gratitude. Upon hearing Laban and Bethuel's definitive words confirming their consent for Rebekah to go with him, the servant instinctively bowed himself deeply to the earth and worshipped Yahweh, acknowledging God's direct and sovereign orchestration of his successful mission to find a wife for Isaac. This act signified his humble recognition of divine providence and answered prayer.

Genesis 24 52 Context

Genesis chapter 24 details Abraham's critical mission to secure a wife for his son Isaac, specifically from his ancestral homeland rather than among the Canaanites, to preserve his lineage according to God's covenant promise. He sends his chief servant (believed to be Eliezer), binding him by a solemn oath to undertake this task. The servant journeys to Nahor, Mesopotamia, and there, at a well, he prays a precise prayer to God for clear guidance in identifying the chosen woman. Providentially, Rebekah, Abraham's grand-niece, appears and fulfills all the servant's specific requests. After confirming her identity, the servant returns with her to her family's house to seek formal consent. In Genesis 24:50-51, Rebekah's brother Laban and father Bethuel acknowledge, "This thing comes from the Lord; we cannot speak bad or good to you." Verse 52 follows immediately, showcasing the servant's spontaneous, deep spiritual response upon hearing this confirmation, signifying God's unmistakable hand in the successful unfolding of his mission.

Genesis 24 52 Word analysis

• And it came to pass: Vayhi (וַיְהִי). This common Hebrew narrative marker often signals a transition or a significant event that logically follows previous actions. It highlights the direct consequence and fulfillment of the events.

• when Abraham's servant: Refers to the unnamed, yet profoundly faithful, chief servant of Abraham (possibly Eliezer, per Gen 15:2-3). His identity is rooted in his faithful representation of Abraham and, by extension, God's will. His immediate and consistent response throughout the chapter exemplifies genuine trust and spiritual awareness.

• heard their words: Refers to the decisive declaration by Laban and Bethuel in Gen 24:50-51, acknowledging God's explicit intervention ("This thing has come from the Lord"). Their words served as the final confirmation to the servant that his mission was indeed divinely ordained and accomplished.

• he bowed himself: Vayyishtaḥawu (וַיִּשְׁתַּחֻוּ), a form of the verb shachah (שָׁחָה). This denotes a physical act of prostration, lying flat on the ground. It is an expression of deep respect, humility, reverence, and submission. In biblical contexts, it is often a prelude to or a form of worship.

• to the earth: La'aretz (לָאָרֶץ). This prepositional phrase emphasizes the totality and depth of the physical act of bowing. It implies a full prostration, signifying absolute humility and awe before a superior being, in this case, God.

• and worshipped: Vayyishtaḥawu (וַיִּשְׁתַּחֻוּ). Strikingly, this is the identical verbal form, shachah, repeated. The repetition emphasizes that the servant's physical act of bowing "to the earth" was intrinsically an act of worship toward God. It intensifies the meaning, indicating that the outward action was a complete manifestation of profound inward reverence, adoration, and thanksgiving. It is a full surrender of self in praise.

• the Lord: LaYHWH (לַיהוָה). This refers to Yahweh, the covenant name of God revealed to Abraham. It specifies that the servant's worship was directed exclusively to the true and living God, the God of Abraham, who actively intervenes in the affairs of His people to fulfill His promises.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "He bowed himself to the earth, and worshipped the Lord": This phrase succinctly combines physical posture with spiritual disposition. The physical act of prostration (bowing to the earth) transitions seamlessly and instantly into an act of heartfelt spiritual adoration (worshipping the Lord). This indicates that the servant's external action perfectly mirrored his internal gratitude and profound reverence for Yahweh's undeniable intervention and faithfulness. It exemplifies an integrated, holistic act of worship, demonstrating that recognition of God's work should lead directly to deep homage.

Genesis 24 52 Bonus section

The narrative repeatedly highlights the servant's spiritual maturity, contrasting with other biblical figures who might doubt or attribute success to their own efforts. His journey of faith, marked by prayer, observation, and worship, positions him as a significant yet unnamed exemplar of righteous living in Genesis. This verse specifically underscores that recognition of God's active involvement ("this thing comes from the Lord") should culminate in direct and humble worship. The servant's worship secures the spiritual and theological weight of Rebekah's acquisition as more than a tribal negotiation; it is a divinely appointed covenant event leading to the perpetuation of the Messianic line through Isaac.

Genesis 24 52 Commentary

Genesis 24:52 offers a powerful illustration of authentic faith and immediate responsiveness to divine providence. Abraham's servant, a figure of profound integrity and spiritual sensitivity, exemplifies the proper response when God's hand is unmistakably revealed. His spontaneous act of prostration and worship upon hearing the family's consent to Rebekah's departure signifies not merely polite gratitude but a deep-seated acknowledgment that the success of his seemingly impossible mission was solely attributable to Yahweh's guiding hand. This verse teaches us that God actively orchestrates life's details to fulfill His purposes and that His people are called to recognize and respond to His work with humility, adoration, and fervent thanksgiving. It underscores that true worship flows from a heart that discerns and appreciates God's faithfulness, turning every answered prayer and providential event into an occasion for reverent adoration.