Genesis 24:6 kjv

And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again.

Genesis 24:6 nkjv

But Abraham said to him, "Beware that you do not take my son back there.

Genesis 24:6 niv

"Make sure that you do not take my son back there," Abraham said.

Genesis 24:6 esv

Abraham said to him, "See to it that you do not take my son back there.

Genesis 24:6 nlt

"No!" Abraham responded. "Be careful never to take my son there.

Genesis 24 verses

Genesis 24 6 Meaning

Genesis 24:6 records Abraham's absolute command to his chief servant concerning his son, Isaac. It sternly forbids the servant from bringing Isaac back to Mesopotamia, the land from which Abraham had originally come. This directive underscores the unnegotiable nature of God's promise regarding the land of Canaan as the eternal inheritance for Abraham's descendants and the necessity of keeping Isaac separated from the pagan influences of their former homeland.

Genesis 24 6 Context

Genesis chapter 24 details Abraham's critical mission to secure a wife for his son, Isaac. Abraham, now old and advanced in age, with God having blessed him in all things, is keenly aware of the importance of maintaining the purity of the promised lineage through Isaac. The covenant promises—including the inheritance of the land and the multiplication of a chosen people through whom all nations would be blessed—are contingent on Isaac having a suitable wife from his own kindred, rather than a Canaanite woman who practiced idolatry. This verse, Gen 24:6, represents Abraham's non-negotiable condition for the servant's journey: Isaac must, under no circumstances, be taken out of the promised land and back to Mesopotamia. It is a foundational boundary for the covenant's continuation.

Genesis 24 6 Word analysis

• And Abraham said unto him,

  • This sets the scene for a direct, authoritative command from Abraham to his most trusted servant. The context of an oath taken earlier (Gen 24:2-3) reinforces the gravity of these instructions.

• Beware thou (הִשָּׁמֶר לְךָ - hish·sha·mer le·kha)

  • From the Hebrew root shamar, meaning "to guard," "keep," "observe," or "beware."
  • The grammatical form is a Hithpael imperative, reflexive and intense. It implies a strong self-admonition: "Watch yourself carefully," "Take great heed to yourself."
  • Significance: It emphasizes the seriousness of the command and the dire consequences if it is violated. This is not a casual suggestion but a vital safeguard for the covenant.

• that thou bring not (לֹא־תָשִׁ֡יב - lo-ta·shîv)

  • lo is the negative particle, "not."
  • tashîv is the Hiphil imperfect of the verb shuv, meaning "to return" or "to bring back." The Hiphil form means "to cause to return" or "to bring back."
  • Significance: This directly forbids the action of the servant causing Isaac to return. It underscores Abraham's preventative posture.

• my son (אֶת־בְּנִֽי - et-bə·nî)

  • et is the direct object marker, indicating "my son" is the direct object of the verb "bring."
  • bə·nî is "my son." Refers specifically to Isaac, the son of promise through whom the covenant lineage is to continue (Gen 21:12).
  • Significance: Isaac's centrality to God's plan makes his position in the land non-negotiable. His presence in Canaan confirms God's ownership and gift of the land.

• thither again: (שָׁ֖מָּה - shāmāh)

  • Means "there" or "to that place." In this context, "that place" is implicitly Haran, in Mesopotamia, from where Abraham migrated (Gen 11:31, 12:4-5).
  • Significance: This phrase clearly delineates the forbidden territory—the pagan land of his ancestors, which Abraham was commanded by God to leave behind. It signifies not merely a geographical return, but a spiritual relapse into a context outside God's covenant purpose.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Beware thou that thou bring not my son": This entire phrase functions as a solemn, binding command. Abraham trusts his servant but ensures there is absolutely no misunderstanding or deviation from this specific, vital instruction. The emphatic warning (hishshamer lekha) highlights the immense spiritual stakes involved, extending beyond simply finding a wife to protecting the very lineage and land promises of God's covenant.

• "thither again": This phrase defines the specific place that is strictly off-limits for Isaac. It symbolizes the rejected past, the pagan world that God called Abraham out of. For Isaac to return would signify a rejection of Abraham's original call, the promised land, and the uniqueness of the covenant with God, potentially leading to assimilation and idolatry. The land of Canaan, the land of promise, was not merely a geographical location but the spiritual locus of God's unfolding plan. Isaac's continuous dwelling there was fundamental.

Genesis 24 6 Bonus section

• Abraham's instruction here is not a lack of concern for finding a wife, but an even greater concern for the fulfillment of the covenant and the purity of Isaac's line. The physical location of Isaac was intrinsically tied to the spiritual destiny of the people of God.
• This verse preempts any doubt that the servant might have had about "plan B" if the woman wouldn't come. Abraham closes off the most obvious alternative that a human mind might devise, leaving only God's provision as the way forward.
• The prohibition mirrors Abraham's own act of faith in leaving Haran and signifies the permanence of that departure. The "land of the father" (Haran) was no longer home, and Isaac must acknowledge this by his continuous residence in the land God had given.

Genesis 24 6 Commentary

Genesis 24:6 is a potent articulation of Abraham's faith and his deep understanding of God's covenant. It emphasizes several key theological truths. First, God's promises, especially concerning the land of Canaan, were foundational and inviolable. For Isaac, the heir of the promise, to return to Mesopotamia would undermine the divine commitment and symbolize a spiritual retreat to paganism, an environment devoid of God's covenant presence. Second, it highlights the principle of separation: Abraham, by God's command, left his family and culture (Gen 12:1), and now he insists that his son maintain that separation, safeguarding the spiritual purity of the nascent chosen people. Third, it reveals Abraham's conviction that God's plan would unfold in Canaan, not through human strategizing that risked spiritual compromise. He trusted that God would provide the way, even to bring a bride to Isaac in Canaan, rather than requiring Isaac to leave the promised land.

This verse serves as a crucial boundary and lesson for all believers. It teaches the importance of not looking back to our old lives, the "Egypt" of our past, once God has called us to a new path. It underscores the danger of spiritual backsliding and the necessity of preserving our separation from the world's influences in pursuit of God's calling and promises. Just as Isaac had to remain in the promised land, believers are called to abide in Christ and the sphere of His grace.