Genesis 24:64 kjv

And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel.

Genesis 24:64 nkjv

Then Rebekah lifted her eyes, and when she saw Isaac she dismounted from her camel;

Genesis 24:64 niv

Rebekah also looked up and saw Isaac. She got down from her camel

Genesis 24:64 esv

And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she dismounted from the camel

Genesis 24:64 nlt

When Rebekah looked up and saw Isaac, she quickly dismounted from her camel.

Genesis 24 verses

Genesis 24 64 Meaning

This verse describes Rebekah's immediate reaction upon seeing Isaac for the first time as she approached his home. It highlights a pivotal moment where divine leading culminates in human encounter. Rebekah, realizing the identity of the man in the field, instinctively dismounts from her camel, an act signifying profound humility, respect, and readiness for a new life under the leading of God's providence, and ultimately, a new union.

Genesis 24 64 Context

Genesis chapter 24 details Abraham’s unwavering faith in God's covenant promises, leading him to ensure Isaac's wife would come from his own kindred, not the idolatrous Canaanites. Abraham sent his eldest servant, Eleazar, on a mission that became a powerful display of divine guidance and providential orchestration. The servant, upon reaching Nahor, prayed for a clear sign, which Rebekah provided perfectly (Gen 24:12-27). After her family’s consent (Gen 24:50-58), Rebekah embarked on a long journey, demonstrating her willingness to trust God and move into the unknown. The verse follows Isaac, who was meditating in the field, a man spiritually prepared for the encounter. This meeting is the long-awaited culmination of Eleazar’s mission and Rebekah’s journey of faith, symbolizing the convergence of two divinely appointed paths into a unified covenant life. The cultural context underscores the significance of respectful conduct in first encounters, especially when approaching a suitor.

Genesis 24 64 Word analysis

• And Rebekah (וְרִבְקָה - ve-Rivqah): Refers to the main subject, highlighting her agency in this crucial moment. Rebekah is a character characterized by quick action, generosity, and obedience to a divine calling earlier in the chapter. Her presence here signifies the completion of her faithful journey from her homeland.
• lifted up (וַתִּשָּׂא - vatissa' from nasa'): Meaning "to raise" or "to lift." It denotes an intentional, decisive action. This is not a casual glance but a deliberate upward movement of the eyes, often used in scripture to indicate looking intently, considering, or anticipating something significant. It implies a heightened state of awareness and focus.
• her eyes (עֵינֶיהָ - `eynèha): Her organs of sight, but metaphorically representing perception and understanding. The act of "lifting her eyes" is a biblical motif for attentive observation, often in the context of significant revelation or realization (e.g., Abraham looking towards Sodom, or Lot surveying the Jordan valley). Here, it suggests she was actively searching and perceiving beyond just casual sight.
• and when she saw (וַתֵּרֶא - vatére' from ra'ah): Meaning "to see" or "to perceive." This is beyond a mere physical sighting; it implies recognition and comprehension. She didn't just see a man; she understood, likely from his posture (meditating) or from the servant's previous description, that this was Isaac, her betrothed.
• Isaac (יִצְחָק - Yitschaq): The promised son of Abraham, the heir of the covenant, the next patriarch in the lineage through whom God’s promises would be fulfilled. His identity is central to the verse's significance, as it's her response to seeing him specifically.
• she lighted off (וַתִּפֹּל - vatipol from napal): Meaning "to fall," "to lie down," or "to dismount" (as a rider). This term emphasizes a swift, decisive, and perhaps even humble descent. It's not a slow, casual getting off, but an abrupt "alighting" or "falling off" the camel.
• the camel (מֵעַל הַגָּמָל - me'al ha-gamal): The means of her long journey, symbolizing her past life and journey, which she now puts aside. Dismounting signifies respect for Isaac and humility before him, an acknowledgement of his status as the covenant heir and her future husband. It is also an act of readiness to meet him on his ground, reflecting submission and anticipation for her new role and life.

Words-group analysis:

• "And Rebekah lifted up her eyes": This phrase captures Rebekah's initiative in perception. She is actively observing, rather than passively waiting. Her "lifting her eyes" suggests keen interest and a ready anticipation, possibly combined with an earnest desire to recognize Isaac whom she had traveled far to meet.
• "and when she saw Isaac": This is the moment of recognition. It emphasizes that upon seeing Isaac, specifically, she acted. The object of her gaze and the ensuing action are inextricably linked. This "seeing" is the catalyst for her immediate and deferential response.
• "she lighted off the camel": This is the crucial physical action revealing her inner state. It is an act of honor and submission to her future husband. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, dismounting upon meeting an important person was a sign of great respect and deference (cf. Abigail meeting David, 1 Sam 25:23). It implies a complete dedication to this new phase of her life, leaving behind her journey and presenting herself ready for the union.

Genesis 24 64 Bonus section

The immediate dismounting by Rebekah suggests more than just politeness; it implies a swift, internal acknowledgment of her destined path and her immediate embrace of her future role. It serves as a beautiful type:

• Isaac as a Type of Christ: Isaac, waiting in the field, meditating, quietly prepared to receive his bride, typifies Christ, the heavenly Bridegroom.
• Rebekah as a Type of the Church: Rebekah, traveling from a distant land, recognizing her groom, and humbling herself before him, typifies the Church (the bride of Christ) on her journey to meet her Savior, anticipating His coming and demonstrating reverence.
• The Servant as a Type of the Holy Spirit: The servant Eleazar, sent by Abraham (a type of God the Father) to bring the bride, prefigures the Holy Spirit, who guides and prepares the Church for union with Christ.The location, "in the field," where Isaac was meditating, adds to the quiet, spiritual reverence of the encounter, setting a sacred stage for this divinely arranged meeting. This contrasts sharply with unions born of worldly ambition or fleeting passion.

Genesis 24 64 Commentary

Genesis 24:64 marks a profoundly significant moment in the unfolding narrative of God's covenant with Abraham, reaching a climax with Isaac’s betrothal. Rebekah's "lifting up her eyes" speaks to an eager, discerning anticipation; she wasn't merely looking but searching for the man who was to be her destiny. Upon recognizing Isaac, her swift action of dismounting her camel is rich in meaning. This humble gesture communicates reverence and respect, aligning with cultural customs where one would alight to honor a superior or respected figure. Spiritually, it signifies a casting aside of the vehicle that brought her, embracing her new calling and place with unreserved humility. It’s an act of ready obedience and submission to the divine will evident in this divinely orchestrated match. This instant response symbolizes her immediate embrace of her future, putting off the past (the journey) to fully enter her new relationship with Isaac, who embodies the promises of God. Her humility in dismounting precedes her elevation to becoming the mother of nations and a foundational matriarch of Israel, embodying the principle that true elevation often follows humble submission.