Genesis

And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things.

1Abraham was very old now. The LORD had blessed him with good things in every way.

2And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:

2Abraham had a chief servant who took care of everything he owned. Abraham said, "Put your hand under my thigh."

NotePutting a hand under someone's thigh was an old way of making a very serious promise. It was like a handshake that could not be taken back.

3And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:

3"Promise before the LORD, the God of heaven and earth. Do not pick a wife for my son from the Canaanite women here."

4But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.

4"Instead, go to my own country and my own family. Find a wife there for my son Isaac."

5And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest?

5The servant asked, "What if the woman will not come back with me? Should I take your son to the land you came from?"

6And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again.

6Abraham said, "No. Be very careful. Do not take my son back there."

7The LORD God of heaven, which took me from my father’s house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.

7"The LORD, the God of heaven, took me from my father's house and my homeland. He spoke to me and promised, 'I will give this land to your family after you.' He will send his angel ahead of you. So you will find a wife for my son there."

8And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath: only bring not my son thither again.

8"If the woman will not come with you, then you are free from this promise. Only do not take my son back there."

9And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning that matter.

9So the servant put his hand under Abraham's thigh. He promised to do what Abraham asked.

10And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor.

10The servant took ten of his master's camels and set out. He carried all kinds of fine gifts from his master. He went to Mesopotamia, to the town where Nahor lived.

11And he made his camels to kneel down without the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, even the time that women go out to draw water.

11It was evening. He made the camels kneel by a well outside the town. That was the time women came to get water.

12And he said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham.

12He prayed, "LORD, God of my master Abraham, please help me today. Please be kind to my master Abraham."

13Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water:

13"Look, I am standing here by the well. The young women of the town are coming out to get water."

14And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master.

14"I will say to one girl, 'Please tip your jar so I can drink.' If she says, 'Drink, and I will water your camels too,' let her be the one you have chosen for Isaac. Then I will know you have been kind to my master."

15And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder.

15Before he finished praying, a girl named Rebekah came out. Her jar was on her shoulder. Her father was Bethuel, the son of Milcah and Nahor. Nahor was Abraham's brother.

16And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up.

16The girl was very pretty. She had never been with a man. She went down to the well, filled her jar, and came back up.

17And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher.

17The servant ran to meet her. He said, "Please let me drink a little water from your jar."

18And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink.

18"Drink, sir," she said. She quickly lowered her jar into her hands and gave him a drink.

19And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for thy camels also, until they have done drinking.

19When he was done drinking, she said, "I will get water for your camels too. I will keep going until they have had enough."

20And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels.

20She quickly poured her jar into the animals' water trough. She ran back to the well again. She got water for all his camels.

21And the man wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not.

21The man watched her and said nothing. He was wondering if the LORD had made his trip work out.

22And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold;

22When the camels finished drinking, the man took out a gold ring. It weighed half a shekel. He also took out two gold bracelets for her arms. They weighed ten shekels.

NoteA shekel was a small weight, close to the weight of a few coins. So the ring was light and the bracelets were much heavier.

23And said, Whose daughter art thou? tell me, I pray thee: is there room in thy father’s house for us to lodge in?

23He said, "Whose daughter are you? Please tell me. Is there room in your father's house for us to stay the night?"

24And she said unto him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, which she bare unto Nahor.

24She said, "My father is Bethuel. He is the son of Milcah and Nahor."

25She said moreover unto him, We have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in.

25She also said, "We have plenty of straw and food for your animals. We have room for you to stay."

26And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the LORD.

26Then the man bowed his head low and worshipped the LORD.

27And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I being in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master’s brethren.

27He said, "Thank you, LORD, God of my master Abraham. You have stayed kind and true to him. On my way, you led me right to the home of my master's family."

28And the damsel ran, and told them of her mother’s house these things.

28The girl ran home and told her mother's household what had happened.

29And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban: and Laban ran out unto the man, unto the well.

29Rebekah had a brother named Laban. Laban ran out to the man at the well.

30And it came to pass, when he saw the earring and bracelets upon his sister’s hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, Thus spake the man unto me; that he came unto the man; and, behold, he stood by the camels at the well.

30Laban had seen the ring and the bracelets on his sister. He had heard her say what the man told her. So he went out and found the man standing by the camels at the well.

31And he said, Come in, thou blessed of the LORD; wherefore standest thou without? for I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.

31Laban said, "Come in. The LORD has blessed you. Why are you standing out here? I have the house ready and a place for the camels."

32And the man came into the house: and he ungirded his camels, and gave straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet, and the men’s feet that were with him.

32So the man came into the house. The camels were unloaded. Straw and food were brought for them. Water was brought so he and his men could wash their feet.

33And there was set meat before him to eat: but he said, I will not eat, until I have told mine errand. And he said, Speak on.

33Food was set in front of him. But he said, "I will not eat until I tell you why I came." Laban said, "Go ahead and speak."

34And he said, I am Abraham’s servant.

34He said, "I am Abraham's servant."

35And the LORD hath blessed my master greatly; and he is become great: and he hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and menservants, and maidservants, and camels, and asses.

35"The LORD has blessed my master very much, and he has become rich. God gave him sheep, cattle, silver, gold, servants, camels, and donkeys."

36And Sarah my master’s wife bare a son to my master when she was old: and unto him hath he given all that he hath.

36"Sarah, my master's wife, had a son when she was old. My master has given that son everything he owns."

37And my master made me swear, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife to my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell:

37"My master made me promise this: 'Do not pick a wife for my son from the Canaanite women here.'"

38But thou shalt go unto my father’s house, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son.

38"'Instead, go to my father's house and my own family. Find a wife for my son there.'"

39And I said unto my master, Peradventure the woman will not follow me.

39"I asked my master, 'What if the woman will not come back with me?'"

40And 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:

40"He said, 'I have lived my whole life close to the LORD. He will send his angel with you. He will make your trip work out. You will find a wife for my son from my own family.'"

41Then shalt thou be clear from this my oath, when thou comest to my kindred; and if they give not thee one, thou shalt be clear from my oath.

41"'When you reach my family, you must ask them. If they will not give her to you, you are free from your promise.'"

42And I came this day unto the well, and said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, if now thou do prosper my way which I go:

42"So today I came to the well. I prayed, 'LORD, God of my master Abraham, please make my trip work out.'"

43Behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to pass, that when the virgin cometh forth to draw water, and I say to her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water of thy pitcher to drink;

43"'Look, I am standing by the well. A young woman will come out to get water. I will say, please give me a little water from your jar.'"

44And she say to me, Both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy camels: let the same be the woman whom the LORD hath appointed out for my master’s son.

44"'If she says, Drink, and I will get water for your camels too, then let her be the woman the LORD has chosen for my master's son.'"

45And before I had done speaking in mine heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down unto the well, and drew water: and I said unto her, Let me drink, I pray thee.

45"Before I finished praying quietly in my heart, Rebekah came out. Her jar was on her shoulder. She went down to the well and got water. I said, 'Please let me drink.'"

46And she made haste, and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: so I drank, and she made the camels drink also.

46"She quickly lowered her jar from her shoulder. She said, 'Drink, and I will water your camels too.' So I drank, and she watered the camels."

47And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter art thou? And she said, The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bare unto him: and I put the earring upon her face, and the bracelets upon her hands.

47"I asked her whose daughter she was. She said, 'My father is Bethuel, the son of Nahor and Milcah.' Then I put the ring on her nose and the bracelets on her arms."

48And I bowed down my head, and worshipped the LORD, and blessed the LORD God of my master Abraham, which had led me in the right way to take my master’s brother’s daughter unto his son.

48"I bowed my head low and worshipped the LORD. I thanked the God of my master Abraham. He led me the right way, straight to my master's own family, to find a wife for his son."

49And now if ye will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me: and if not, tell me; that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left.

49"Now tell me if you will be kind and true to my master. If not, tell me that too. Then I will know which way to go."

50Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from the LORD: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good.

50Laban and Bethuel answered, "This has come from the LORD. We cannot say anything for or against it."

51Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and go, and let her be thy master’s son’s wife, as the LORD hath spoken.

51"Rebekah is right here. Take her and go. Let her be the wife of your master's son, as the LORD has said."

52And it came to pass, that, when Abraham’s servant heard their words, he worshipped the LORD, bowing himself to the earth.

52When Abraham's servant heard their words, he bowed to the ground. He worshipped the LORD.

53And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things.

53Then the servant brought out silver and gold jewelry and fine clothes. He gave them to Rebekah. He gave costly gifts to her brother and her mother too.

54And they did eat and drink, he and the men that were with him, and tarried all night; and they rose up in the morning, and he said, Send me away unto my master.

54He and his men ate and drank and stayed the night. In the morning he said, "Please send me back to my master."

55And her brother and her mother said, Let the damsel abide with us a few days, at the least ten; after that she shall go.

55Her brother and her mother said, "Let the girl stay with us a while. Let her stay at least ten days. Then she may go."

56And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing the LORD hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master.

56He said, "Please do not hold me back. The LORD has made my trip work out. Send me on my way to my master."

57And they said, We will call the damsel, and enquire at her mouth.

57They said, "We will call the girl and ask her what she wants."

58And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go.

58They called Rebekah and asked, "Will you go with this man?" She said, "I will go."

59And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham’s servant, and his men.

59So they sent their sister Rebekah on her way. The woman who had cared for her since she was a baby went too. So did Abraham's servant and his men.

60And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them.

60They blessed Rebekah and said, "You are our sister. May you become the mother of thousands and thousands of people. May your family take the city gates of the people who hate them."

NoteThe gate was the way in and out of a walled town. Holding the gate meant holding the whole town.

61And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man: and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way.

61Rebekah and her servant girls got ready. They climbed onto the camels and followed the man. So the servant took Rebekah and started for home.

62And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahairoi; for he dwelt in the south country.

62Isaac had come back from a well called Beer-lahai-roi. He was living in the dry south country.

63And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming.

63One evening Isaac went out into the field to think quietly. He looked up and saw camels coming.

64And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel.

64Rebekah looked up and saw Isaac. She climbed down from her camel.

65For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she took a vail, and covered herself.

65She had asked the servant, "Who is that man walking in the field to meet us?" The servant said, "That is my master." So she took her veil and covered her face.

66And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done.

66Then the servant told Isaac everything he had done.

67And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.

67Isaac brought Rebekah into the tent of his mother Sarah. She became his wife, and he loved her. Isaac had been sad since his mother died. Now he felt comforted.