The Meaning of Genesis 24:14 Explained

Genesis 24:14

KJV: And 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.

YLT: and it hath been, the young person unto whom I say, Incline, I pray thee, thy pitcher, and I drink, and she hath said, Drink, and I water also thy camels) -- her Thou hast decided for Thy servant, for Isaac; and by it I know that Thou hast done kindness with my lord.'

Darby: And let it come to pass, that the maiden to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink, and who will say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also, be she whom thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and hereby I shall know that thou hast dealt kindly with my master.

ASV: And 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 showed kindness unto my master.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And 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. 

What does Genesis 24:14 Mean?

Study Notes

thereby
Judges 6:17 ; Judges 6:37 ; 2 Kings 20:9 ; Proverbs 16:33 ; Acts 1:26 . Cf: Matthew 12:39 . Signs are given to faith, not to doubt.

Context Summary

Genesis 24:10-27 - Rebekah Meets Abraham's Servant
As we enter upon a new day, or a fresh undertaking, it is always wise and right to ask for good-speed. Good-speed is God-speed. Praying times are not lost times. The reaper saves time when he stops to whet his scythe. Eliezer had learned a sincere respect for his master's piety, and felt that his name was a sure talisman with God. How much more may we ask in the name of Jesus! John 14:13. What a concentration of heaven-contrived circumstances gathered around this event! Abraham planning, the servant praying and waiting expectantly, the Angel of God leading, the very camels kneeling patiently beside the well as though they counted on the troughs being filled, the damsel coming at the precise hour! It is thus that all our daily life might be aglow with the presence and help of God. Such things take place, but, alas, our eyes are holden! Compare prosper in Genesis 24:21; Genesis 24:40; Genesis 24:42; Genesis 24:56, with Psalms 1:3. See Acts 10:17. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 24

1  Abraham swears his servant
10  The servant's journey
12  His prayer
14  His sign
15  Rebekah meets him;
18  fulfils his sign;
22  receives jewels;
23  shows her kindred;
25  and invites him home
26  The servant blesses God
29  Laban entertains him
34  The servant shows his message
50  Laban and Bethuel approve it
58  Rebekah consents to go, and departs
62  Isaac meets and marries her

What do the individual words in Genesis 24:14 mean?

And let it come to pass that the girl whom I say to let down please your pitcher that I may drink and she says Drink and also your camels I will water [let] her [be the one] You have appointed for Your servant Isaac and by this I will know that You have shown kindness to my master
וְהָיָ֣ה הַֽנַּעֲרָ֗ אֲשֶׁ֨ר אֹמַ֤ר אֵלֶ֙יהָ֙ הַטִּי־ נָ֤א כַדֵּךְ֙ וְאֶשְׁתֶּ֔ה וְאָמְרָ֣ה שְׁתֵ֔ה וְגַם־ גְּמַלֶּ֖יךָ אַשְׁקֶ֑ה אֹתָ֤הּ הֹכַ֙חְתָּ֙ לְעַבְדְּךָ֣ לְיִצְחָ֔ק וּבָ֣הּ אֵדַ֔ע כִּי־ עָשִׂ֥יתָ חֶ֖סֶד עִם־ אֲדֹנִֽי

וְהָיָ֣ה  And  let  it  come  to  pass 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
הַֽנַּעֲרָ֗  that  the  girl 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: נַעֲרָה  
Sense: girl, damsel, female servant.
אֲשֶׁ֨ר  whom 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
אֹמַ֤ר  I  say 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
הַטִּי־  let  down 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperative, feminine singular
Root: נָטָה 
Sense: to stretch out, extend, spread out, pitch, turn, pervert, incline, bend, bow.
נָ֤א  please 
Parse: Interjection
Root: נָא  
Sense: I (we) pray, now, please.
כַדֵּךְ֙  your  pitcher 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, second person feminine singular
Root: כַּד  
Sense: jar, large jar (portable).
וְאֶשְׁתֶּ֔ה  that  I  may  drink 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative if contextual, first person common singular
Root: שָׁתָה  
Sense: to drink.
וְאָמְרָ֣ה  and  she  says 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
שְׁתֵ֔ה  Drink 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: שָׁתָה  
Sense: to drink.
וְגַם־  and  also 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Conjunction
Root: גַּם  
Sense: also, even, indeed, moreover, yea.
גְּמַלֶּ֖יךָ  your  camels 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: גָּמָל  
Sense: camel.
אַשְׁקֶ֑ה  I  will  water 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: שָׁקָה  
Sense: to give to drink, irrigate, drink, water, cause to drink water.
אֹתָ֤הּ  [let]  her  [be  the  one] 
Parse: Direct object marker, third person feminine singular
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הֹכַ֙חְתָּ֙  You  have  appointed 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: יָכַח  
Sense: to prove, decide, judge, rebuke, reprove, correct, be right.
לְעַבְדְּךָ֣  for  Your  servant 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: עֶבֶד  
Sense: slave, servant.
לְיִצְחָ֔ק  Isaac 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִצְחָק  
Sense: son of Abraham by Sarah his wife and father of Jacob and Esau.
וּבָ֣הּ  and  by  this 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition, third person feminine singular
אֵדַ֔ע  I  will  know 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
כִּי־  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
עָשִׂ֥יתָ  You  have  shown 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
חֶ֖סֶד  kindness 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: חֶסֶד 
Sense: goodness, kindness, faithfulness.
אֲדֹנִֽי  my  master 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: אָדֹון  
Sense: firm, strong, lord, master.