The Meaning of Genesis 24:2 Explained

Genesis 24:2

KJV: And 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:

YLT: and Abraham saith unto his servant, the eldest of his house, who is ruling over all that he hath, 'Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh,

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

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

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And 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: 

What does Genesis 24:2 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 24:1-9 - A Wife Sought For Isaac
It is all-important that the children of God's people should marry only in the Lord. See 1 Corinthians 7:39. So only can we hope to perpetuate, as Malachi teaches, a godly seed. But those who live in fellowship with Him may confidently count on His angels being sent to co-operate in securing this desirable issue. Every marriage should be a matter for profound concern and much prayer, both for the parents of each, as well as for those that are to be wed. What wonder that so many marriages turn out to be a disappointment and a curse when they are entered upon so lightly and thoughtlessly! In this graphic chapter we may find a close analogy to the work of the Holy Spirit, who has come forth during the present age to seek a bride for the Son of God, in the Church that He is gathering out of the world. There is always a "peradventure" that the soul may be unwilling at first, but He plies it with overwhelming arguments, as we shall see. [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 24:2 mean?

So said Abraham to the servant oldest of his house ruling over all that he had put please your hand under my thigh
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אַבְרָהָ֗ם אֶל־ עַבְדּוֹ֙ זְקַ֣ן בֵּית֔וֹ הַמֹּשֵׁ֖ל בְּכָל־ אֲשֶׁר־ ל֑וֹ שִֽׂים־ נָ֥א יָדְךָ֖ תַּ֥חַת יְרֵכִֽי

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר  So  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אַבְרָהָ֗ם  Abraham 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַבְרָהָם  
Sense: friend of God and founder of Hebrew nation via God’s elective covenant.
עַבְדּוֹ֙  the  servant 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: עֶבֶד  
Sense: slave, servant.
זְקַ֣ן  oldest 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular construct
Root: זָקֵן  
Sense: old.
בֵּית֔וֹ  of  his  house 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
הַמֹּשֵׁ֖ל  ruling 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: מָשַׁל  
Sense: to rule, have dominion, reign.
בְּכָל־  over  all 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
אֲשֶׁר־  that 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
ל֑וֹ  he  had 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
שִֽׂים־  put 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: שׂוּמָה 
Sense: to put, place, set, appoint, make.
נָ֥א  please 
Parse: Interjection
Root: נָא  
Sense: I (we) pray, now, please.
יָדְךָ֖  your  hand 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
תַּ֥חַת  under 
Parse: Preposition
Root: מִתְחָה 
Sense: the under part, beneath, instead of, as, for, for the sake of, flat, unto, where, whereas.
יְרֵכִֽי  my  thigh 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: יָרֵךְ  
Sense: thigh, side, loin, base.