The Meaning of Genesis 24:21 Explained

Genesis 24:21

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

YLT: And the man, wondering at her, remaineth silent, to know whether Jehovah hath made his way prosperous or not.

Darby: And the man was astonished at her, remaining silent, to know whether Jehovah had made his journey prosperous or not.

ASV: And the man looked stedfastly on her, holding his peace, to know whether Jehovah had made his journey prosperous or not.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Genesis 24:21 Mean?

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 24:21 mean?

And the man gazing at her remained silent so as to know whether had made prosperous Yahweh his journey or not
וְהָאִ֥ישׁ מִשְׁתָּאֵ֖ה לָ֑הּ מַחֲרִ֕ישׁ לָדַ֗עַת הַֽהִצְלִ֧יחַ יְהוָ֛ה דַּרְכּ֖וֹ אִם־ לֹֽא

וְהָאִ֥ישׁ  And  the  man 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
מִשְׁתָּאֵ֖ה  gazing 
Parse: Verb, Hitpael, Participle, masculine singular construct
Root: שָׁאָה  
Sense: (Hithpael).
לָ֑הּ  at  her 
Parse: Preposition, third person feminine singular
מַחֲרִ֕ישׁ  remained  silent 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine singular
Root: חָרַשׁ 
Sense: to cut in, plough, engrave, devise.
לָדַ֗עַת  so  as  to  know 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
הַֽהִצְלִ֧יחַ  whether  had  made  prosperous 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: צָלַח 
Sense: (Qal) to rush.
יְהוָ֛ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
דַּרְכּ֖וֹ  his  journey 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: דֶּרֶךְ  
Sense: way, road, distance, journey, manner.