The Meaning of Genesis 24:31 Explained

Genesis 24:31

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

YLT: And he saith, 'Come in, O blessed one of Jehovah, why standest thou without, and I -- I have prepared the house and place for the camels!'

Darby: And he said, Come in, blessed of Jehovah! why standest thou outside? for I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.

ASV: And he said, Come in, thou blessed of Jehovah. Wherefore standest thou without? For I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Genesis 24:31 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 24:28-49 - Abraham's Servant Fulfills His Mission
This worthy man was almost garrulous about his master. Count the number of times in which he contrives to introduce those two words, "my master." He put the errand on which he had come before his necessary food, and poured out his story in a stream of crystal utterance, which was the highest eloquence. This identification of his thought and speech with his master's interests is full of teaching for us all. He could talk of nothing else, was only anxious not to fail for Abraham's sake; and took the favorable reply as kindness shown to him whom he represented. George Herbert caught the same spirit when he spoke of "the aromatic fragrance" of "My Master" when applied to Jesus. We, too, are called to be ambassadors, as though God did beseech men by us. If we are in the way of God's will, be sure that the Lord will not only lead, but lead "in the right way," and will create for us a sympathetic reception whither we go. [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 24:31 mean?

And he said come in blessed of Yahweh Why do you stand outside for I have prepared the house and a place for the camels
וַיֹּ֕אמֶר בּ֖וֹא בְּר֣וּךְ יְהוָ֑ה לָ֤מָּה תַעֲמֹד֙ ؟ בַּח֔וּץ וְאָנֹכִי֙ פִּנִּ֣יתִי הַבַּ֔יִת וּמָק֖וֹם לַגְּמַלִּֽים

וַיֹּ֕אמֶר  And  he  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
בּ֖וֹא  come  in 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
בְּר֣וּךְ  blessed 
Parse: Verb, Qal, QalPassParticiple, masculine singular construct
Root: בָּרַךְ 
Sense: to bless, kneel.
יְהוָ֑ה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
לָ֤מָּה  Why 
Parse: Interrogative
Root: לָמָּה 
Sense: what, how, of what kind.
תַעֲמֹד֙  do  you  stand 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: עָמַד  
Sense: to stand, remain, endure, take one’s stand.
؟ בַּח֔וּץ  outside 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: חוּץ  
Sense: outside, outward, street, the outside.
וְאָנֹכִי֙  for  I 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, first person common singular
Root: אָנׄכִי  
Sense: I (first pers.
פִּנִּ֣יתִי  have  prepared 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: פֹּונֶה 
Sense: to turn.
הַבַּ֔יִת  the  house 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
וּמָק֖וֹם  and  a  place 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מָקֹום  
Sense: standing place, place.
לַגְּמַלִּֽים  for  the  camels 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: גָּמָל  
Sense: camel.