bowed down
Bowing down is a physical act of reverence and submission, common in ancient Near Eastern cultures. It signifies humility and acknowledgment of a higher authority. This act demonstrates the servant's recognition of God's sovereignty and his gratitude for divine guidance in his mission.

and worshiped
Worship here involves both an attitude of the heart and an outward expression. It is a response to God's faithfulness and provision. Worship in the Old Testament often included prayer, sacrifice, and thanksgiving, reflecting a deep relationship with God. This act of worship underscores the servant's acknowledgment of God's active role in the events unfolding.

the LORD
The use of "the LORD" (YHWH) indicates the covenant name of God, emphasizing His personal relationship with Abraham and his descendants. This name is associated with God's promises and faithfulness. The servant's worship of the LORD connects this event to the broader narrative of God's covenantal faithfulness, as seen throughout the patriarchal stories and ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who is the mediator of a new covenant.

• The word “Then” signals an immediate response to what has just happened. Abraham’s servant had prayed for clear guidance in verse 12 and watched God answer that prayer at the well (Genesis 24:15-21).

• By using “Then,” Scripture shows a cause-and-effect pattern: God acts first; His people respond. A similar rhythm appears when Moses relays God’s promises and “the people believed; and when they heard that the LORD had attended to the Israelites, they bowed down and worshiped” (Exodus 4:31).

• The timing underscores the servant’s sensitivity to God’s hand. He does not delay or weigh alternatives—he worships at once.

• “The man” refers to Abraham’s senior servant, traditionally understood to be Eliezer (Genesis 15:2). He has carried the weighty task of finding Isaac’s wife to secure God’s covenant line (Genesis 24:3-4).

• His anonymity in this verse shifts focus from the servant to the God who guides. In the same way, later in the chapter “Abraham’s servant” speaks little of himself but continually points to “the LORD, before whom I have walked” (Genesis 24:40).

• The scene reminds us that anyone—well-known or unnamed—can glorify God through obedient service (Colossians 3:23-24).

• Bowing is a visible act of humility. By lowering himself, the servant recognizes God’s exalted position. Psalm 95:6 extends the invitation: “Come, let us bow down in worship; let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.”

• The action also signals gratitude. When God brings deliverance, His people often fall facedown (2 Chronicles 20:18; Matthew 28:9).

• Physical expression matters: worship engages body as well as spirit, reinforcing inward reverence with outward posture (Romans 12:1).

• Worship here includes praise for God’s faithfulness. The servant soon testifies, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not withheld His loving devotion and faithfulness from my master” (Genesis 24:27).

• Worship is the servant’s first instinct, not a formality. Job responds the same way when everything collapses: “Then Job arose… and he fell to the ground and worshiped” (Job 1:20).

• True worship flows from recognition of God’s character and works—an attitude echoed by the healed Samaritan leper who “returned, glorifying God with a loud voice” (Luke 17:15-18).

• The object of worship is “the LORD” (Yahweh), the covenant-keeping God of Abraham. He alone guided the servant “on the right road to take the granddaughter of my master’s brother for his son” (Genesis 24:48).

• Focusing on the LORD guards against misplacing gratitude. The servant does not credit chance, Rebekah, or himself. He honors the One who directs every step (Proverbs 3:5-6).

• Throughout Scripture heavenly beings and redeemed saints center their worship on the LORD, falling before His throne (Revelation 7:11-12). The servant in Genesis joins that unbroken chorus.

Genesis 24:26 captures spontaneous, wholehearted praise: the moment God answers, the servant—an unnamed yet faithful emissary—drops to his knees and honors the LORD. His swift response models humility, gratitude, and God-centered focus. When we recognize God’s clear leading in our lives, the proper and immediate reaction is the same: bow low and worship the covenant-keeping LORD who guides, provides, and deserves all glory.

Parallel Commentaries ...