Genesis 24:40
New International Version
“He replied, ‘The LORD, before whom I have walked faithfully, will send his angel with you and make your journey a success, so that you can get a wife for my son from my own clan and from my father’s family.

New Living Translation
He responded, ‘The LORD, in whose presence I have lived, will send his angel with you and will make your mission successful. Yes, you must find a wife for my son from among my relatives, from my father’s family.

English Standard Version
But he said to me, ‘The LORD, before whom I have walked, will send his angel with you and prosper your way. You shall take a wife for my son from my clan and from my father’s house.

Berean Standard Bible
And he told me, ‘The LORD, before whom I have walked, will send His angel with you and make your journey a success, so that you may take a wife for my son from my kindred and from my father’s house.

King James Bible
And he said unto me, The LORD, before whom I walk, will send his angel with thee, and prosper thy way; and thou shalt take a wife for my son of my kindred, and of my father's house:

New King James Version
But he said to me, ‘The LORD, before whom I walk, will send His angel with you and prosper your way; and you shall take a wife for my son from my family and from my father’s house.

New American Standard Bible
And he said to me, ‘The LORD, before whom I have walked, will send His angel with you to make your journey successful, and you will take a wife for my son from my relatives and from my father’s house;

NASB 1995
“He said to me, ‘The LORD, before whom I have walked, will send His angel with you to make your journey successful, and you will take a wife for my son from my relatives and from my father’s house;

NASB 1977
“And he said to me, ‘The LORD, before whom I have walked, will send His angel with you to make your journey successful, and you will take a wife for my son from my relatives, and from my father’s house;

Legacy Standard Bible
And he said to me, ‘Yahweh, before whom I have walked, will send His angel with you and will make your journey successful, and you will take a wife for my son from my family and from my father’s house.

Amplified Bible
He said to me, ‘The LORD, before whom I walk [habitually and obediently], will send His angel with you to make your journey successful, and you will take a wife for my son from my relatives and from my father’s house;

Christian Standard Bible
He said to me, ‘The LORD before whom I have walked will send his angel with you and make your journey a success, and you will take a wife for my son from my clan and from my father’s family.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He said to me, ‘The LORD before whom I have walked will send His angel with you and make your journey a success, and you will take a wife for my son from my family and from my father’s household.

American Standard Version
And he said unto me, Jehovah, before whom I walk, will send his angel with thee, and prosper thy way; and thou shalt take a wife for my son of my kindred, and of my father's house:

Contemporary English Version
My master answered, "I have always obeyed the LORD, and he will send his angel to help you find my son a wife from among my own relatives.

English Revised Version
And he said unto me, The LORD, before whom I walk, will send his angel with thee, and prosper thy way; and thou shalt take a wife for my son of my kindred, and of my father's house:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"He answered me, 'I have been living the way the LORD wants me to. The LORD will send his angel with you to make your trip successful. You will get my son a wife from my relatives and from my father's family.

Good News Translation
He answered, 'The LORD, whom I have always obeyed, will send his angel with you and give you success. You will get for my son a wife from my own people, from my father's family.

International Standard Version
"Abraham told me, 'The LORD, who is with me wherever I go, will send his angel with you to make your journey successful. So you are to choose a wife for my son from my family, from my father's household.

NET Bible
He answered, 'The LORD, before whom I have walked, will send his angel with you. He will make your journey a success and you will find a wife for my son from among my relatives, from my father's family.

New Heart English Bible
But he said to me, ‘God, before whom I walk, will send his angel with you, and make your journey successful, and you will get a wife for my son from my relatives, and of my father’s house.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he said to me, The LORD, before whom I walk, will send his angel with thee, and prosper thy way; and thou shalt take a wife for my son of my kindred, and of my father's house.
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
And he told me, ‘The LORD, before whom I have walked, will send His angel with you and make your journey a success, so that you may take a wife for my son from my kindred and from my father’s house.

World English Bible
He said to me, ‘Yahweh, before whom I walk, will send his angel with you, and prosper your way. You shall take a wife for my son from my relatives, and of my father’s house.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and he says to me, YHWH, before whom I have habitually walked, sends His messenger with you, and has prospered your way, and you have taken a wife for my son from my family, and from the house of my father;

Young's Literal Translation
and he saith unto me, Jehovah, before whom I have walked habitually, doth send His messenger with thee, and hath prospered thy way, and thou hast taken a wife for my son from my family, and from the house of my father;

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will say to me, Jehovah, before whose face I walked, will send his messenger with thee, and prosper thy way, and thou shalt take a wife to my son from my family, and from my father's house.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The Lord, said he, in whose sight I walk, will send his angel with thee, and will direct thy way: and thou shalt take a wife for my son of my own kindred, and of my father's house.

Catholic Public Domain Version
‘The Lord,’ he said, ‘in whose sight I walk, will send his Angel with you, and he will direct your way. And you shall take a wife for my son from my own kindred and from my father’s house.

New American Bible
he replied: ‘The LORD, in whose presence I have always walked, will send his angel with you and make your journey successful, and so you will get a wife for my son from my own family and my father’s house.

New Revised Standard Version
But he said to me, ‘The LORD, before whom I walk, will send his angel with you and make your way successful. You shall get a wife for my son from my kindred, from my father’s house.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And he said to me, The LORD before whom I worship will send his angel with you, and prosper your way; and you shall take a wife for my son of my kindred and of my father's house;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And my Lord said to me, “LORD JEHOVAH, before whom I serve, He will send his Angel with you and he will establish your road and take a woman for my son from my family and from the house of my father:
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And he said unto me: The LORD, before whom I walk, will send His angel with thee, and prosper thy way; and thou shalt take a wife for my son of my kindred, and of my father's house;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And he said to me, The Lord God to whom I have been acceptable in his presence, himself shall send out his angel with thee, and shall prosper thy journey, and thou shalt take a wife for my son of my tribe, and of the house of my father.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Rebekah is Chosen
39Then I asked my master, ‘What if the woman will not come back with me?’ 40And he told me, ‘The LORD, before whom I have walked, will send His angel with you and make your journey a success, so that you may take a wife for my son from my kindred and from my father’s house. 41And when you go to my kindred, if they refuse to give her to you, then you will be released from my oath.’…

Cross References
Genesis 26:24
and that night the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your descendants for the sake of My servant Abraham.”

Genesis 28:15
Look, I am with you, and I will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

Exodus 23:20
Behold, I am sending an angel before you to protect you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared.

Exodus 33:14
And the LORD answered, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Deuteronomy 31:8
The LORD Himself goes before you; He will be with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.”

Joshua 1:5
No one shall stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so will I be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.

Judges 6:12
And the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon and said, “The LORD is with you, O mighty man of valor.”

1 Samuel 16:13
So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward. Then Samuel set out and went to Ramah.

1 Kings 8:57
May the LORD our God be with us, as He was with our fathers. May He never leave us or forsake us.

Isaiah 41:10
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

Isaiah 63:9
In all their distress, He too was afflicted, and the Angel of His Presence saved them. In His love and compassion He redeemed them; He lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.

Matthew 28:20
and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Luke 1:19
“I am Gabriel,” replied the angel. “I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.

John 14:16-17
And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever— / the Spirit of truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you do know Him, for He abides with you and will be in you.

John 14:26
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you.


Treasury of Scripture

And he said to me, The LORD, before whom I walk, will send his angel with you, and prosper your way; and you shall take a wife for my son of my kindred, and of my father's house:

And he.

Genesis 24:7
The LORD God of heaven, which took me from my father's house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.

before.

Genesis 5:22,24
And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: …

Genesis 6:9
These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.

Genesis 17:1
And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.

will.

Genesis 24:7
The LORD God of heaven, which took me from my father's house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.

Exodus 23:20
Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.

Exodus 33:2
And I will send an angel before thee; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite:

Jump to Previous
Angel Clan Family Father's Habitually House Journey Kept Kindred Possible Prosper Relations Relatives Success Successful Walk Walked Way Wife
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Angel Clan Family Father's Habitually House Journey Kept Kindred Possible Prosper Relations Relatives Success Successful Walk Walked Way Wife
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.














And he told me,
This phrase refers to the servant of Abraham recounting the instructions given to him by his master. It highlights the importance of oral tradition and communication in ancient times, where verbal instructions were often the primary means of conveying important messages.

‘The LORD, before whom I have walked,
This phrase emphasizes Abraham's relationship with God, characterized by faith and obedience. Walking before the LORD implies living a life in accordance with God's will, a theme that is central to the narrative of Abraham's life. This relationship is foundational to the covenant promises made to Abraham and his descendants.

will send His angel with you
The mention of an angel signifies divine guidance and protection. In biblical narratives, angels often serve as messengers or agents of God's will. This assurance of angelic accompaniment underscores the belief in God's active involvement in the affairs of His people, a recurring theme throughout Scripture.

and make your journey a success,
Success in this context is attributed to divine intervention rather than human effort alone. This reflects the biblical principle that true success comes from aligning one's actions with God's purposes. The journey's success is crucial for the fulfillment of God's covenant promises to Abraham.

so that you may take a wife for my son
The quest for a wife for Isaac is not merely a personal family matter but is integral to the continuation of God's covenant with Abraham. Marriage within the family line ensures the preservation of the covenantal promises and the purity of the chosen lineage.

from my kindred and from my father’s house.
This requirement highlights the importance of maintaining cultural and religious identity through marriage. It reflects the broader biblical theme of separation from surrounding pagan influences to preserve the faith and practices of the covenant community. This directive also foreshadows the later Israelite laws concerning marriage and the avoidance of foreign alliances.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Abraham
The patriarch who is speaking in this verse, expressing his faith in God's guidance for finding a wife for his son, Isaac.

2. The LORD
The covenant God of Abraham, who is believed to guide and ensure the success of the mission.

3. The Angel
A divine messenger sent by God to ensure the success of the servant's journey.

4. The Servant
Likely Eliezer, Abraham's trusted servant, tasked with finding a wife for Isaac.

5. Abraham's Clan and Father's House
The family and lineage from which Abraham desires a wife for Isaac, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the covenant lineage.
Teaching Points
Faith in God's Guidance
Abraham's confidence in God's provision serves as a model for trusting God in our own decisions and journeys.

Divine Assistance
The mention of an angel underscores the belief in God's active involvement in the lives of believers, providing guidance and protection.

Covenant Faithfulness
Abraham's insistence on a wife from his own clan highlights the importance of maintaining spiritual and covenantal integrity in relationships.

Obedience and Success
The success of the servant's mission is tied to obedience to God's direction, illustrating the principle that true success comes from following God's will.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of Genesis 24:40?

2. How does Genesis 24:40 demonstrate God's guidance in decision-making processes?

3. What role does faith play in trusting God's promises in Genesis 24:40?

4. How can we apply the servant's obedience in Genesis 24:40 to our lives?

5. How does Genesis 24:40 connect to God's covenant promises in Genesis 12:1-3?

6. What steps can we take to ensure we walk "in the way" of the Lord?

7. How does Genesis 24:40 reflect God's guidance in our personal journeys today?

8. What does Genesis 24:40 reveal about divine intervention in human affairs?

9. How does the angel's role in Genesis 24:40 influence our understanding of spiritual guidance?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Genesis 24?

11. Who is Jacob, also known as Israel?

12. What does the Bible say about lacking faith?

13. How could Elijah survive 40 days and 40 nights on a single meal with no mention of additional nourishment? (1 Kings 19:8)

14. How did Zechariah and Elizabeth become parents of John?
What Does Genesis 24:40 Mean
And he told me

Abraham’s servant is repeating his master’s words to Rebekah’s family (Genesis 24:37–38). This repetition stresses that he is under direct commission, not acting on personal whim.

Genesis 24:3–4 shows the servant receiving the oath-bound charge.

2 Kings 5:15 and Luke 1:19 illustrate other moments when messengers faithfully relay a superior’s exact words, underscoring accountability.


The LORD

Abraham invokes the covenant name of God, the One who called him out of Ur (Genesis 12:1) and cut a covenant with him (Genesis 15:18).

Exodus 3:15 confirms the enduring nature of this name.

Psalm 100:3 reminds us, “Know that the LORD is God.” The trustworthiness of the mission rests on God’s own character.


before whom I have walked

Abraham’s life has been lived openly under God’s gaze (“Walk before Me and be blameless,” Genesis 17:1).

1 Kings 9:4 uses identical language of David.

Micah 6:8 echoes the call “to walk humbly with your God.” Abraham’s testimony supplies the servant with confidence: the God who guided the past will govern the present errand.


will send His angel with you

Divine accompaniment is promised. Old Testament appearances of angels often mark pivotal covenant moments.

Genesis 16:7 (Hagar) and Genesis 22:11 (Mount Moriah) reveal the “angel of the LORD.”

Exodus 23:20 declares, “I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way.”

Psalm 91:11 affirms that angels guard God’s people in their paths. The servant can expect invisible, active help.


and make your journey a success

The goal is not mere travel, but prosperity in God’s purpose.

Joshua 1:8 ties success to obedience to the word.

Proverbs 3:5–6 promises, “He will make your paths straight.”

Nehemiah 2:20 echoes, “The God of heaven will give us success.” Abraham is certain: God’s blessing guarantees outcome.


so that you may take a wife for my son

The task is focused: secure a covenant partner for Isaac. Marriage here is missional, preserving the line through which promised blessing will flow (Genesis 22:18).

Genesis 2:24 establishes marriage’s divine design.

Genesis 24:67 shows Isaac receiving Rebekah in love, fulfilling the mission.

Ephesians 5:31 cites the same foundational pattern for every generation.


from my kindred

Abraham insists the bride come from within the extended family, safeguarding spiritual unity and covenant faith.

Genesis 28:1–2 repeats the pattern for Jacob.

Deuteronomy 7:3–4 warns Israel against intermarriage with idol-worshiping nations because “they will turn your sons away from following Me.”


and from my father’s house

The specification narrows to Nahor’s household in Mesopotamia (Genesis 24:10).

Genesis 11:31–32 names that family base in Haran.

Ruth 2:1 later shows God working redemptively within extended kin networks again. Abraham believes the right wife is already waiting in the very lineage God had first called him from.


summary

Genesis 24:40 captures Abraham’s settled faith: the same LORD he has walked with will actively direct the servant’s steps through angelic guidance, ensure a successful outcome, and preserve the covenant line by providing Isaac a wife from their own people. The verse models confident reliance on God’s personal leadership, the legitimacy of angelic ministry, and the priority of safeguarding covenant faithfulness in marriage.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And he told
וַיֹּ֖אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

me,
אֵלָ֑י (’ê·lāy)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

‘The LORD,
יְהוָ֞ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

before
לְפָנָ֗יו (lə·p̄ā·nāw)
Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6440: The face

whom
אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

I have walked,
הִתְהַלַּ֣כְתִּי (hiṯ·hal·laḵ·tî)
Verb - Hitpael - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

will send
יִשְׁלַ֨ח (yiš·laḥ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out

His angel
מַלְאָכ֤וֹ (mal·’ā·ḵōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 4397: A messenger, of God, an angel

with you
אִתָּךְ֙ (’it·tāḵ)
Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's 854: Nearness, near, with, by, at, among

and make your journey
דַּרְכֶּ֔ךָ (dar·ke·ḵā)
Noun - common singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 1870: A road, a course of life, mode of action

a success,
וְהִצְלִ֣יחַ (wə·hiṣ·lî·aḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6743: To push forward

so that you may take
וְלָקַחְתָּ֤ (wə·lā·qaḥ·tā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 3947: To take

a wife
אִשָּׁה֙ (’iš·šāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female

for my son
לִבְנִ֔י (liḇ·nî)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1121: A son

from my kindred
מִמִּשְׁפַּחְתִּ֖י (mim·miš·paḥ·tî)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 4940: A family, circle of relatives, a class, a species, sort, a tribe, people

and from my father’s
אָבִֽי׃ (’ā·ḇî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1: Father

house.
וּמִבֵּ֥ית (ū·mib·bêṯ)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house


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OT Law: Genesis 24:40 He said to me 'Yahweh before whom (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 24:39
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