Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version The servant asked him, “What if the woman is unwilling to come back with me to this land? Shall I then take your son back to the country you came from?” New Living Translation The servant asked, “But what if I can’t find a young woman who is willing to travel so far from home? Should I then take Isaac there to live among your relatives in the land you came from?” English Standard Version The servant said to him, “Perhaps the woman may not be willing to follow me to this land. Must I then take your son back to the land from which you came?” Berean Standard Bible The servant asked him, “What if the woman is unwilling to follow me to this land? Shall I then take your son back to the land from which you came?” King James Bible And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest? New King James Version And the servant said to him, “Perhaps the woman will not be willing to follow me to this land. Must I take your son back to the land from which you came?” New American Standard Bible The servant said to him, “Suppose the woman is not willing to follow me to this land; should I take your son back to the land from where you came?” NASB 1995 The servant said to him, “Suppose the woman is not willing to follow me to this land; should I take your son back to the land from where you came?” NASB 1977 And the servant said to him, “Suppose the woman will not be willing to follow me to this land; should I take your son back to the land from where you came?” Legacy Standard Bible And the servant said to him, “Suppose the woman is not willing to follow me to this land; should I indeed take your son back to the land from where you came?” Amplified Bible The servant said to him, “Suppose the woman will not be willing to follow me back to this country; should I take your son back to the country from which you came?” Christian Standard Bible The servant said to him, “Suppose the woman is unwilling to follow me to this land? Should I have your son go back to the land you came from? ” Holman Christian Standard Bible The servant said to him, “Suppose the woman is unwilling to follow me to this land? Should I have your son go back to the land you came from?” American Standard Version And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest? Contemporary English Version But the servant asked, "What if the young woman I choose refuses to leave home and come here with me? Should I send Isaac there to look for a wife?" English Revised Version And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest? GOD'S WORD® Translation The servant asked him, "What if the woman doesn't want to come back to this land with me? Should I take your son all the way back to the land you came from?" Good News Translation But the servant asked, "What if the young woman will not leave home to come with me to this land? Shall I send your son back to the land you came from?" International Standard Version "What if the woman doesn't want to come back with me to this land?" the servant asked. "Shouldn't I have your son go to the land from which you came?" Majority Standard Bible The servant asked him, ?What if the woman is unwilling to follow me to this land? Shall I then take your son back to the land from which you came?? NET Bible The servant asked him, "What if the woman is not willing to come back with me to this land? Must I then take your son back to the land from which you came?" New Heart English Bible And the servant asked him, "What if the woman isn?t willing to follow me to this land? Must I then bring your son back to the land from which you came?" Webster's Bible Translation And the servant said to him, It may be the woman will not be willing to follow me to this land: must I needs bring thy son again to the land from whence thou camest? World English Bible The servant said to him, “What if the woman isn’t willing to follow me to this land? Must I bring your son again to the land you came from?” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd the servant says to him, “It may be the woman is not willing to come after me to this land; do I at all cause your son to return to the land from where you came out?” Young's Literal Translation And the servant saith unto him, 'It may be the woman is not willing to come after me unto this land; do I at all cause thy son to turn back unto the land from whence thou camest out?' Smith's Literal Translation And the servant will say to him, Perhaps the woman will not be willing to come after me to this land: shall I turning back, turn back your son to the land from whence thou camest? Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleThe servant answered: If the woman will not come with me into this land, must I bring thy son back again to the place, from whence thou camest out? Catholic Public Domain Version The servant responded, “If the woman is not willing to come with me into this land, must I lead your son back to the place from which you departed?” New American Bible The servant asked him: “What if the woman is unwilling to follow me to this land? Should I then take your son back to the land from which you came?” New Revised Standard Version The servant said to him, “Perhaps the woman may not be willing to follow me to this land; must I then take your son back to the land from which you came?” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd the servant said to him, Suppose the woman will not be willing to follow me to this land; must I then take your son back to the land from whence you came? Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And the Servant said to him, “And if the woman does not desire to come after me to return to this land, shall I return your son to the land from where I came out?” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And the servant said unto him: 'Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land; must I needs bring thy son back unto the land from whence thou camest?' Brenton Septuagint Translation And the servant said to him, Shall I carry back thy son to the land whence thou camest forth, if haply the woman should not be willing to return with me to this land? Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context A Wife for Isaac…4but will go to my country and my kindred to take a wife for my son Isaac.” 5The servant asked him, “What if the woman is unwilling to follow me to this land? Shall I then take your son back to the land from which you came?” 6Abraham replied, “Make sure that you do not take my son back there.… Cross References Genesis 12:1 Then the LORD said to Abram, “Leave your country, your kindred, and your father’s household, and go to the land I will show you. Genesis 28:1-2 So Isaac called for Jacob and blessed him. “Do not take a wife from the Canaanite women,” he commanded. / “Go at once to Paddan-aram, to the house of your mother’s father Bethuel, and take a wife from among the daughters of Laban, your mother’s brother. Genesis 31:3 Then the LORD said to Jacob, “Go back to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you.” Genesis 50:24-25 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will surely visit you and bring you up from this land to the land He promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” / And Joseph made the sons of Israel take an oath and said, “God will surely attend to you, and then you must carry my bones up from this place.” Exodus 3:8 I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. Exodus 6:8 And I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the LORD!’” Deuteronomy 1:8 See, I have placed the land before you. Enter and possess the land that the LORD swore He would give to your fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and to their descendants after them.” Deuteronomy 7:1-3 When the LORD your God brings you into the land that you are entering to possess, and He drives out before you many nations—the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, seven nations larger and stronger than you— / and when the LORD your God has delivered them over to you to defeat them, then you must devote them to complete destruction. Make no treaty with them and show them no mercy. / Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, Joshua 24:3 But I took your father Abraham from beyond the Euphrates and led him through all the land of Canaan, and I multiplied his descendants. I gave him Isaac, Nehemiah 9:7-8 You are the LORD, the God who chose Abram, who brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans and gave him the name Abraham. / You found his heart faithful before You, and made a covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanites and Hittites, of the Amorites and Perizzites, of the Jebusites and Girgashites—to give it to his descendants. You have kept Your promise, because You are righteous. Isaiah 51:2 Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who gave you birth. When I called him, he was but one; then I blessed him and multiplied him. Acts 7:2-5 And Stephen declared: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, / and told him, ‘Leave your country and your kindred and go to the land I will show you.’ / So Abraham left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. After his father died, God brought him out of that place and into this land where you are now living. ... Acts 7:15-16 So Jacob went down to Egypt, where he and our fathers died. / Their bones were carried back to Shechem and placed in the tomb that Abraham had bought from the sons of Hamor at Shechem for a price he paid in silver. Hebrews 11:8-9 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, without knowing where he was going. / By faith he dwelt in the promised land as a stranger in a foreign country. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. Hebrews 11:15-16 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. / Instead, they were longing for a better country, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. Treasury of Scripture And the servant said to him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me to this land: must I needs bring your son again to the land from from where you came? Peradventure. Genesis 24:58 And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go. Exodus 20:7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. Exodus 9:2 For if thou refuse to let them go, and wilt hold them still, Jump to Previous Camest Case Chance Country Follow Needs Peradventure Perhaps Removed Servant Suppose Turn Unwilling Whence WillingJump to Next Camest Case Chance Country Follow Needs Peradventure Perhaps Removed Servant Suppose Turn Unwilling Whence WillingGenesis 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. The servant asked him, In this passage, the servant is identified as Abraham's chief servant, likely Eliezer of Damascus (Genesis 15:2). This servant holds a position of great responsibility and trust, tasked with finding a wife for Isaac. His question reflects his concern for fulfilling his duty faithfully and highlights the importance of seeking guidance in significant decisions. “What if the woman is unwilling to follow me to this land? Shall I then take your son back to the land from which you came?” Persons / Places / Events 1. AbrahamThe patriarch of the Israelite nation, who is seeking a wife for his son Isaac from his own relatives rather than from the Canaanites. 2. The Servant Likely Eliezer of Damascus, Abraham's trusted servant, tasked with finding a wife for Isaac from Abraham's homeland. 3. Isaac Abraham's son, through whom God's covenant promises are to be fulfilled. 4. The Land of Canaan The land promised by God to Abraham and his descendants, representing the place of God's blessing and covenant. 5. Abraham's Homeland The region of Mesopotamia, specifically the city of Nahor, where Abraham's relatives reside. Teaching Points Faithful ObedienceAbraham's servant demonstrates obedience and faithfulness in carrying out his master's instructions, reminding us of the importance of serving faithfully in our own roles. Trust in God's Promises Abraham's insistence on not taking Isaac back to the homeland underscores the importance of trusting in God's promises and not reverting to old ways or places. Seeking God's Guidance The servant's question reflects a desire for clarity and guidance, encouraging us to seek God's direction in our decisions. Commitment to God's Plan Abraham's determination to find a wife for Isaac from his own people, rather than the Canaanites, shows a commitment to God's plan and purposes, urging us to align our choices with God's will. The Role of Providence The account highlights God's providence in guiding the servant to the right woman, reminding us of God's active role in our lives and decisions.Verse 5. - And the servant said unto him (not having the same faith as his master), Peradventure (with perhaps a secret conviction that he ought to say, "Of a surety") the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land. Prima, facie it was a natural and reasonable hypothesis that the bride elect should demur to undertake a long and arduous journey to marry a husband she had never seen; accordingly, the ancient messenger desires to understand whether he might not be at liberty to act upon the other alternative. Must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest? In reply to which the patriarch solemnly interdicts him from attempting to seduce his son, under any pretext whatever, to leave the land of promise. Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew The servantהָעֶ֔בֶד (hā·‘e·ḇeḏ) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 5650: Slave, servant asked וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say him, אֵלָיו֙ (’ê·lāw) Preposition | third person masculine singular Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to “What if אוּלַי֙ (’ū·lay) Adverb Strong's 194: Perhaps the woman הָֽאִשָּׁ֔ה (hā·’iš·šāh) Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female is unwilling לֹא־ (lō-) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no to follow לָלֶ֥כֶת (lā·le·ḵeṯ) Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk me to אֶל־ (’el-) Preposition Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to this הַזֹּ֑את (haz·zōṯ) Article | Pronoun - feminine singular Strong's 2063: Hereby in it, likewise, the one other, same, she, so much, such deed, that, land? הָאָ֣רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ) Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 776: Earth, land Shall I then take your son back הֶֽהָשֵׁ֤ב (he·hā·šêḇ) Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again to אֶל־ (’el-) Preposition Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to the land הָאָ֖רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ) Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 776: Earth, land from מִשָּֽׁם׃ (miš·šām) Preposition-m | Adverb Strong's 8033: There, then, thither which אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-) Pronoun - relative Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that you came?” יָצָ֥אתָ (yā·ṣā·ṯā) Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim Links Genesis 24:5 NIVGenesis 24:5 NLT Genesis 24:5 ESV Genesis 24:5 NASB Genesis 24:5 KJV Genesis 24:5 BibleApps.com Genesis 24:5 Biblia Paralela Genesis 24:5 Chinese Bible Genesis 24:5 French Bible Genesis 24:5 Catholic Bible OT Law: Genesis 24:5 The servant said to him What if (Gen. 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