| Berean Study Bible | English Standard Version |
| 1By now Abraham was old and well along in years, and the LORD had blessed him in every way. | 1Now Abraham was old, well advanced in years. And the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things. |
| 2So Abraham instructed the chief servant of his household, who managed all he owned, “Place your hand under my thigh, | 2And Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his household, who had charge of all that he had, “Put your hand under my thigh, |
| 3and I will have you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I am dwelling, | 3that I may make you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and God of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell, |
| 4but will go to my country and my kindred to take a wife for my son Isaac.” | 4but will go to my country and to my kindred, and 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?” | 5The 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?” |
| 6Abraham replied, “Make sure that you do not take my son back there. | 6Abraham said to him, “See to it that you do not take my son back there. |
| 7The LORD, the God of heaven, who brought me from my father’s house and my native land, who spoke to me and promised me on oath, saying, ‘To your offspring I will give this land’—He will send His angel before you so that you can take a wife for my son from there. | 7The LORD, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and from the land of my kindred, and who spoke to me and swore to me, ‘To your offspring I will give this land,’ he will send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there. |
| 8And if the woman is unwilling to follow you, then you are released from this oath of mine. Only do not take my son back there.” | 8But if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be free from this oath of mine; only you must not take my son back there.” |
| 9So the servant placed his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and swore an oath to him concerning this matter. | 9So the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master and swore to him concerning this matter. |
| 10Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and departed with all manner of good things from his master in hand. And he set out for Nahor’s hometown in Aram-naharaim. | 10Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and departed, taking all sorts of choice gifts from his master; and he arose and went to Mesopotamia to the city of Nahor. |
| 11As evening approached, he made the camels kneel down near the well outside the town at the time when the women went out to draw water. | 11And he made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water at the time of evening, the time when women go out to draw water. |
| 12“O LORD, God of my master Abraham,” he prayed, “please grant me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. | 12And he said, “O LORD, God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today and show steadfast love to my master Abraham. |
| 13Here I am, standing beside the spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. | 13Behold, I am standing by the spring of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. |
| 14Now may it happen that the girl to whom I say, ‘Please let down your jar that I may drink,’ and who responds, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels as well’—let her be the one You have appointed for Your servant Isaac. By this I will know that You have shown kindness to my master.” | 14Let the young woman to whom I shall say, ‘Please let down your jar that I may drink,’ and who shall say, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels’—let her be the one whom you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I shall know that you have shown steadfast love to my master.” |
| 15Before the servant had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah, the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor. | 15Before he had finished speaking, behold, Rebekah, who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, came out with her water jar on her shoulder. |
| 16Now the girl was very beautiful, a virgin who had not had relations with any man. She went down to the spring, filled her jar, and came up again. | 16The young woman was very attractive in appearance, a maiden whom no man had known. She went down to the spring and filled her jar and came up. |
| 17So the servant ran to meet her and said, “Please let me have a little water from your jar.” | 17Then the servant ran to meet her and said, “Please give me a little water to drink from your jar.” |
| 18“Drink, my lord,” she replied, and she quickly lowered her jar to her hands and gave him a drink. | 18She said, “Drink, my lord.” And she quickly let down her jar upon her hand and gave him a drink. |
| 19After she had given him a drink, she said, “I will also draw water for your camels, until they have had enough to drink.” | 19When she had finished giving him a drink, she said, “I will draw water for your camels also, until they have finished drinking.” |
| 20And she quickly emptied her jar into the trough and ran back to the well to draw water, until she had drawn water for all his camels. | 20So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough and ran again to the well to draw water, and she drew for all his camels. |
| 21Meanwhile, the man watched her silently to see whether or not the LORD had made his journey a success. | 21The man gazed at her in silence to learn whether the LORD had prospered his journey or not. |
| 22And after the camels had finished drinking, he took out a gold ring weighing a beka, and two gold bracelets for her wrists weighing ten shekels. | 22When the camels had finished drinking, the man took a gold ring weighing a half shekel, and two bracelets for her arms weighing ten gold shekels, |
| 23“Whose daughter are you?” he asked. “Please tell me, is there room in your father’s house for us to spend the night?” | 23and said, “Please tell me whose daughter you are. Is there room in your father’s house for us to spend the night?” |
| 24She replied, “I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son that Milcah bore to Nahor.” | 24She said to him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor.” |
| 25Then she added, “We have plenty of straw and feed, as well as a place for you to spend the night.” | 25She added, “We have plenty of both straw and fodder, and room to spend the night.” |
| 26Then the man bowed down and worshiped the LORD, | 26The man bowed his head and worshiped the LORD |
| 27saying, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not withheld His kindness and faithfulness from my master. As for me, the LORD has led me on the journey to the house of my master’s relatives.” | 27and said, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his steadfast love and his faithfulness toward my master. As for me, the LORD has led me in the way to the house of my master’s kinsmen.” |
| 28The girl ran and told her mother’s household about these things. | 28Then the young woman ran and told her mother’s household about these things. |
| 29Now Rebekah had a brother named Laban, and he rushed out to the man at the spring. | 29Rebekah had a brother whose name was Laban. Laban ran out toward the man, to the spring. |
| 30As soon as he saw the ring, and the bracelets on his sister’s wrists, and heard Rebekah’s words, “The man said this to me,” he went and found the man standing by the camels near the spring. | 30As soon as he saw the ring and the bracelets on his sister’s arms, and heard the words of Rebekah his sister, “Thus the man spoke to me,” he went to the man. And behold, he was standing by the camels at the spring. |
| 31“Come, you who are blessed by the LORD,” said Laban. “Why are you standing out here? I have prepared the house and a place for the camels.” | 31He said, “Come in, O blessed of the LORD. Why do you stand outside? For I have prepared the house and a place for the camels.” |
| 32So the man came to the house, and the camels were unloaded. Straw and feed were brought to the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of his companions. | 32So the man came to the house and unharnessed the camels, and gave straw and fodder to the camels, and there was water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him. |
| 33Then a meal was set before the man, but he said, “I will not eat until I have told you what I came to say.” So Laban said, “Please speak.” | 33Then food was set before him to eat. But he said, “I will not eat until I have said what I have to say.” He said, “Speak on.” |
| 34“I am Abraham’s servant,” he replied. | 34So he said, “I am Abraham’s servant. |
| 35“The LORD has greatly blessed my master, and he has become rich. He has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, menservants and maidservants, camels and donkeys. | 35The LORD has greatly blessed my master, and he has become great. He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male servants and female servants, camels and donkeys. |
| 36My master’s wife Sarah has borne him a son in her old age, and my master has given him everything he owns. | 36And Sarah my master’s wife bore a son to my master when she was old, and to him he has given all that he has. |
| 37My master made me swear an oath and said, ‘You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites in whose land I dwell, | 37My master made me swear, saying, ‘You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell, |
| 38but you shall go to my father’s house and to my kindred to take a wife for my son.’ | 38but you shall go to my father’s house and to my clan and take a wife for my son.’ |
| 39Then I asked my master, ‘What if the woman will not come back with me?’ | 39I said to my master, ‘Perhaps the woman will not follow 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. | 40But 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. |
| 41And when you go to my kindred, if they refuse to give her to you, then you will be released from my oath.’ | 41Then you will be free from my oath, when you come to my clan. And if they will not give her to you, you will be free from my oath.’ |
| 42So when I came to the spring today, I prayed: O LORD, God of my master Abraham, if only You would make my journey a success! | 42“I came today to the spring and said, ‘O LORD, the God of my master Abraham, if now you are prospering the way that I go, |
| 43Here I am, standing beside this spring. Now if a maiden comes out to draw water and I say to her, ‘Please let me drink a little water from your jar,’ | 43behold, I am standing by the spring of water. Let the virgin who comes out to draw water, to whom I shall say, “Please give me a little water from your jar to drink,” |
| 44and she replies, ‘Drink, and I will draw water for your camels as well,’ may she be the woman the LORD has appointed for my master’s son. | 44and who will say to me, “Drink, and I will draw for your camels also,” let her be the woman whom the LORD has appointed for my master’s son.’ |
| 45And before I had finished praying in my heart, there was Rebekah coming out with her jar on her shoulder, and she went down to the spring and drew water. So I said to her, ‘Please give me a drink.’ | 45“Before I had finished speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came out with her water jar on her shoulder, and she went down to the spring and drew water. I said to her, ‘Please let me drink.’ |
| 46She quickly lowered her jar from her shoulder and said, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels as well.’ So I drank, and she also watered the camels. | 46She quickly let down her jar from her shoulder and said, ‘Drink, and I will give your camels drink also.’ So I drank, and she gave the camels drink also. |
| 47Then I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She replied, ‘The daughter of Bethuel son of Nahor, whom Milcah bore to him.’ So I put the ring on her nose and the bracelets on her wrists. | 47Then I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bore to him.’ So I put the ring on her nose and the bracelets on her arms. |
| 48Then I bowed down and worshiped the LORD; and I blessed the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who led me on the right road to take the granddaughter of my master’s brother for his son. | 48Then I bowed my head and worshiped the LORD and blessed the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me by the right way to take the daughter of my master’s kinsman for his son. |
| 49Now if you will show kindness and faithfulness to my master, tell me; but if not, let me know, so that I may go elsewhere.” | 49Now then, if you are going to show steadfast love and faithfulness to my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, that I may turn to the right hand or to the left.” |
| 50Laban and Bethuel answered, “This is from the LORD; we have no choice in the matter. | 50Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, “The thing has come from the LORD; we cannot speak to you bad or good. |
| 51Rebekah is here before you. Take her and go, and let her become the wife of your master’s son, just as the LORD has decreed.” | 51Behold, Rebekah is before you; take her and go, and let her be the wife of your master’s son, as the LORD has spoken.” |
| 52When Abraham’s servant heard their words, he bowed down to the ground before the LORD. | 52When Abraham’s servant heard their words, he bowed himself to the earth before the LORD. |
| 53Then he brought out jewels of silver and gold, and articles of clothing, and he gave them to Rebekah. He also gave precious gifts to her brother and her mother. | 53And the servant brought out jewelry of silver and of gold, and garments, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave to her brother and to her mother costly ornaments. |
| 54Then he and the men with him ate and drank and spent the night there. When they got up the next morning, he said, “Send me on my way to my master.” | 54And he and the men who were with him ate and drank, and they spent the night there. When they arose in the morning, he said, “Send me away to my master.” |
| 55But her brother and mother said, “Let the girl remain with us ten days or so. After that, she may go.” | 55Her brother and her mother said, “Let the young woman remain with us a while, at least ten days; after that she may go.” |
| 56But he replied, “Do not delay me, since the LORD has made my journey a success. Send me on my way so that I may go to my master.” | 56But he said to them, “Do not delay me, since the LORD has prospered my way. Send me away that I may go to my master.” |
| 57So they said, “We will call the girl and ask her opinion.” | 57They said, “Let us call the young woman and ask her.” |
| 58They called Rebekah and asked her, “Will you go with this man?” “I will go,” she replied. | 58And they called Rebekah and said to her, “Will you go with this man?” She said, “I will go.” |
| 59So they sent their sister Rebekah on her way, along with her nurse and Abraham’s servant and his men. | 59So they sent away Rebekah their sister and her nurse, and Abraham’s servant and his men. |
| 60And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, “Our sister, may you become the mother of thousands upon thousands. May your offspring possess the gates of their enemies.” | 60And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, “Our sister, may you become thousands of ten thousands, and may your offspring possess the gate of those who hate him!” |
| 61Then Rebekah and her servant girls got ready, mounted the camels, and followed the man. So the servant took Rebekah and left. | 61Then Rebekah and her young women arose and rode on the camels and followed the man. Thus the servant took Rebekah and went his way. |
| 62Now Isaac had just returned from Beer-lahai-roi, for he was living in the Negev. | 62Now Isaac had returned from Beer-lahai-roi and was dwelling in the Negeb. |
| 63Early in the evening, Isaac went out to the field to meditate, and looking up, he saw the camels approaching. | 63And Isaac went out to meditate in the field toward evening. And he lifted up his eyes and saw, and behold, there were camels coming. |
| 64And when Rebekah looked up and saw Isaac, she got down from her camel | 64And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she dismounted from the camel |
| 65and asked the servant, “Who is that man in the field coming to meet us?” “It is my master,” the servant answered. So she took her veil and covered herself. | 65and said to the servant, “Who is that man, walking in the field to meet us?” The servant said, “It is my master.” So she took her veil and covered herself. |
| 66Then the servant told Isaac all that he had done. | 66And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done. |
| 67And Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah and took Rebekah as his wife. And Isaac loved her and was comforted after his mother’s death. | 67Then Isaac brought her into the tent of Sarah his mother and took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death. |
| The Berean Bible (Berean Study Bible (BSB) © 2016, 2018 by Bible Hub and Berean.Bible. Used by Permission. All rights Reserved. | ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. |
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