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Abrahamאַבְרָהָםsaidוַיֹּאמֶרto his servant,אֶל עַבְדּוֹthe oldestזְקַןof his household,בֵּיתוֹwho ruledהַמֹּשֵׁלover allבְּכָלthatאֲשֶׁרhe had,לוֹ“Put,שִׂיםplease,נָאyour handיָדְךָunderתַּחַתmy thigh,יְרֵכִי
Genesis 24:2
Study it in the app“Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his household, who ruled over all that he had, “Put, please, your hand under my thigh,”
With the Hebrew beneath
Genesis 24:2, word by word
- Abrahamאַבְרָהָםavraham
Abraham
Abraham, the name God gave to Abram; it sounds like "father of a multitude" (Genesis 17:5). The father of the people of Israel, to whom God promised the land and blessing for all the families of the earth.
Where else “avraham” appears- saidיֹּאמֶרyomer
say
To say with the mouth to someone what one thinks or wants, or to answer him.
Where else “yomer” appears- to his servantעַבְדּavd
servant
Someone who works for another, or a king's official.
Where else “avd” appears- the oldestזְקַןzekan
old
A person of many years.
Where else “zekan” appears- of his householdבֵּיתbet
household
The family, everyone living under one roof.
Where else “bet” appears- who ruledמֹּשֵׁלmoshel
rule
To hold sway over something or someone.
Where else “moshel” appears- “Putשִׂיםsim
put
To put something somewhere.
Where else “sim” appears- your handיָדְyad
hand
The part of the body with which one takes, gives and works; also what one does.
Where else “yad” appears- my thighיְרֵכִyerechi
thigh
The part of the leg near the hip, where the sword is strapped and an oath is sworn.
Where else “yerechi” appears
Translation note
Putting the hand under the thigh was the gesture used to make a very solemn oath (also in Genesis 47:29).
The context
1Abraham was old, advanced in days, and YHWH had blessed Abraham in everything.
2 · This verse (above)
3and I will make you swear by YHWH, the Elohim of the heavens and the Elohim of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I live,
To study Genesis 24 in a group
1. What it says
What did Abraham’s servant ask of YHWH by the well, and what did Rebekah do (vv. 12-20)?
2. What it means
What does it show about the servant’s prayer that he asks YHWH for guidance in his task (vv. 12-14, 26-27)?
3. How I live it
In what pending decision can you ask Elohim for guidance and pay attention to what happens?