50
Labanלָבָןand Bethuelוּבְתוּאֵלansweredוַיַּעַןand said,וַיֹּאמְרוּ“The matterהַדָּבָרhas comeיָצָאfrom YHWH;מֵיְהוָהwe cannotלֹא נוּכַלspeakדַּבֵּרto youאֵלֶיךָbadרַעorאוֹgood.טוֹב
Genesis 24:50
Study it in the app“Laban and Bethuel answered and said, “The matter has come from YHWH; we cannot speak to you bad or good.”
With the Hebrew beneath
Genesis 24:50, word by word
- Labanלָבָןlavan
Laban
Laban, brother of Rebekah and father of Leah and Rachel, Jacob's father-in-law, who lived in Haran. Also a place in the wilderness.
Where else “lavan” appears- and Bethuelבְתוּאֵלvetuel
Bethuel
Bethuel, son of Nahor and father of Rebekah and Laban; also a place.
Where else “vetuel” appears- answeredיַּעַןyaan
answer
To reply to what was said.
Where else “yaan” appears- and saidיֹּאמְרוּyomru
say
To say with the mouth to someone what one thinks or wants, or to answer him.
Where else “yomru” appears- “The matterדָּבָרdavar
thing
A matter, a thing; with "not", nothing.
Where else “davar” appears- has comeיָצָאyatsa
go out
To go out of a place.
Where else “yatsa” appears- from YHWHיְהוָהyehva
YHWH
The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.
Where else “yehva” appears- we cannotנוּכַלnuchal
be able
To have the strength, the permission or the opportunity to do something.
Where else “nuchal” appears- speakדַּבֵּרdaber
speak
To speak, say something; above all God to his people.
Where else “daber” appears- badרַעra
evil
What is evil, the opposite of good.
Where else “ra” appears- goodטוֹבtov
good
What is as it should be and gives delight: sound, useful, beautiful or valuable.
Where else “tov” appears
The context
49So now, if you are going to show loyal love and faithfulness to my lord, tell me; and if not, tell me, so that I may turn to the right or to the left.”
50 · This verse (above)
51Look, Rebekah is before you; take her and go, and let her be the wife of your lord’s son, as YHWH has spoken.”
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?