And the LORD hath blessed my master greatly; and he is become great: and he hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and menservants, and maidservants, and camels, and asses.
GENESIS 24:35KJVWhat does Genesis 24:35 mean?
Genesis 24:35 states that the LORD has greatly blessed Abraham, making him wealthy and important by giving him many animals, servants, silver, and gold. The verse highlights the visible signs of Abraham’s prosperity as evidence of God’s favor.
In this verse, Abraham’s servant is speaking to Laban and Bethuel, explaining why he has come to seek a wife for Isaac. The servant emphasizes Abraham’s blessings to show that Isaac comes from a family that is both prosperous and favored by God. This sets the stage for the marriage proposal by showing the seriousness and honor of the request.
The Hebrew behind Genesis 24:35
- The word for "LORD" is יְהוָה (YHWH, pronounced "Yahweh"), the personal name of Israel’s God, stressing that these blessings come from the God Abraham worships.
- "Blessed" is בָּרַךְ (barakh), meaning to bestow favor or benefits. Here, it points to tangible, material blessings as a sign of divine approval.
- "Greatly" is מְאֹד (me’od), which means "very much" or "exceedingly." The verse stresses that Abraham’s blessings are not small or ordinary, but abundant.
- "Great" is גָּדַל (gadal), meaning "to become great or important." The verse notes not just wealth, but Abraham’s status and reputation.
Why Genesis 24:35 matters
- The verse clarifies that Abraham’s prosperity is attributed directly to God’s action, not just his own efforts or luck.
- It helps explain why Abraham’s servant expects a positive response to his proposal: he is representing a family that is both blessed and honorable.
- This verse connects to the broader theme in Genesis of God’s promises to Abraham, showing that those promises are being fulfilled in visible, practical ways.