And I came this day unto the well, and said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, if now thou do prosper my way which I go:

GENESIS 24:42KJV
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Genesis 24:42 (KJV)

What does Genesis 24:42 mean?

Genesis 24:42 records the servant of Abraham recounting how he prayed to the LORD, asking for success on his journey to find a wife for Isaac. The servant is at a well and asks God to make his mission successful as he follows Abraham’s instructions.

The speaker is Abraham’s servant, who has traveled to find a wife for Abraham’s son. He is explaining to Rebekah’s family how he prayed at the well, seeking God’s guidance and favor. This verse shows the servant’s dependence on God and sets the stage for how Rebekah was chosen, highlighting the role of prayer and trust in God’s direction.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 24:42

  • "LORD" (יְהוָה, YHWH): This is the personal name of God in the Hebrew Bible, emphasizing that the servant is addressing the God specifically worshiped by Abraham, not just any deity.
  • "prosper" (הִצְלִיחַ, hitsliakh): This word means to cause to succeed or to make something go well. The servant is not just asking for a general blessing, but specifically for God to ensure his journey fulfills its purpose.
  • "way" (דֶּרֶךְ, derekh): This word means road, path, or journey. The servant is asking for his specific mission or journey to be successful, not just safe travel.

Why Genesis 24:42 matters

  • Genesis 24:42 clarifies that the servant’s success was not due to luck or his own skill, but because he sought and depended on God’s help.
  • This verse highlights the servant’s faithfulness to Abraham’s instructions and his trust in the God of Abraham, reinforcing the theme of God’s guidance in the lives of the patriarchs.
  • By recounting his prayer, the servant shows transparency and honesty to Rebekah’s family, helping them see that the events unfolding are part of God’s plan, not just human arrangement.

Where else these words appear

“prosper” Hebrew H6743 · used in 64 verses

  • Genesis 24:21 And the man wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not.
  • 1 Chronicles 22:11 Now, my son, the LORD be with thee; and prosper thou, and build the house of the LORD thy God, as he hath said of thee.
  • Isaiah 53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

“do” Hebrew H3426 · used in 129 verses

  • Genesis 18:24 Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?
  • 1 Samuel 23:23 See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hideth himself, and come ye again to me with the certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall come to pass, if he be in the land, that I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Judah.
  • Psalms 135:17 They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths.