Genesis 24

Abraham sent his servant to Mesopotamia to find a wife for Isaac from among his kinsmen, not from the Canaanites. The servant prayed at the well and God guided him to Rebekah, who watered his camels; her family agreed to the match. Rebekah returned to Canaan and became Isaac's wife, and he loved her.

v	King James Version	Modern English
1	And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things.	Now Abraham was old, advanced in years. The LORD had blessed Abraham in all things.
2	And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:	Abraham said to his oldest servant of his house, who had charge of all he had, 'Put your hand under my thigh,
3	And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:	I will make You swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that You will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell,
4	But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.	but will go to my country and to my family and take a wife for my son Isaac.'
5	And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest?	The servant said to him, 'Perhaps the woman will not be willing to follow me to this land. Must I then take your son back to the land from which you came?'
6	And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again.	Abraham said to him, 'See to it that you do not take my son back there.
7	The LORD God of heaven, which took me from my father's house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.	The LORD, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house and from the land of my family, and who spoke to me and swore to me, saying, To Your seed I will give this land—He will send His angel before You, and You shall take a wife for my son from there.
8	And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath: only bring not my son thither again.	But if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be free from this oath of mine; only do not take my son back there.'
9	And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning that matter.	So the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master and swore to him concerning this matter.
10	And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor.	Then the servant took ten of his master's camels and departed, taking all sorts of choice gifts from his master. He arose and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor.
11	And he made his camels to kneel down without the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, even the time that women go out to draw water.	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	And he said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham.	He said, 'O LORD, God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today and show mercy to my master Abraham.
13	Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water:	I stand here by the spring of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water.
14	And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master.	Let it be that the young woman to whom I shall say, Please let down your jar that I may drink, and who shall say, Drink. I will water your camels also—let her be the one you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I shall know that you have shown mercy to my master.'
15	And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder.	Before he had finished speaking, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her water jar on her shoulder.
16	And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up.	The young woman was very beautiful to look at, a virgin; no man had known her. She went down to the spring, filled her jar, and came up.
17	And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher.	Then the servant ran to meet her and said, 'Please give me a little water to drink from your jar.'
18	And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink.	She said, 'Drink, my lord.' And she quickly let down her jar upon her hand and gave him a drink.
19	And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for thy camels also, until they have done drinking.	When she had finished giving him a drink, she said, 'I will draw water for your camels also, until they have finished drinking.'
20	And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels.	So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough and ran again to the well to draw water. She drew for all his camels.
21	And the man wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not.	The man gazed at her in silence to learn whether the LORD had prospered His journey or not.
22	And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold;	When 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	And said, Whose daughter art thou? tell me, I pray thee: is there room in thy father's house for us to lodge in?	He He said, 'Whose daughter are you? Please tell me. Is there room in your father's house for us to spend the night?'
24	And she said unto him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, which she bare unto Nahor.	She said to him, 'I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor.'
25	She said moreover unto him, We have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in.	She added, 'We have plenty of both straw and fodder, and room to spend the night.'
26	And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the LORD.	The man bowed his head and worshiped the LORD,
27	And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I being in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master's brethren.	He said, 'Blessed be the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his mercy and truth toward my master. As for me, the LORD has led me in the way to the house of my master's kinsmen.'
28	And the damsel ran, and told them of her mother's house these things.	Then the young woman ran and told her mother's household about these things.
29	And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban: and Laban ran out unto the man, unto the well.	Rebekah had a brother whose name was Laban. Laban ran out to the man, to the spring.
30	And it came to pass, when he saw the earring and bracelets upon his sister's hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, Thus spake the man unto me; that he came unto the man; and, behold, he stood by the camels at the well.	As 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 he was standing by the camels at the spring.
31	And he said, Come in, thou blessed of the LORD; wherefore standest thou without? for I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.	He 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.'
32	And the man came into the house: and he ungirded his camels, and gave straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet, and the men's feet that were with him.	So the man came into the house. He unloaded 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.
33	And there was set meat before him to eat: but he said, I will not eat, until I have told mine errand. And he said, Speak on.	Then food was set before him to eat. But He said, 'I will not eat until I have told my errand.' He said, 'Speak on.'
34	And he said, I am Abraham's servant.	So he said, 'I am Abraham's servant.
35	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.	The LORD has greatly blessed my master. He has become great. He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male and female servants, camels and donkeys.
36	And Sarah my master's wife bare a son to my master when she was old: and unto him hath he given all that he hath.	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.
37	And my master made me swear, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife to my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell:	My 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,
38	But thou shalt go unto my father's house, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son.	but you shall go to my father's house and to my family and take a wife for my son.
39	And I said unto my master, Peradventure the woman will not follow me.	I said to my master, Perhaps the woman will not follow me.
40	And he said unto me, The LORD, before whom I walk, will send his angel with thee, and prosper thy way; and thou shalt take a wife for my son of my kindred, and of my father's house:	But He said to me, The LORD, before whom I walk, will send His angel with You and prosper Your way. You shall take a wife for my son from my family, from my father's house.
41	Then shalt thou be clear from this my oath, when thou comest to my kindred; and if they give not thee one, thou shalt be clear from my oath.	Then You will be free from my oath, when You come to my family. And if they will not give her to You, You will be free from my oath.
42	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:	I came today to the spring and said, O LORD, God of my master Abraham, if now you are prospering the way that I go,
43	Behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to pass, that when the virgin cometh forth to draw water, and I say to her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water of thy pitcher to drink;	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,
44	And she say to me, Both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy camels: let the same be the woman whom the LORD hath appointed out for my master's son.	who will say to me, Drink. I will draw for Your camels also—let her be the woman whom the LORD has appointed for my master's son.
45	And before I had done speaking in mine heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down unto the well, and drew water: and I said unto her, Let me drink, I pray thee.	Before I had finished speaking in my heart, Rebekah came out with her water jar on her shoulder. She went down to the spring and drew water. I said to her, Please let me drink.
46	And she made haste, and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: so I drank, and she made the camels drink also.	She quickly let down her jar from her shoulder and said, Drink. I will give your camels drink also. So I drank. She gave the camels drink also.
47	And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter art thou? And she said, The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bare unto him: and I put the earring upon her face, and the bracelets upon her hands.	Then 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.
48	And I bowed down my head, and worshipped the LORD, and blessed the LORD God of my master Abraham, which had led me in the right way to take my master's brother's daughter unto his son.	Then 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.
49	And now if ye will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me: and if not, tell me; that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left.	Now then, if You will show mercy and truth to my master, tell me. If not, tell me, that I may turn to the right hand or to the left.'
50	Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from the LORD: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good.	Then Laban and Bethuel answered, 'The thing has come from the LORD; we cannot speak to You bad or good.
51	Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and go, and let her be thy master's son's wife, as the LORD hath spoken.	Rebekah is before you; take her and go, and let her be the wife of Your master's son, as the LORD has spoken.'
52	And it came to pass, that, when Abraham's servant heard their words, he worshipped the LORD, bowing himself to the earth.	When Abraham's servant heard their words, he bowed himself to the earth before the LORD.
53	And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things.	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 gifts.
54	And they did eat and drink, he and the men that were with him, and tarried all night; and they rose up in the morning, and he said, Send me away unto my master.	he and the men who were with him ate and drank. They spent the night there. When they arose in the morning, he said, 'Send me away to my master.'
55	And her brother and her mother said, Let the damsel abide with us a few days, at the least ten; after that she shall go.	Her brother and her mother said, 'Let the young woman remain with us a while, at least ten days; after that she may go.'
56	And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing the LORD hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master.	But 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.'
57	And they said, We will call the damsel, and enquire at her mouth.	They said, 'Let us call the young woman and ask her.'
58	And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go.	They called Rebekah and said to her, 'Will you go with this man?' She said, 'I will go.'
59	And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his men.	So they sent away Rebekah their sister and her nurse, and Abraham's servant and his men.
60	And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them.	They blessed Rebekah and said to her, 'Our sister, may you become the mother of thousands of ten thousands, and may your seed possess the gate of those who hate them.'
61	And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man: and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way.	Then Rebekah and her maidservants arose and rode on the camels and followed the man. So the servant took Rebekah and went his way.
62	And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahairoi; for he dwelt in the south country.	Now Isaac had returned from Beer-lahai-roi, and was dwelling in the south.
63	And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming.	Isaac went out to meditate in the field toward evening. He lifted up his eyes and saw, and camels were coming.
64	And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel.	Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she dismounted from the camel
65	For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she took a vail, and covered herself.	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.
66	And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done.	The servant told Isaac all the things that he had done.
67	And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.	Then Isaac brought her into the tent of Sarah his mother and took Rebekah. She became his wife. He loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.