Genesis 24:43
New International Version
See, I am standing beside this spring. If a young woman comes out to draw water and I say to her, “Please let me drink a little water from your jar,”

New Living Translation
See, I am standing here beside this spring. This is my request. When a young woman comes to draw water, I will say to her, “Please give me a little drink of water from your jug.”

English Standard Version
behold, 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,”

Berean Standard Bible
Here I am, standing beside this spring. Now if a maiden comes out to draw water and I say to her, ‘Please let me drink a little water from your jar,’

King James Bible
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;

New King James Version
behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to pass that when the virgin comes out to draw water, and I say to her, “Please give me a little water from your pitcher to drink,”

New American Standard Bible
behold, I am standing by the spring, and may it be that the young unmarried woman who comes out to draw water, and to whom I say, “Please let me drink a little water from your jar”;

NASB 1995
behold, I am standing by the spring, and may it be that the maiden who comes out to draw, and to whom I say, “Please let me drink a little water from your jar";

NASB 1977
behold, I am standing by the spring, and may it be that the maiden who comes out to draw, and to whom I say, “Please let me drink a little water from your jar”;

Legacy Standard Bible
behold, I am standing by the spring of water, and may it be that the maiden who comes out to draw, and to whom I say, “Please let me drink a little water from your jar”;

Amplified Bible
please look, I am standing by the spring of water; now let it be that when the maiden [whom You have chosen for Isaac] comes out to draw [water], and to whom I say, “Please, give me a little water to drink from your jar”;

Christian Standard Bible
I am standing here at a spring. Let the young woman who comes out to draw water, and I say to her, ‘Please let me drink a little water from your jug,’

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I am standing here at a spring. Let the virgin who comes out to draw water, and I say to her: Please let me drink a little water from your jug,

American Standard Version
behold, I am standing by the fountain of water; and let it come to pass, that the maiden that cometh forth to draw, to whom I shall say, Give me, I pray thee, a little water from thy pitcher to drink;

Contemporary English Version
while I am here at the well. When a young woman comes out to get water, I'll ask her to give me a drink.

English Revised Version
behold, I stand by the fountain of water; and let it come to pass, that the maiden which cometh forth to draw, to whom I shall say, Give me, I pray thee, a little water of thy pitcher to drink;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I'm standing by the spring. I'll say to the young woman who comes out to draw water, "Please give me a drink of water."

Good News Translation
Here I am at the well. When a young woman comes out to get water, I will ask her to give me a drink of water from her jar.

International Standard Version
here I am standing by the spring. May it be that the young woman who comes out to draw water, from whom I request a little water from her jug to drink,

Majority Standard Bible
Here I am, standing beside this spring. Now if a maiden comes out to draw water and I say to her, ?Please let me drink a little water from your jar,?

NET Bible
Here I am, standing by the spring. When the young woman goes out to draw water, I'll say, "Give me a little water to drink from your jug."

New Heart English Bible
look, I am standing by this spring of water, and may it happen that the young woman who comes out to draw, to whom I will say, "Please give me a little water from your pitcher to drink,"

Webster's Bible Translation
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;

World English Bible
behold, I am standing by this spring of water. Let it happen, that the maiden who comes out to draw, to whom I will say, “Please give me a little water from your pitcher to drink,”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
(behold, I am standing by the fountain of water), then the virgin is coming out to draw, and I have said to her, Please let me drink a little water from your pitcher,

Young's Literal Translation
(lo, I am standing by the fountain of water), then the virgin who is coming out to draw, and I have said unto her, Let me drink, I pray thee, a little water from thy pitcher,

Smith's Literal Translation
Behold, I stand by the fountain of waters, and the virgin coming forth to draw, and I said to her, Now give me to drink a little water from thy bucket.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Behold I stand by the well of water, and the virgin, that shall come out to draw water, who shall hear me say: Give me a little water to drink of thy pitcher:

Catholic Public Domain Version
behold, I stand next to the well of water, and the virgin, who will go forth to draw water, will hear from me, “Give me a little water to drink from your pitcher.”

New American Bible
While I stand here at the spring, if I say to a young woman who comes out to draw water, ‘Please give me a little water from your jug,’

New Revised Standard Version
I am standing here by the spring of water; let the young woman who comes out to draw, to whom I shall say, “Please give me a little water from your jar to drink,”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Behold, I am standing by the well of water, and it shall come to pass that when the damsel comes forth to draw water, and I say to her, Let me drink a little water from your pitcher,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Behold I am standing at a well of waters and a young woman goes out to fill up waters and I will say to her, ‘Let me drink a little water from your cruse’;
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
behold, I stand by the fountain of water; and let it come to pass, that the maiden that cometh forth to draw, to whom I shall say: Give me, I pray thee, a little water from thy pitcher to drink;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
behold, I stand by the well of water, and the daughters of the men of the city come forth to draw water, and it shall be that the damsel to whom I shall say, Give me a little water to drink out of thy pitcher,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Rebekah is Chosen
42So when I came to the spring today, I prayed: O LORD, God of my master Abraham, if only You would make my journey a success! 43Here I am, standing beside this spring. Now if a maiden comes out to draw water and I say to her, ‘Please let me drink a little water from your jar,’ 44and she replies, ‘Drink, and I will draw water for your camels as well,’ may she be the woman the LORD has appointed for my master’s son.…

Cross References
Genesis 24:13-14
Here I am, standing beside the spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. / Now may it happen that the girl to whom I say, ‘Please let down your jar that I may drink,’ and who responds, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels as well’—let her be the one You have appointed for Your servant Isaac. By this I will know that You have shown kindness to my master.”

Genesis 29:9-10
While he was still speaking with them, Rachel arrived with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess. / As soon as Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of his mother’s brother Laban, with Laban’s sheep, he went up and rolled the stone away from the mouth of the well and watered his uncle’s sheep.

Exodus 2:16-17
Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters, and they came to draw water and fill the troughs to water their father’s flock. / And when some shepherds came along and drove them away, Moses rose up to help them and watered their flock.

Ruth 2:2-3
And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Please let me go into the fields and glean heads of grain after someone in whose sight I may find favor.” “Go ahead, my daughter,” Naomi replied. / So Ruth departed and went out into the field and gleaned after the harvesters. And she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelech.

1 Samuel 9:11-12
And as they were climbing the hill to the city, they met some young women coming out to draw water and asked, “Is the seer here?” / “Yes, he is ahead of you,” they answered. “Hurry now, for today he has come to the city because the people have a sacrifice on the high place.

John 4:7-10
When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” / (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) / “You are a Jew,” said the woman. “How can You ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) ...

John 4:28-29
Then the woman left her water jar, went back into the town, and said to the people, / “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?”

Isaiah 7:14
Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will be with child and give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel.

Matthew 1:22-23
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: / “Behold, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel” (which means, “God with us”).

Luke 1:26-27
In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, / to a virgin pledged in marriage to a man named Joseph, who was of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary.

Luke 1:30-31
So the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. / Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus.

Luke 2:4-5
So Joseph also went up from Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, since he was from the house and line of David. / He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to him in marriage and was expecting a child.

John 1:45-46
Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the One Moses wrote about in the Law, the One the prophets foretold—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” / “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip.

John 3:29
The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom stands and listens for him, and is overjoyed to hear the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.

2 Corinthians 11:2
I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. For I promised you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.


Treasury of Scripture

Behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to pass, that when the virgin comes forth to draw water, and I say to her, Give me, I pray you, a little water of your pitcher to drink;

Genesis 24:13,14
Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water: …

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Genesis 24
1. Abraham swears his servant.
10. The servant's journey.
12. His prayer.
14. His sign.
15. Rebekah meets him;
18. fulfils his sign;
22. receives jewels;
23. shows her kindred;
25. and invites him home.
26. The servant blesses God.
29. Laban entertains him.
34. The servant shows his message.
50. Laban and Bethuel approve it.
58. Rebekah consents to go, and departs.
62. Isaac meets and marries her.














Here I stand
This phrase signifies a moment of divine appointment and expectation. The Hebrew root for "stand" is "עָמַד" (amad), which conveys a sense of being positioned or stationed with purpose. In the context of Genesis 24, the servant of Abraham is not merely waiting passively; he is actively seeking God's guidance. This reflects a posture of readiness and faith, trusting that God will fulfill His promises. It is a reminder for believers to stand firm in faith, expecting God to act in His perfect timing.

beside the spring
The spring, or "עַיִן" (ayin) in Hebrew, symbolizes a source of life and sustenance. In the arid regions of the Near East, springs were vital for survival, often becoming gathering places for communities. Spiritually, the spring represents the living water that God provides, a theme echoed throughout Scripture, culminating in Jesus' declaration in John 4:14. The servant's position beside the spring is symbolic of being near to God's provision and blessing, a place where divine encounters occur.

and the daughters of the townspeople
This phrase highlights the cultural and social practices of the time. In ancient Near Eastern societies, it was customary for women to draw water, a daily task that also served as a social gathering opportunity. The mention of "daughters" emphasizes the role of women in the community and foreshadows the introduction of Rebekah, who will play a crucial role in God's covenantal plan. It underscores the importance of everyday activities as potential settings for divine intervention.

are coming out
The action of "coming out" suggests movement and anticipation. The Hebrew verb "יָצָא" (yatsa) implies going forth with purpose. This movement is not random but orchestrated by God, as the servant seeks a sign for Isaac's future wife. It serves as a reminder that God is actively involved in the details of our lives, guiding and directing our paths even in seemingly mundane circumstances.

to draw water
Drawing water, or "שָׁאַב" (sha'ab), was a routine yet essential task. Water is a recurring biblical symbol of life, purity, and cleansing. In this narrative, the act of drawing water becomes a divine appointment, where Rebekah's actions will reveal her character and God's choice. It illustrates how God uses ordinary tasks to accomplish His extraordinary purposes, encouraging believers to see His hand in all aspects of life.

(43) The virgin.--Not the word used in Genesis 24:16, nor that rendered damsel there and in Genesis 24:14, but almah, a young woman just ripening for marriage. It is applied to Miriam in Exodus 2:8, where it is rendered maid, and to the mother of the Immanuel in Isaiah 7:14.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Here
הִנֵּ֛ה (hin·nêh)
Interjection
Strong's 2009: Lo! behold!

I am,
אָנֹכִ֥י (’ā·nō·ḵî)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 595: I

standing
נִצָּ֖ב (niṣ·ṣāḇ)
Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5324: To take one's stand, stand

beside
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

this spring.
עֵ֣ין (‘ên)
Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain

Now [if]
וְהָיָ֤ה (wə·hā·yāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

a maiden
הָֽעַלְמָה֙ (hā·‘al·māh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5959: A young woman, a virgin

comes out
הַיֹּצֵ֣את (hay·yō·ṣêṯ)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

to draw water
לִשְׁאֹ֔ב (liš·’ōḇ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7579: To bale up water

and I say
וְאָמַרְתִּ֣י (wə·’ā·mar·tî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to her,
אֵלֶ֔יהָ (’ê·le·hā)
Preposition | third person feminine singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

“Please
נָ֥א (nā)
Interjection
Strong's 4994: I pray', 'now', 'then'

let me drink
הַשְׁקִֽינִי־ (haš·qî·nî-)
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - feminine singular | first person common singular
Strong's 8248: To quaff, to irrigate, furnish a, potion to

a little
מְעַט־ (mə·‘aṭ-)
Adjective - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4592: A little, fewness, a few

water
מַ֖יִם (ma·yim)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen

from your jar,”
מִכַּדֵּֽךְ׃ (mik·kad·dêḵ)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person feminine singular
Strong's 3537: A pail, earthenware, a jar


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OT Law: Genesis 24:43 Behold I am standing by this spring (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 24:42
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