Genesis 24:5
New International Version
The servant asked him, “What if the woman is unwilling to come back with me to this land? Shall I then take your son back to the country you came from?”

New Living Translation
The servant asked, “But what if I can’t find a young woman who is willing to travel so far from home? Should I then take Isaac there to live among your relatives in the land you came from?”

English Standard Version
The servant said to him, “Perhaps the woman may not be willing to follow me to this land. Must I then take your son back to the land from which you came?”

Berean Standard Bible
The servant asked him, “What if the woman is unwilling to follow me to this land? Shall I then take your son back to the land from which you came?”

King James Bible
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?

New King James Version
And the servant said to him, “Perhaps the woman will not be willing to follow me to this land. Must I take your son back to the land from which you came?”

New American Standard Bible
The servant said to him, “Suppose the woman is not willing to follow me to this land; should I take your son back to the land from where you came?”

NASB 1995
The servant said to him, “Suppose the woman is not willing to follow me to this land; should I take your son back to the land from where you came?”

NASB 1977
And the servant said to him, “Suppose the woman will not be willing to follow me to this land; should I take your son back to the land from where you came?”

Legacy Standard Bible
And the servant said to him, “Suppose the woman is not willing to follow me to this land; should I indeed take your son back to the land from where you came?”

Amplified Bible
The servant said to him, “Suppose the woman will not be willing to follow me back to this country; should I take your son back to the country from which you came?”

Christian Standard Bible
The servant said to him, “Suppose the woman is unwilling to follow me to this land? Should I have your son go back to the land you came from? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The servant said to him, “Suppose the woman is unwilling to follow me to this land? Should I have your son go back to the land you came from?”

American Standard Version
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?

Contemporary English Version
But the servant asked, "What if the young woman I choose refuses to leave home and come here with me? Should I send Isaac there to look for a wife?"

English Revised Version
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?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The servant asked him, "What if the woman doesn't want to come back to this land with me? Should I take your son all the way back to the land you came from?"

Good News Translation
But the servant asked, "What if the young woman will not leave home to come with me to this land? Shall I send your son back to the land you came from?"

International Standard Version
"What if the woman doesn't want to come back with me to this land?" the servant asked. "Shouldn't I have your son go to the land from which you came?"

Majority Standard Bible
The servant asked him, “What if the woman is unwilling to follow me to this land? Shall I then take your son back to the land from which you came?”

NET Bible
The servant asked him, "What if the woman is not willing to come back with me to this land? Must I then take your son back to the land from which you came?"

New Heart English Bible
And the servant asked him, "What if the woman isn’t willing to follow me to this land? Must I then bring your son back to the land from which you came?"

Webster's Bible Translation
And the servant said to him, It may be the woman will not be willing to follow me to this land: must I needs bring thy son again to the land from whence thou camest?

World English Bible
The servant said to him, “What if the woman isn’t willing to follow me to this land? Must I bring your son again to the land you came from?”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the servant says to him, “It may be the woman is not willing to come after me to this land; do I at all cause your son to return to the land from where you came out?”

Young's Literal Translation
And the servant saith unto him, 'It may be the woman is not willing to come after me unto this land; do I at all cause thy son to turn back unto the land from whence thou camest out?'

Smith's Literal Translation
And the servant will say to him, Perhaps the woman will not be willing to come after me to this land: shall I turning back, turn back your son to the land from whence thou camest?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The servant answered: If the woman will not come with me into this land, must I bring thy son back again to the place, from whence thou camest out?

Catholic Public Domain Version
The servant responded, “If the woman is not willing to come with me into this land, must I lead your son back to the place from which you departed?”

New American Bible
The servant asked him: “What if the woman is unwilling to follow me to this land? Should I then take your son back to the land from which you came?”

New Revised Standard Version
The servant said to him, “Perhaps the woman may not be willing to follow me to this land; must I then take your son back to the land from which you came?”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the servant said to him, Suppose the woman will not be willing to follow me to this land; must I then take your son back to the land from whence you came?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the Servant said to him, “And if the woman does not desire to come after me to return to this land, shall I return your son to the land from where I came out?”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
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 back unto the land from whence thou camest?'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the servant said to him, Shall I carry back thy son to the land whence thou camest forth, if haply the woman should not be willing to return with me to this land?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
A Wife for Isaac
4but will go to my country and my kindred to take a wife for my son Isaac.” 5The servant asked him, “What if the woman is unwilling to follow me to this land? Shall I then take your son back to the land from which you came?” 6Abraham replied, “Make sure that you do not take my son back there.…

Cross References
Genesis 12:1
Then the LORD said to Abram, “Leave your country, your kindred, and your father’s household, and go to the land I will show you.

Genesis 28:1-2
So Isaac called for Jacob and blessed him. “Do not take a wife from the Canaanite women,” he commanded. / “Go at once to Paddan-aram, to the house of your mother’s father Bethuel, and take a wife from among the daughters of Laban, your mother’s brother.

Genesis 31:3
Then the LORD said to Jacob, “Go back to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you.”

Genesis 50:24-25
Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will surely visit you and bring you up from this land to the land He promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” / And Joseph made the sons of Israel take an oath and said, “God will surely attend to you, and then you must carry my bones up from this place.”

Exodus 3:8
I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.

Exodus 6:8
And I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the LORD!’”

Deuteronomy 1:8
See, I have placed the land before you. Enter and possess the land that the LORD swore He would give to your fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and to their descendants after them.”

Deuteronomy 7:1-3
When the LORD your God brings you into the land that you are entering to possess, and He drives out before you many nations—the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, seven nations larger and stronger than you— / and when the LORD your God has delivered them over to you to defeat them, then you must devote them to complete destruction. Make no treaty with them and show them no mercy. / Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons,

Joshua 24:3
But I took your father Abraham from beyond the Euphrates and led him through all the land of Canaan, and I multiplied his descendants. I gave him Isaac,

Nehemiah 9:7-8
You are the LORD, the God who chose Abram, who brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans and gave him the name Abraham. / You found his heart faithful before You, and made a covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanites and Hittites, of the Amorites and Perizzites, of the Jebusites and Girgashites—to give it to his descendants. You have kept Your promise, because You are righteous.

Isaiah 51:2
Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who gave you birth. When I called him, he was but one; then I blessed him and multiplied him.

Acts 7:2-5
And Stephen declared: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, / and told him, ‘Leave your country and your kindred and go to the land I will show you.’ / So Abraham left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. After his father died, God brought him out of that place and into this land where you are now living. ...

Acts 7:15-16
So Jacob went down to Egypt, where he and our fathers died. / Their bones were carried back to Shechem and placed in the tomb that Abraham had bought from the sons of Hamor at Shechem for a price he paid in silver.

Hebrews 11:8-9
By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, without knowing where he was going. / By faith he dwelt in the promised land as a stranger in a foreign country. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.

Hebrews 11:15-16
If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. / Instead, they were longing for a better country, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.


Treasury of Scripture

And the servant said to him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me to this land: must I needs bring your son again to the land from from where you came?

Peradventure.

Genesis 24:58
And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go.

Exodus 20:7
Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

Exodus 9:2
For if thou refuse to let them go, and wilt hold them still,

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Camest Case Chance Country Follow Needs Peradventure Perhaps Removed Servant Suppose Turn Unwilling Whence Willing
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Camest Case Chance Country Follow Needs Peradventure Perhaps Removed Servant Suppose Turn Unwilling Whence Willing
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.














The servant asked him
This phrase introduces the servant, who is traditionally understood to be Eliezer of Damascus, Abraham's trusted steward. The Hebrew word for "servant" here is "עֶבֶד" (eved), which implies a position of trust and responsibility. In the ancient Near Eastern context, a servant like Eliezer would have been more than just a household worker; he was a manager and confidant, entrusted with significant tasks. This reflects the deep trust Abraham had in him, highlighting the importance of faithfulness and stewardship in our own lives.

What if the woman is unwilling
The phrase "unwilling" comes from the Hebrew root "מָאֵן" (ma'en), meaning to refuse or be unwilling. This reflects the respect for the woman's agency and choice, which is significant in a patriarchal society. It underscores the biblical principle that God's plans often involve human cooperation and willingness. The servant's question shows foresight and wisdom, acknowledging that God's will includes the free will of individuals.

to come back with me to this land
The phrase "to come back" indicates a return or journey, which in Hebrew is "שׁוּב" (shuv). This word often implies repentance or turning back, symbolizing a return to God's promises. "This land" refers to Canaan, the Promised Land, which God had sworn to give to Abraham's descendants. The land is central to God's covenant, representing His faithfulness and the fulfillment of His promises. The servant's concern reflects the importance of maintaining the covenantal lineage within the land God designated.

Shall I then take your son back
The word "take" in Hebrew is "לָקַח" (laqach), meaning to take or bring. This question reveals the servant's understanding of the gravity of the covenant promise. Isaac, as the child of promise, must remain in the land God has given. The servant's question highlights the tension between human plans and divine promises, reminding us to seek God's guidance in our decisions.

to the land from which you came
This phrase refers to Mesopotamia, Abraham's homeland. The Hebrew word for "land" is "אֶרֶץ" (eretz), which can mean land, earth, or country. Abraham's journey from this land to Canaan was a step of faith, leaving behind his past to embrace God's promise. The servant's question underscores the importance of not returning to former ways or places that God has called us out from. It serves as a reminder to remain steadfast in the path God has set before us, trusting in His promises and provision.

Verse 5. - And the servant said unto him (not having the same faith as his master), Peradventure (with perhaps a secret conviction that he ought to say, "Of a surety") the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land. Prima, facie it was a natural and reasonable hypothesis that the bride elect should demur to undertake a long and arduous journey to marry a husband she had never seen; accordingly, the ancient messenger desires to understand whether he might not be at liberty to act upon the other alternative. Must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest? In reply to which the patriarch solemnly interdicts him from attempting to seduce his son, under any pretext whatever, to leave the land of promise.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The servant
הָעֶ֔בֶד (hā·‘e·ḇeḏ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5650: Slave, servant

asked
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

him,
אֵלָיו֙ (’ê·lāw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

“What if
אוּלַי֙ (’ū·lay)
Adverb
Strong's 194: Perhaps

the woman
הָֽאִשָּׁ֔ה (hā·’iš·šāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female

is unwilling
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

to follow
לָלֶ֥כֶת (lā·le·ḵeṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

me to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

this
הַזֹּ֑את (haz·zōṯ)
Article | Pronoun - feminine singular
Strong's 2063: Hereby in it, likewise, the one other, same, she, so much, such deed, that,

land?
הָאָ֣רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

Shall I then take your son back
הֶֽהָשֵׁ֤ב (he·hā·šêḇ)
Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the land
הָאָ֖רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

from
מִשָּֽׁם׃ (miš·šām)
Preposition-m | Adverb
Strong's 8033: There, then, thither

which
אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

you came?”
יָצָ֥אתָ (yā·ṣā·ṯā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim


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OT Law: Genesis 24:5 The servant said to him What if (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 24:4
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