Genesis 24:8
New International Version
If the woman is unwilling to come back with you, then you will be released from this oath of mine. Only do not take my son back there.”

New Living Translation
If she is unwilling to come back with you, then you are free from this oath of mine. But under no circumstances are you to take my son there.”

English Standard Version
But if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be free from this oath of mine; only you must not take my son back there.”

Berean Standard Bible
And if the woman is unwilling to follow you, then you are released from this oath of mine. Only do not take my son back there.”

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
And if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be released from this oath; only do not take my son back there.”

New American Standard Bible
But if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be free of this oath of mine; only do not take my son back there.”

NASB 1995
“But if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be free from this my oath; only do not take my son back there.”

NASB 1977
“But if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be free from this my oath; only do not take my son back there.”

Legacy Standard Bible
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.”

Amplified Bible
If the woman is not willing to follow you [to this land], then you will be free from this my oath and blameless; only you must never take my son back there.”

Christian Standard Bible
If the woman is unwilling to follow you, then you are free from this oath to me, but don’t let my son go back there.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
If the woman is unwilling to follow you, then you are free from this oath to me, but don’t let my son go back there.”

American Standard Version
And if the woman be not willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath; only thou shalt not bring my son thither again.

Contemporary English Version
If the woman refuses to come along, you don't have to keep this promise. But don't ever take my son back there."

English Revised Version
And if the woman be not willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath; only thou shalt not bring my son thither again.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
If the woman doesn't want to come back with you, then you'll be free from this oath that you swear to me. But don't take my son back there."

Good News Translation
If the young woman is not willing to come with you, you will be free from this promise. But you must not under any circumstances take my son back there."

International Standard Version
If the woman isn't willing to follow you, then you'll be free from this oath to me. Just don't take my son back there!"

Majority Standard Bible
And if the woman is unwilling to follow you, then you are released from this oath of mine. Only do not take my son back there.”

NET Bible
But if the woman is not willing to come back with you, you will be free from this oath of mine. But you must not take my son back there!"

New Heart English Bible
But if the woman isn’t willing to follow you, then you will be free from this oath to me. Only you must not bring my son back there."

Webster's Bible Translation
And if the woman shall not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath; only bring not my son thither again.

World English Bible
If the woman isn’t willing to follow you, then you shall be clear from this oath to me. Only you shall not bring my son there again.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and if the woman is not willing to come after you, then you have been acquitted from this my oath: only you do not cause my son to return there.”

Young's Literal Translation
and if the woman be not willing to come after thee, then thou hast been acquitted from this mine oath: only my son thou dost not cause to turn back thither.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And if the woman shall not be willing to come after thee, and thou shalt be clear from this thine oath; only thou shalt not turn back my son there.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But if the woman will not follow thee, thou shalt not be bound by the oath; only bring not my son back thither again.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But if the woman is not willing to follow you, you will not be held by the oath. Only do not lead my son back to that place.”

New American Bible
If the woman is unwilling to follow you, you will be released from this oath to me. But never take my son back there!”

New Revised Standard Version
But if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be free from this oath of mine; only you must not take my son back there.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And if the woman will not be willing to follow you, then you shall be clear from this my oath; only you must not take my son there again.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And if the woman will not be persuaded to come with you, you are blameless of this my oath, only you will not return my son there.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And if the woman be not willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath; only thou shalt not bring my son back thither.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And if the woman should not be willing to come with thee into this land, thou shalt be clear from my oath, only carry not my son thither again.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
A Wife for Isaac
7The LORD, the God of heaven, who brought me from my father’s house and my native land, who spoke to me and promised me on oath, saying, ‘To your offspring I will give this land’—He will send His angel before you so that you can take a wife for my son from there. 8And if the woman is unwilling to follow you, then you are released from this oath of mine. Only do not take my son back there.” 9So the servant placed his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and swore an oath to him concerning this matter.…

Cross References
Genesis 24:5-6
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?” / Abraham replied, “Make sure that you do not take my son back there.

Genesis 26:3-5
Stay in this land as a foreigner, and I will be with you and bless you. For I will give all these lands to you and your offspring, and I will confirm the oath that I swore to your father Abraham. / I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky, and I will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed, / because Abraham listened to My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.”

Genesis 28:1-4
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. / May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you, so that you may become a company of peoples. ...

Genesis 12:1-3
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. / I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. / I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you.”

Genesis 15:7
The LORD also told him, “I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.”

Genesis 17:7-8
I will establish My covenant as an everlasting covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. / And to you and your descendants I will give the land where you are residing—all the land of Canaan—as an eternal possession; and I will be their God.”

Genesis 50:24
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.”

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 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 23:12-13
For if you turn away and cling to the rest of these nations that remain among you, and if you intermarry and associate with them, / know for sure that the LORD your God will no longer drive out these nations before you. Instead, they will become for you a snare and a trap, a scourge in your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land that the LORD your God has given you.

1 Kings 8:56
“Blessed be the LORD, who has given rest to His people Israel according to all that He promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises He made through His servant Moses.

Nehemiah 9:8
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.

Psalm 105:9-11
the covenant He made with Abraham, and the oath He swore to Isaac. / He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as an everlasting covenant: / “I will give you the land of Canaan as the portion of your inheritance.”

Isaiah 41:8-10
“But you, O Israel, My servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, descendant of Abraham My friend— / I brought you from the ends of the earth and called you from its farthest corners. I said, ‘You are My servant.’ I have chosen and not rejected you. / Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.


Treasury of Scripture

And if the woman will not be willing to follow you, then you shall be clear from this my oath: only bring not my son thither again.

clear.

Numbers 30:5,8
But if her father disallow her in the day that he heareth; not any of her vows, or of her bonds wherewith she hath bound her soul, shall stand: and the LORD shall forgive her, because her father disallowed her…

Joshua 2:17-20
And the men said unto her, We will be blameless of this thine oath which thou hast made us swear…

Joshua 9:20
This we will do to them; we will even let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we sware unto them.

only.

Genesis 24:4,5,6
But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac…

Acts 7:2
And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,

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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.














If the woman is unwilling
The phrase "if the woman is unwilling" highlights the importance of free will and personal choice in the biblical narrative. In Hebrew, the word for "unwilling" is "מָאֵן" (ma'en), which means to refuse or decline. This reflects the respect for individual autonomy, even in ancient times. The context here is Abraham's servant seeking a wife for Isaac, and it underscores the principle that marriage should be entered into willingly by both parties. This respect for personal decision-making is consistent with the broader biblical theme of God valuing human freedom and choice.

to come back with you
The phrase "to come back with you" indicates a journey or return, which in Hebrew is "לָשׁוּב" (lashuv), meaning to return or go back. This reflects the physical and spiritual journey that Rebekah would undertake if she chose to marry Isaac. It symbolizes leaving behind one's past and embracing a new future, a common biblical motif. The journey also signifies faith and trust in God's plan, as Rebekah would be leaving her family and homeland to join Isaac in the land promised to Abraham's descendants.

then you will be released
"Then you will be released" uses the Hebrew word "נָקָה" (naqah), meaning to be free or exempt. This phrase emphasizes the conditional nature of the servant's oath. Abraham acknowledges that if the woman does not choose to come, the servant is not bound by the oath. This reflects a legal and moral understanding that obligations are contingent upon certain conditions being met, a principle that resonates throughout biblical law and ethics.

from this oath of mine
The phrase "from this oath of mine" refers to the solemn promise or covenant made by Abraham's servant. In Hebrew, "שְׁבוּעָה" (shevu'ah) means oath, a binding agreement often made before God. This highlights the seriousness with which oaths were regarded in biblical times, reflecting a deep sense of accountability and integrity. The oath is not just a personal promise but a commitment made in the sight of God, underscoring the spiritual dimension of human agreements.

And if she is unwilling to come
Reiterating the condition, "And if she is unwilling to come" reinforces the respect for Rebekah's choice. The repetition of the condition underscores its importance and the servant's responsibility to honor her decision. This reflects a biblical understanding of marriage as a covenant that requires mutual consent and willingness, aligning with the broader scriptural theme of covenant relationships based on love and commitment.

you will be released from my oath
The final phrase, "you will be released from my oath," confirms the servant's freedom from obligation if the conditions are not met. This reflects a legal and ethical principle that obligations are not absolute but contingent upon the fulfillment of agreed-upon terms. It also highlights Abraham's trust in God's providence, acknowledging that if Rebekah is not willing, God will provide another way. This trust in divine guidance is a central theme in the narrative of Genesis, illustrating faith in God's promises and timing.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And if
וְאִם־ (wə·’im-)
Conjunctive waw | Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

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

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

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

you,
אַחֲרֶ֔יךָ (’a·ḥă·re·ḵā)
Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's 310: The hind or following part

then you are released
וְנִקִּ֕יתָ (wə·niq·qî·ṯā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 5352: To be, clean, to be bare, extirpated

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

oath of mine.
מִשְּׁבֻעָתִ֖י (miš·šə·ḇu·‘ā·ṯî)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 7621: Something sworn, an oath

Only
רַ֣ק (raq)
Adverb
Strong's 7535: But, even, except, howbeit howsoever, at the least, nevertheless

do not
לֹ֥א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

take
תָשֵׁ֖ב (ṯā·šêḇ)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect Jussive - second person masculine singular
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

my son
בְּנִ֔י (bə·nî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1121: A son

back there.”
שָֽׁמָּה׃ (šām·māh)
Adverb | third person feminine singular
Strong's 8033: There, then, thither


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OT Law: Genesis 24:8 If the woman isn't willing to follow (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 24:7
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