Some translations set each line of poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to make it easier to read. The ULB does this with the poetry in 24:60.
Abraham would not allow his son to marry anyone from the people of Canaan. This is because it would cause his son to worship other gods. Intermarriage and worshiping false gods are things that frequently caused Abraham's descendants to struggle. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#falsegod)
There are many instances recorded in this chapter which highlight Abraham's significant wealth. He owned more than 10 camels and had large amounts of gold.
Many scholars believe this is a euphemism. Putting one's hand on a man's genitals was a way to make an important oath. It represented power and progeny. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-euphemism)
This word is used here to mark a break in the main story line. Here the author starts to tell a new part of the story.
Abraham was about to ask the servant to swear to do something. Putting his hand under Abraham's thigh would show that he would certainly do what he would swear to do. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-symaction)
This can be expressed as a command. Alternate translation: "swear" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-imperative)
The term "swear by" means to use the name of something or someone as the basis or power on which the oath is made. "promise me with Yahweh as your witness"
"the God of heaven and earth." The words "heaven" and "earth" are used together to mean every thing that God created. Alternate translation: "the God of everything in heaven and earth" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-merism)
This refers to the place where God lives.
"from the Canaanite women" or "from the Canaanites." This refers to Canaanite females.
"among whom I live." Here, "I" stands for Abraham and all of his family and servants. Alternate translation: "among whom we live" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-synecdoche)
This can be stated as a command. Alternate translation: "Swear that you will go" or "But go" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-imperative)
"my family"
"What should I do if"
"will not follow me" or "refuses to come back with me"
"Should I take you son to live in the land from which you came"
The phrase "Make sure" emphasizes the command that follows. "Be careful not to take my son back there" or "You definitely must not take my son there"
Here "house" stands for the people in his family. Alternate translation: "who took me from my father and the rest of my family" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-metonymy)
"swore an oath to me"
This is a quotation within a quotation. It can be stated as an indirect quotation. Alternate translation: "saying that he would give this land to my offspring" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-quotesinquotes and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-quotations)
The words "he" and "his" refer to Yahweh.
Verse 8 is a continuation of the instructions Abraham gave his servant.
"But if the woman refuses to come with you." Abraham was answering the servant's question from Genesis 24:5.
"you will be released from the oath you made to me." Not having to fulfill an oath is spoken of as if the person is free from an object to which he was bound. Alternate translation: "you will not have to do what you swore to me that you would do" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-metaphor)
This was to show that he would certainly do what he was swearing to do. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-symaction)
"made an oath to him"
"concerning Abraham's request" or "that he would do what Abraham said"
The sentence starting with "He also took" gives additional information about what the servant took with him on the journey. He gathered them before he departed.
This means he also took many good things that his master wanted to give to the woman's family.
"set out and went" or "he left and went"
Possible meanings are 1) the city where Nahor lived" or 2) "the city called Nahor." If you can translate it without choosing a meaning, do so. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-names)
Camels are tall animals with long legs. He made them bend their legs and lower their bodies to the ground. "He made the camels lie down"
"water well" or "well"
"get water"
"Then the servant said"
You can state this with the connecting word "by." This makes clear how the servant wants God to show covenant faithfulness. Alternate translation: "Show covenant faithfulness to my master Abraham by granting me success today" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#writing-connectingwords)
"give me success." The servant wanted to find a good wife for Abraham's son. The abstract noun "success" can be stated as a verb. Alternate translation: "help me to succeed" or "make me able to do what I have come here to do" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-abstractnouns)
The abstract noun "faithfulness" can be stated as "faithful." Alternate translation: "be faithful to the covenant you have with my master Abraham" or "be faithful to my master Abraham" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-abstractnouns)
"You can see me standing here"
"the spring" or "the well"
"the young women of the city"
"Let it happen this way" or "Make this happen"
This is a quotation within a quotation. This can be expressed with an indirect quote. Alternate translation: "When I ask a young woman to let me have a drink of water from her jar" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-quotesinquotes and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-quotations)
The women carried the pitchers on their shoulder. She would have to lower it to give the man a drink.
a medium-size jar made of clay used for holding and pouring liquids
The abstract noun "faithfulness" can be stated as "been faithful." Alternate translation: "that you have been faithful to the covenant you have with my master Abraham" or "you have been faithful to my master Abraham" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-abstractnouns)
This phrase is used here to mark where the action starts. If your language has a way for doing this, you could consider using it here.
The word "behold" here alerts us to pay attention to the surprising information that follows.
This is a medium-size jar made of clay used for holding and pouring liquids. See how you translated this in Genesis 24:14.
"Rebekah's father was Bethuel. Bethuel's parents were Milkah and Nahor. Nahor was Abraham's brother"
Bethuel was Rebekah's father. See how you translated this name in Genesis 22:22. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-names)
This is the name of a man. See how you translated his name in Genesis 11:22. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-names)
Milkah was Nahor's wife and Bethuel's mother. See how you translated this name in Genesis 11:29. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-names)
The spring was somewhere lower in elevation than where the servant was standing.
"to meet the young woman"
"a little water"
This is a medium-size jar made of clay used for holding and pouring liquids. See how you translated this in Genesis 24:14.
"sir." Here the woman uses this term of respect to refer to the man, though she is not his slave.
"she quickly lowered her pitcher." She was carrying the pitcher on her shoulder. She had to lower it to get water for the servant.
"I will get water"
"So she quickly emptied her pitcher"
"the animals' water trough." A trough is a long open container for holding water for animals to drink.
"The servant"
"watched Rebekah" or "watched the young woman"
Learning something is often spoken of as if it were seeing. Alternate translation: "to know" or "to determine" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-metaphor)
"had fulfilled the purpose of his journey" or "had made his journey successful." You can make explicit what specifically the servant was trying to determine. Alternate translation: "was showing him the woman who would become Isaac's wife" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-explicit)
You can state clearly the understood information. Alternate translation: "or not prospered his journey" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-ellipsis)
"a gold nose ring that weighed six grams." The weight indicates the value of the ring. Alternate translation: "an expensive gold nose ring" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-bweight)
"two gold bracelets for her arms that weighed 110 grams." The weight shows their size and value. Alternate translation: "two large gold bracelets for her arms" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-bweight)
"Who is your father"
"is there a place in your father's house"
Apparently other men went on this journey with Abraham's servant. Here "us" refers to the servant and those traveling with him, but not to those to whom he was speaking. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-exclusive)
"to stay tonight" or "to stay for the night"
"Rebekah said" or "the young woman said"
"to the servant"
"Bethuel is my father, and his parents are Milkah and Nahor"
It is understood that the straw and feed are for the camels. You can make clear this understood information. Alternate translation: "We have plenty of straw and feed for the camels" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-explicit)
"for you to stay tonight" or "where you can stay for the night"
Here "you" refers to the servant and those traveling with him. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-you)
"the servant"
This is a sign of humility before God. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-symaction)
"has not stopped showing his covenant faithfulness and trustworthiness to my master." The abstract nouns "faithfulness" and "trustworthiness" can be stated as "to be faithful and trustworthy." Alternate translation: "has not stopped being faithful to his covenant and trustworthy toward my master" or "has not stopped being faithful and trustworthy to my master" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-abstractnouns)
This can be stated in positive form. Alternate translation: "continues to show" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-litotes)
"my master's family" or "my master's clan"
Here "household" stands for all the people living in her mother's house. Alternate translation: "ran to the house and told her mother and everyone there" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-metonymy)
"everything that had just happened"
This word is used here to mark a break in the main story line. Here the author tells background information about Rebekah. The author introduces her brother, Laban, to the story. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#writing-background and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#writing-participants)
These things happened before he ran out to the man. This tells why Laban ran out to the man. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-events)
This can be stated as an indirect quotation. Alternate translation: "when he had heard his sister Rebekah tell what the man had said to her" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-quotations)
The word "behold" here adds emphasis to what follows. "it was just as she had said: he"
"Come in, you" or "Enter, you"
"you whom Yahweh has blessed"
Here the word "you" refers to Abraham's servant. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-you)
Laban used this question to invite Abraham's servant into his house. This question can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "You do not need to stay outside." (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-rquestion)
The word "came" can be translated as "went." (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-go)
It is not clear who did this work. This may be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "Laban's servants unloaded the camels" or "the camels were unloaded" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-activepassive)
This does not say who did the work. If you state this in active form use "Laban's servants" as the subject. Alternate translation: "Laban's servants gave straw and feed to the camels, and they provided water" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-activepassive)
"for Abraham's servant and the men who were with him to wash their feet"
Here, the word "they" refers to Laban's family members or to the household servants.
"gave food to the servant"
"spoken my words" or "told you why I am here"
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Here the word "he" refers to Abraham.
"become very wealthy"
The word "he" refers to Yahweh.
Abraham's servant continues speaking to Rebekah's family.
"gave birth to a son"
"my master has given ... to his son"
"My master made me swear that I would do what he told me to do. He said"
This refers to Canaanite females. Alternate translation: "from the Canaanite women" or "from the Canaanites"
"among whom I live." Here, "I" stands for Abraham and all of his family and servants. Alternate translation: "among whom we live" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-synecdoche)
"to my own clan"
Abraham's servant continues speaking to Rebekah's family.
This is something that could possibly happen. The servant wanted to know what he should do if that happened. Alternate translation: "What if the woman will not come back with me?" or "What should I do if the woman will not come back with me?"
Serving Yahweh is spoken of as if Abraham were walking in Yahweh's presence. Alternate translation: "whom I serve" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-metaphor)
"he will make your journey successful"
"family"
"you will be released from the oath you made to me." Not having to fulfill an oath is spoken of as if the person is free from an object to which he was bound. Alternate translation: "you will not have to do what you swore to me that you would do" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-metaphor)
Languages use the words come and go differently. Alternate translation: "if you arrive at my relatives' home" or "if you go to my relatives" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-go)
Abraham's servant continues speaking to Rebekah's family.
"the well"
The servant goes back to stating his request. These are the first two things he has to say about the woman whom he hopes will come.
"to get water"
This is a medium-size jar made of clay used for holding and pouring liquids. See how you translated this in Genesis 24:14.
The thought that begins with the words "let the young woman who comes" in verse 43 ends here. This is the third of the three things the servant has to say about the woman whom he hopes will come.
The servant finishes his request.
Abraham's servant continues speaking to Rebekah's family.
To pray silently in one's mind is spoken of as if he were speaking in his heart. The word "heart" refers to his thoughts and his mind. Alternate translation: "praying" or "praying quietly" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-metaphor and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-metonymy)
"suddenly Rebekah came" or "I was surprised because I saw Rebekah coming"
This is a medium-size jar made of clay used for holding and pouring liquids. See how you translated this in Genesis 24:14.
The phrase "went down" is used because the spring was somewhere lower than where the servant was standing.
opening in the ground from which fresh water comes
"gave water to the camels"
Abraham's servant continues speaking to Rebekah's family.
"My father is Bethuel. His parents are Nahor and Milkah"
In this story, all of these items were made of gold. See how you translated these in Genesis 24:22.
This is a sign of humility before God. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-symaction)
"brought me here"
The connecting word "because" can be used to show this is why the servant worshiped God. Alternate translation: "because Yahweh led me" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#writing-connectingwords)
This refers to Bethuel, the son of Abraham's brother Nahor.
Abraham's servant continues speaking to Rebekah's family.
"Now." Here "Now" does not mean "at this moment," but is used to draw attention to the important point that follows.
The abstract nouns "love" and "faithfulness" can be stated with the verb "love" and the adjective "faithful." Also, you could state explicitly how they could show the "steadfast love and faithfulness." Alternate translation: "tell me if you will love my master and be faithful to him by giving Rebekah to be his son's wife" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-abstractnouns and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-explicit)
The word "you" refers to Laban and Bethuel. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-you)
The understood information can be stated clearly. Alternate translation: "But if you are not prepared to treat my master with steadfast love and faithfulness" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-ellipsis)
Possible meanings are 1) deciding what to do is spoken of as if the person will physically turn one direction or another. Alternate translation: "so that I will know what do" or 2) the servant wants to know if he needs to travel somewhere else. Alternate translation: "so that I may continue on my journey" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-metaphor and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-idiom)
This was the father of Laban and Rebekah.
"Yahweh has caused all of this to happen"
They are saying they do not have the authority to decide whether what God has done is good or bad. Alternate translation: "we dare not judge what Yahweh is doing" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-idiom)
"You can see Rebekah here"
"Here is Rebekah"
"what Laban and Bethuel said"
Bowing down before God is an expression of worship to him. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-symaction)
"silver and gold items" or "things made of silver and gold"
"expensive gifts" or "valuable gifts"
"Abraham's servant and his men"
"slept there that night"
"got up the next morning"
"Let me leave and return"
"at least ten more days"
"Then"
"Abraham's servant said"
"to Rebekah's brother and mother"
"Do not delay me" or "Do not make me wait"
Here "way" stands for a journey. Alternate translation: "Yahweh has caused me to succeed in the purpose my journey" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-metonymy)
"Allow me to leave"
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"So the family sent Rebekah"
Rebekah was Laban's sister. Alternate translation: "their relative" or "Laban's sister"
This refers to the female servant who had fed Rebekah when she was a baby, cared for her when she was a child, and still served her.
Rebekah was not the sister to everyone in her family. But they called her this to show that they loved her. Alternate translation: "Our dear Rebekah"
Here "mother" stands for ancestor. Alternate translation: "may you be the ancestor of millions of people" or "may you have very many descendants"
This means a very large number or an uncountable number. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-numbers)
Armies would break through the gate of their enemies' cities and conquer the people. Alternate translation: "may your descendants completely defeat those who hate them" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-metonymy)
"Then Rebekah and her servant girls went and got on the camels"
"In this way Abraham's servant took Rebekah with him and returned to where he had come from"
This word marks a change in the story. It was telling about the servant finding a wife, and now it will tell about Isaac.
This is the name of a water well in the Negev. See how you translated it in Genesis 16:14.
"One evening Isaac went out to the field to think." This must have been a long time after the servant and Rebekah left her home since they had to travel a long distance.
The word "behold" here alerts us to pay attention to the surprising information that follows. "When he looked up he was surprised to see camels coming"
"Rebekah looked up"
"she quickly got off the camel"
"So she covered her face with her veil." This is a sign of respect and modesty towards the man she will marry. The full meaning of this can be made explicit. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-symaction and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-explicit)
a piece of cloth used to cover a person's head, shoulders and face
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Both of these phrases mean that Isaac married Rebekah. Alternate translation: "married Rebekah" or "took her as his wife" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-doublet)
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "So Rebekah comforted Isaac" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-activepassive)