Genesis 24 · Verse 15

Genesis 24:15

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.
Genesis 24:15, King James Version

Genesis 24:15 in other translations

BSBBefore the servant had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah, the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor.
WEBBefore he had finished speaking, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, with her pitcher on her shoulder.
ASVAnd it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder.
YLTAnd it cometh to pass, before he hath finished speaking, that lo, Rebekah (who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, wife of Nahor, brother of Abraham) is coming out, and her pitcher on her shoulder,
DARBYAnd it came to pass before he had ended speaking, that behold, Rebecca came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother; and she had her pitcher upon her shoulder.
BBEAnd even before his words were ended, Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Milcah, who was the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, came out with her water-vessel on her arm.
WebsterAnd 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.

What does Genesis 24:15 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Genesis 24:15-21
15-21. before he had done speaking ... behold, Rebekah came out--As he anticipated, a young woman unveiled, as in pastoral regions, appeared with her pitcher on her shoulder. Her comely appearance, her affable manners, her obliging courtesy in going down the steps to fetch water not only to him but to pour it into the trough for his camels, afforded him the most agreeable surprise. She was the very person his imagination had pictured, and he proceeded to reward her civility.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 15 Behold, Rebekah came out - How admirably had the providence of God adapted every circumstance to the necessity of the case, and so as in the most punctual manner to answer the prayer which his servant had offered up!

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Genesis 24:10-28

Abraham's servant devoutly acknowledged God. We have leave to be particular in recommending our affairs to the care of Divine providence. He proposes a sign, not that he intended to proceed no further, if not gratified in it; but it is a prayer that God would provide a good wife for his young master; and that was a good prayer. She should be simple, industrious, humble, cheerful, serviceable, and hospitable…

Read the full comment on Genesis 24:10-28 →

Genesis 24:15 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַֽיְהִי\־vay.hi-and it wasH1961
ה֗וּאHu'heH1931
טֶרֶם֮te.Remnot yetH2962
כִּלָּ֣הki.Lahhe had finishedH3615
לְדַבֵּר֒le.da.Berto speakH1696
וְהִנֵּ֧הve.hi.Nehand there!H2009
רִבְקָ֣הriv.KahRebekahH7259
יֹצֵ֗אתyo.Tzet[was] coming outH3318
אֲשֶׁ֤ר'a.SherwhoH834
יֻלְּדָה֙yu.le.Dahshe had been bornH3205
לִבְתוּאֵ֣לliv.tu.'Elto BethuelH1328
בֶּן\־ben-[the] son ofH1121
מִלְכָּ֔הmil.KahMilcahH4435
אֵ֥שֶׁת'E.shet[the] wife ofH802
נָח֖וֹרna.ChorNahorH5152
אֲחִ֣י'a.Chi[the] brother ofH251
אַבְרָהָ֑ם'av.ra.HamAbrahamH85
וְכַדָּ֖הּve.kha.Dahand jar herH3537
עַל\־'al-[was] onH5921
שִׁכְמָֽהּ\׃shikh.Mahshoulder herH7926

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Genesis 24:15

  • Genesis 11:29

    And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram’s wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor’s wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah.

  • Genesis 24:45

    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.

  • Isaiah 65:24

    And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.

  • Psalms 65:2

    O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.

  • Daniel 9:20-23

    And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God for the holy mountain of my God; Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.

  • Isaiah 58:9

    Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;

  • Genesis 22:20-23

    And it came to pass after these things, that it was told Abraham, saying, Behold, Milcah, she hath also born children unto thy brother Nahor; Huz his firstborn, and Buz his brother, and Kemuel the father of Aram, And Chesed, and Hazo, and Pildash, and Jidlaph, and Bethuel. And Bethuel begat Rebekah: these eight Milcah did bear to Nahor, Abraham’s brother.

  • Psalms 145:18-19

    The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.

  • Psalms 34:15

    The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.

  • Exodus 2:16

    Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock.

  • Ruth 2:17

    So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley.

  • Genesis 29:9

    And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep: for she kept them.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
before.
45; Jud 6:36-40; Ps 34:15; 65:2; 145:18,19; Isa 58:9; 65:24
Da 9:20-23
Rebekah.
24; 22:20-23
Milcah.
11:27,29; 22:23
pitcher.
21:14; 29:9; Ex 2:16; Ru 2:2,17; Pr 31:27

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Genesis 24:14

    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.

  • Genesis 24:15

    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.

  • Genesis 24:16

    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.

Read all of Genesis 24

Genesis 24:15 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y aconteció que antes que él acabase de hablar, he aquí Rebeca, que había nacido á Bethuel, hijo de Milca, mujer de Nachôr hermano de Abraham, la cual salía con su cántaro sobre su hombro.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et il arriva, avant qu’il ait achevé de parler, que voici sortir Rebecca, sa cruche sur son épaule: elle était née à Bethuel, fils de Milca, femme de Nakhor, frère d’Abraham.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Und es geschah, er hatte noch nicht ausgeredet, siehe, da kam Rebekka heraus, die dem Bethuel geboren worden, dem Sohne der Milka, des Weibes Nahors, des Bruders Abrahams, mit ihrem Kruge auf ihrer Schulter.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Necdum intra se verba compleverat, et ecce Rebecca egrediebatur, filia Bathuel, filii Melchæ uxoris Nachor fratris Abraham, habens hydriam in scapula sua: