King James Version

What Does Genesis 24:15 Mean?

Genesis 24:15 in the King James Version says “And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah...” — study this verse from Genesis chapter 24 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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 · KJV

Context

13

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

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.

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.

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. very: Heb. good of countenance

17

And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher.

Read Genesis 24 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Be... This passage is part of the Abrahamic narratives which shift from universal human history to God's particular covenant people. The Abraham cycle (Genesis 12-25) demonstrates God's sovereign election, covenant faithfulness, and the development of faith through testing and promise fulfillment.

Central themes include God's unconditional covenant promises (land, descendants, blessing to nations), the call to faith and obedience, the testing of faith through delays and impossibilities, the contrast between divine promises and human schemes, and God's gracious persistence despite human failures. Abraham emerges as the father of faith whose trust in God's promises becomes the model for all believers (Romans 4, Galatians 3, Hebrews 11).

Theologically, these narratives establish: (1) salvation by grace through faith rather than works; (2) covenant as God's gracious initiative binding Himself to His people; (3) the necessity of patient trust when promises seem impossible; (4) the consequences of attempting to fulfill God's promises through human effort; (5) the pattern of divine testing producing mature faith. The Abraham cycle foreshadows Christ as the ultimate seed through whom blessing extends to all nations (Galatians 3:16).

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Historical & Cultural Context

The patriarchal narratives (Genesis 12-50) reflect the cultural, social, and legal customs of the ancient Near East during the Middle Bronze Age (2000-1500 BCE). Archaeological discoveries including the Mari tablets, Nuzi tablets, and Egyptian records confirm many details: nomadic pastoralism, covenant-making ceremonies, marriage customs, property laws, and international travel patterns described in Genesis.

The cultural practices reflected include: treaty/covenant forms (Genesis 15), bride-price customs (Genesis 24, 29), inheritance laws favoring firstborn sons (Genesis 25, 27), adoption practices (Genesis 15, 30), levirate-type arrangements (Genesis 38), and Egyptian administrative systems (Genesis 41, 47). These parallels confirm Genesis's historical reliability while showing how God worked within ancient cultural frameworks to accomplish His purposes.

For later Israelites, these narratives established their identity as Abraham's descendants, explained their claim to Canaan, justified their possession of Joseph's bones (Exodus 13:19), and provided models of faith despite imperfection. The patriarchs' failures and God's faithfulness encouraged Israel that covenant relationship depended on God's grace rather than human merit. The movement from Mesopotamia to Canaan to Egypt set the stage for the Exodus and conquest narratives.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does understanding this verse shape our doctrine of humanity, sin, or salvation?
  2. What specific changes in thinking or behavior does this verse call us to make?
  3. What connections can we trace from this verse to Jesus' life, death, and resurrection?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 20 words
וַֽיְהִי1 of 20
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

ה֗וּא2 of 20
H1931

he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo

טֶרֶם֮3 of 20
H2962

properly, non-occurrence; used adverbially, not yet or before

כִּלָּ֣ה4 of 20

“And it came to pass before he had done”

H3615

to end, whether intransitive (to cease, be finished, perish) or transitive (to complete, prepare, consume)

לְדַבֵּר֒5 of 20

“speaking”

H1696

perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue

וְהִנֵּ֧ה6 of 20
H2009

lo!

רִבְקָ֣ה7 of 20

“that behold Rebekah”

H7259

ribkah, the wife of isaac

יֹצֵ֗את8 of 20

“came out”

H3318

to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim

אֲשֶׁ֤ר9 of 20

“who”

H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

יֻלְּדָה֙10 of 20

“was born”

H3205

to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage

לִבְתוּאֵ֣ל11 of 20

“to Bethuel”

H1328

bethuel, the name of a place in palestine

בֶּן12 of 20

“son”

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

מִלְכָּ֔ה13 of 20

“of Milcah”

H4435

milcah, the name of a hebrewess and of an israelite

אֵ֥שֶׁת14 of 20

“the wife”

H802

a woman

נָח֖וֹר15 of 20

“of Nahor”

H5152

nachor, the name of the grandfather and a brother of abraham

אֲחִ֣י16 of 20

“brother”

H251

a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance [like h0001])

אַבְרָהָ֑ם17 of 20

“Abraham's”

H85

abraham, the later name of abram

וְכַדָּ֖הּ18 of 20

“with her pitcher”

H3537

properly, a pail; but generally of earthenware; a jar for domestic purposes

עַל19 of 20
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

שִׁכְמָֽהּ׃20 of 20

“upon her shoulder”

H7926

the neck (between the shoulders) as the place of burdens; figuratively, the spur of a hill

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Genesis. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Genesis 24:15 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Genesis 24:15 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Genesis 11:29Isaiah 65:24Genesis 24:45Daniel 9:20-23Psalms 65:2Psalms 34:15

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