King James Version

What Does Genesis 24:17 Mean?

Genesis 24:17 in the King James Version says “And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher.” — study this verse from Genesis chapter 24 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

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

Genesis 24:17 · KJV

Prayer

Context

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.

18

And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink.

19

And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for thy camels also, until they have done drinking.

Read Genesis 24 full chapter

Commentary

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

KJV Study — Public Domain

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. How should this truth about Servant's Faith shape our daily decisions and priorities?
  3. How does understanding Christ as the ultimate fulfillment illuminate this passage's meaning?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 9 words
וַיָּ֥רָץ1 of 9

“ran”

H7323

to run (for whatever reason, especially to rush)

הָעֶ֖בֶד2 of 9

“And the servant”

H5650

a servant

לִקְרָאתָ֑הּ3 of 9

“to meet her”

H7125

an encountering, accidental, friendly or hostile (also adverbially, opposite)

וַיֹּ֕אמֶר4 of 9

“and said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

הַגְמִיאִ֥ינִי5 of 9

“Let me I pray thee drink”

H1572

to absorb

נָ֛א6 of 9
H4994

'i pray', 'now', or 'then'; added mostly to verbs (in the imperative or future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction

מְעַט7 of 9

“a little”

H4592

a little or few (often adverbial or comparative)

מַ֖יִם8 of 9

“water”

H4325

water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen

מִכַּדֵּֽךְ׃9 of 9

“of thy pitcher”

H3537

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

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 24:17 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 24:17 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

John 4:7Genesis 26:1-351 Kings 17:10Isaiah 21:14Isaiah 49:10Isaiah 41:17-18

Test Your Knowledge

Genesis 24 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapterGenesis Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

Continue Your Study

Read Genesis 24 with CommentaryAll Genesis ChaptersComplete Genesis QuizBible CharactersNave's Topical BibleAll Bible Quizzes