King James Version

What Does Genesis 24:47 Mean?

Genesis 24:47 in the King James Version says “And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter art thou? And she said, The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bare...” — study this verse from Genesis chapter 24 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter art thou? And she said, The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bare unto him: and I put the earring upon her face, and the bracelets upon her hands.”

Genesis 24:47 · KJV

Context

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.

46

And she made haste, and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: so I drank, and she made the camels drink also.

47

And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter art thou? And she said, The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bare unto him: and I put the earring upon her face, and the bracelets upon her hands.

48

And I bowed down my head, and worshipped the LORD, and blessed the LORD God of my master Abraham, which had led me in the right way to take my master's brother's daughter unto his son.

49

And now if ye will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me: and if not, tell me; that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left.

Read Genesis 24 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter art thou? And she said, The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's s... 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. What does this passage reveal about God's sovereignty and human responsibility?
  2. How can we apply the principles from this passage to contemporary challenges in family, work, or church?
  3. In what ways does this narrative foreshadow or typify aspects of Christ's redemptive work?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 22 words
וָֽאֶשְׁאַ֣ל1 of 22

“And I asked”

H7592

to inquire; by implication, to request; by extension, to demand

אֹתָ֗הּ2 of 22
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

וַתֹּ֗אמֶר3 of 22

“art thou And she said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

בַּת4 of 22

“The daughter”

H1323

a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)

מִ֣י5 of 22
H4310

who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix

אַתְּ֒6 of 22
H859

thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you

וַתֹּ֗אמֶר7 of 22

“art thou And she said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

בַּת8 of 22

“The daughter”

H1323

a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)

בְּתוּאֵל֙9 of 22

“of Bethuel”

H1328

bethuel, the name of a place in palestine

בֶּן10 of 22

“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

נָח֔וֹר11 of 22

“Nahor's”

H5152

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

אֲשֶׁ֥ר12 of 22
H834

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

יָֽלְדָה13 of 22

“bare”

H3205

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

לּ֖וֹ14 of 22
H0
מִלְכָּ֑ה15 of 22

“whom Milcah”

H4435

milcah, the name of a hebrewess and of an israelite

וָֽאָשִׂ֤ם16 of 22

“unto him and I put”

H7760

to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)

הַנֶּ֙זֶם֙17 of 22

“the earring”

H5141

a nose-ring

עַל18 of 22
H5921

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

אַפָּ֔הּ19 of 22

“upon her face”

H639

properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the rapid breathing in passion) ire

וְהַצְּמִידִ֖ים20 of 22

“and the bracelets”

H6781

generally, a lid

עַל21 of 22
H5921

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

יָדֶֽיהָ׃22 of 22

“upon her hands”

H3027

a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v

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 24:47 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 24:47 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Isaiah 62:3-5Psalms 45:13-14Ezekiel 16:10-13Genesis 24:53Genesis 24:22-24Ephesians 5:26-27

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