And it happened, before he had finished speaking, that behold, Rebekah, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, came out with her pitcher on her shoulder.
Parallel translations
- WEB Before 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.
- KJV 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.
- BSB Before 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.
- NASB And it came about, before he had finished speaking, that behold, Rebekah, who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor, came out with her jar on her shoulder.
- NLT Before he had finished praying, he saw a young woman named Rebekah coming out with her water jug on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel, who was the son of Abraham’s brother Nahor and his wife, Milcah.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Before he finishes praying, Rebekah, of Abraham's own kindred, arrives with her pitcher. God answers the prayer even before it is fully spoken.
Overview
The immediate arrival of Rebekah, born into Abraham's family line, displays God's prompt and precise providence. The timing underscores that the Lord was directing every step. The covenant line will continue through this woman whom God so clearly provides.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 18
- Gen 11:29Abram and Nahor married wives. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife was Milcah, the daughter of Haran who was also the father of Iscah.
- Isa 65:24It will happen that, before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
- Gen 24:45Before I had finished speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came out with her pitcher on her shoulder. She went down to the spring, and drew. I said to her, ‘Please let me drink.’
- Ps 65:2You who hear prayer, to you all men will come.
- Dan 9:20–23While I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before Yahweh my God for the holy mountain of my God;
- Exod 2:16Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters. They came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock.
- Gen 22:20–23After these things, Abraham was told, “Behold, Milcah, she also has borne children to your brother Nahor:
- Ps 34:15Yahweh’s eyes are toward the righteous. His ears listen to their cry.
- Ps 145:18–19Yahweh is near to all those who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
- Isa 58:9Then you will call, and Yahweh will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’ “If you take away from among you the yoke, finger pointing, and speaking wickedly;
- Ruth 2:17So she gleaned in the field until evening; and she beat out that which she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley.
- Judg 6:36–40Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand, as you have spoken,
- Ruth 2:2Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Let me now go to the field, and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I find favor.” She said to her, “Go, my daughter.”
- Gen 29:9While he was yet speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she kept them.
- Gen 11:27Now this is the history of the generations of Terah. Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran. Haran became the father of Lot.
- Gen 24:24She said to him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor.”
- Gen 21:14Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread and a bottle of water, and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder; and gave her the child, and sent her away. She departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.
- Prov 31:27She looks well to the ways of her household, and doesn’t eat the bread of idleness.
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Christ at the center
From the first promise that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent (3:15), through Abraham's blessing to all nations and Judah's coming ruler, Genesis sows every seed that flowers in Christ — the true offspring, the better Adam, the ram caught for Isaac.
How Genesis 24:15 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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