But if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be free of this oath of mine; only do not take my son back there.”
Parallel translations
- WEB If the woman isn’t willing to follow you, then you shall be clear from this oath to me. Only you shall not bring my son there again.”
- KJV And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath: only bring not my son thither again.
- BSB And if the woman is unwilling to follow you, then you are released from this oath of mine. Only do not take my son back there.”
- NKJV And if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be released from this oath; only do not take my son back there.”
- NLT If she is unwilling to come back with you, then you are free from this oath of mine. But under no circumstances are you to take my son there.”
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
Abraham releases the servant from the oath if the woman refuses, but insists Isaac must not return. He balances trust in God's providence with firm conviction about the promised land.
Overview
Abraham frees the servant from any guilt should the woman decline, leaving the outcome to God. Yet he repeats that Isaac must never be taken back. His confidence is that God will provide, while his obedience holds firmly to the land of promise.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Josh 2:17–20The men said to her, “We will be guiltless of this your oath which you’ve made us to swear.
- Num 30:5But if her father forbids her in the day that he hears, none of her vows, or of her bonds with which she has bound her soul, shall stand. Yahweh will forgive her, because her father has forbidden her.
- Num 30:8But if her husband forbids her in the day that he hears it, then he shall make void her vow which is on her, and the rash utterance of her lips, with which she has bound her soul. Yahweh will forgive her.
- Gen 24:4–6But you shall go to my country, and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son Isaac.”
- John 8:32You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
- Josh 9:20We will do this to them, and let them live; lest wrath be on us, because of the oath which we swore to them.”
- Acts 7:2He said, “Brothers and fathers, listen. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran,
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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 24:8 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.