The Meaning of Genesis 24:17 Explained

Genesis 24:17

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

YLT: And the servant runneth to meet her, and saith, 'Let me swallow, I pray thee, a little water from thy pitcher;'

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

ASV: And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Give me to drink, I pray thee, a little water from thy pitcher.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Genesis 24:17 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 24:10-27 - Rebekah Meets Abraham's Servant
As we enter upon a new day, or a fresh undertaking, it is always wise and right to ask for good-speed. Good-speed is God-speed. Praying times are not lost times. The reaper saves time when he stops to whet his scythe. Eliezer had learned a sincere respect for his master's piety, and felt that his name was a sure talisman with God. How much more may we ask in the name of Jesus! John 14:13. What a concentration of heaven-contrived circumstances gathered around this event! Abraham planning, the servant praying and waiting expectantly, the Angel of God leading, the very camels kneeling patiently beside the well as though they counted on the troughs being filled, the damsel coming at the precise hour! It is thus that all our daily life might be aglow with the presence and help of God. Such things take place, but, alas, our eyes are holden! Compare prosper in Genesis 24:21; Genesis 24:40; Genesis 24:42; Genesis 24:56, with Psalms 1:3. See Acts 10:17. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 24

1  Abraham swears his servant
10  The servant's journey
12  His prayer
14  His sign
15  Rebekah meets him;
18  fulfils his sign;
22  receives jewels;
23  shows her kindred;
25  and invites him home
26  The servant blesses God
29  Laban entertains him
34  The servant shows his message
50  Laban and Bethuel approve it
58  Rebekah consents to go, and departs
62  Isaac meets and marries her

What do the individual words in Genesis 24:17 mean?

And ran the servant to meet her and said let me drink please a little water from your jar
וַיָּ֥רָץ הָעֶ֖בֶד לִקְרָאתָ֑הּ וַיֹּ֕אמֶר הַגְמִיאִ֥ינִי נָ֛א מְעַט־ מַ֖יִם מִכַּדֵּֽךְ

וַיָּ֥רָץ  And  ran 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: רוּץ 
Sense: to run.
הָעֶ֖בֶד  the  servant 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֶבֶד  
Sense: slave, servant.
לִקְרָאתָ֑הּ  to  meet  her 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, third person feminine singular
Root: קָרָא  
Sense: to encounter, befall, meet.
וַיֹּ֕אמֶר  and  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
הַגְמִיאִ֥ינִי  let  me  drink 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperative, feminine singular, first person common singular
Root: גָּמָא  
Sense: to swallow (liquids).
נָ֛א  please 
Parse: Interjection
Root: נָא  
Sense: I (we) pray, now, please.
מְעַט־  a  little 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular construct
Root: מְעַט  
Sense: littleness, few, a little, fewness.
מַ֖יִם  water 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: מַיִם  
Sense: water, waters.
מִכַּדֵּֽךְ  from  your  jar 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, feminine singular construct, second person feminine singular
Root: כַּד  
Sense: jar, large jar (portable).