The Meaning of Genesis 24:40 Explained

Genesis 24:40

KJV: And he said unto me, The LORD, before whom I walk, will send his angel with thee, and prosper thy way; and thou shalt take a wife for my son of my kindred, and of my father's house:

YLT: and he saith unto me, Jehovah, before whom I have walked habitually, doth send His messenger with thee, and hath prospered thy way, and thou hast taken a wife for my son from my family, and from the house of my father;

Darby: And he said to me, Jehovah, before whom I have walked, will send his angel with thee, and prosper thy way, that thou mayest take a wife for my son of my family, and out of my father's house.

ASV: And he said unto me, Jehovah, before whom I walk, will send his angel with thee, and prosper thy way. And thou shalt take a wife for my son of my kindred, and of my father's house.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And he said  unto me, The LORD,  before  whom I walk,  will send  his angel  with thee, and prosper  thy way;  and thou shalt take  a wife  for my son  of my kindred,  and of my father's  house: 

What does Genesis 24:40 Mean?

Study Notes

angel
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angels
Angel, Summary: Angel, "messenger," is used of God, of men, and of an order of created spiritual beings whose chief attributes are strength and wisdom. 2 Samuel 14:20 ; Psalms 103:20 ; Psalms 104:4 . In the O.T. the expression "the angel of the Lord" (sometimes "of God") usually implies the presence of Deity in angelic form.; Genesis 16:1-13 ; Genesis 21:17-19 ; Genesis 22:11-16 ; Genesis 31:11-13 ; Exodus 3:2-4 ; Judges 2:1 ; Judges 6:12-16 ; Judges 13:3-22 (See Scofield " Malachi 3:1 ") . The word "angel" is used of men in; Luke 7:24 ; James 2:25 ; Revelation 1:20 ; Revelation 2:1 ; Revelation 2:8 ; Revelation 2:12 ; Revelation 2:18 ; Revelation 3:1 ; Revelation 3:7 ; Revelation 3:14 In Revelation 8:3-5 . Christ is evidently meant. Sometimes angel is used of the spirit of man.; Matthew 18:10 ; Acts 12:15 . Though angels are spirits; Psalms 104:4 ; Hebrews 1:14 power is given them to become visible in the semblance of human form. Genesis 19:1 cf; Genesis 19:5 ; Exodus 3:2 ; Numbers 22:22-31 ; Judges 2:1 ; Judges 6:11 ; Judges 6:22 ; Judges 13:3 ; Judges 13:6 ; 1 Chronicles 21:16 ; 1 Chronicles 21:20 ; Matthew 1:20 ; Luke 1:26 ; John 20:12 ; Acts 7:30 ; Acts 12:7 ; Acts 12:8 etc.). The word is always used in the masculine gender, though sex, in the human sense, is never ascribed to angels.; Matthew 22:30 ; Mark 12:25 . They are exceedingly numerous.; Matthew 26:53 ; Hebrews 12:22 ; Revelation 5:11 ; Psalms 68:17 . The power is inconceivable. 2 Kings 19:35 . Their place is about the throne of God.; Revelation 5:11 ; Revelation 7:11 . Their relation to the believer is that of "ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation," and this ministry has reference largely to the physical safety and well-being of believers.; 1 Kings 19:5 ; Psalms 34:7 ; Psalms 91:11 ; Daniel 6:22 ; Matthew 2:13 ; Matthew 2:19 ; Matthew 4:11 ; Luke 22:43 ; Acts 5:19 ; Acts 12:7-10 . From; Hebrews 1:14 ; Matthew 18:10 ; Psalms 91:11 it would seem that this care for the heirs of salvation begins in infancy and continues through life. The angels observe us; 1 Corinthians 4:9 ; Ephesians 3:10 ; Ecclesiastes 5:6 a fact which should influence conduct. They receive departing saints. Luke 16:22 . Man is made "a little lower than the angels," and in incarnation Christ took "for a little "time" this lower place.; Psalms 8:4 ; Psalms 8:5 ; Hebrews 2:6 ; Hebrews 2:9 that He might lift the believer into His own sphere above angels. Hebrews 2:9 ; Hebrews 2:10 . The angels are to accompany Christ in His second advent. Matthew 25:31 . To them will be committed the preparation of the judgment of the nations. Matthew 13:30 ; Matthew 13:39 ; Matthew 13:41 ; Matthew 13:42 . See Scofield " Matthew 25:32 ". The kingdom-age is not to be subject to angels, but to Christ and those for whom He was made a little lower than the angels. Hebrews 2:5 An archangel, Michael, is mentioned as having a particular relation to Israel and to the resurrections.; Daniel 10:13 ; Daniel 10:21 ; Daniel 12:1 ; Daniel 12:2 ; Judges 1:9 ; 1 Thessalonians 4:16 . The only other angel whose name is revealed Gabriel, was employed in the most distinguished services.; Daniel 8:16 ; Daniel 9:21 ; Luke 1:19 ; Luke 1:26 .
Fallen angels. Two classes of these are mentioned:
(1) "The angels which kept not their first estate place, but left their own habitation," are "chained under darkness," awaiting judgment. 2 Peter 2:4 ; Judges 1:6 ; 1 Corinthians 6:3 ; John 5:22 .
(See Scofield " Genesis 6:4 ")
(2) The angels who have Satan Genesis 3:1 as leader.
(See Scofield " Revelation 20:10 ") .
The origin of these is nowhere explicitly revealed. They may be identical with the demons.
(See Scofield " Matthew 7:22 ") . For Satan and his angels everlasting fire is prepared. Matthew 25:41 ; Revelation 20:10 .

Context Summary

Genesis 24:28-49 - Abraham's Servant Fulfills His Mission
This worthy man was almost garrulous about his master. Count the number of times in which he contrives to introduce those two words, "my master." He put the errand on which he had come before his necessary food, and poured out his story in a stream of crystal utterance, which was the highest eloquence. This identification of his thought and speech with his master's interests is full of teaching for us all. He could talk of nothing else, was only anxious not to fail for Abraham's sake; and took the favorable reply as kindness shown to him whom he represented. George Herbert caught the same spirit when he spoke of "the aromatic fragrance" of "My Master" when applied to Jesus. We, too, are called to be ambassadors, as though God did beseech men by us. If we are in the way of God's will, be sure that the Lord will not only lead, but lead "in the right way," and will create for us a sympathetic reception whither we go. [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 24:40 mean?

But he said to me Yahweh whom I walk before will send His angel with you and prosper your way and you shall take a wife for my son from my family and from the house of my father
וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אֵלָ֑י יְהוָ֞ה אֲשֶׁר־ הִתְהַלַּ֣כְתִּי לְפָנָ֗יו יִשְׁלַ֨ח מַלְאָכ֤וֹ אִתָּךְ֙ וְהִצְלִ֣יחַ דַּרְכֶּ֔ךָ וְלָקַחְתָּ֤ אִשָּׁה֙ לִבְנִ֔י מִמִּשְׁפַּחְתִּ֖י וּמִבֵּ֥ית אָבִֽי

וַיֹּ֖אמֶר  But  he  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אֵלָ֑י  to  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
יְהוָ֞ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֲשֶׁר־  whom 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
הִתְהַלַּ֣כְתִּי  I  walk 
Parse: Verb, Hitpael, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
לְפָנָ֗יו  before 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, common plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
יִשְׁלַ֨ח  will  send 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁלַח  
Sense: to send, send away, let go, stretch out.
מַלְאָכ֤וֹ  His  angel 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: מַלְאָךְ  
Sense: messenger, representative.
אִתָּךְ֙  with  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
Root: אֵת 
Sense: with, near, together with.
וְהִצְלִ֣יחַ  and  prosper 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: צָלַח 
Sense: (Qal) to rush.
דַּרְכֶּ֔ךָ  your  way 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: דֶּרֶךְ  
Sense: way, road, distance, journey, manner.
וְלָקַחְתָּ֤  and  you  shall  take 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: יָקַח 
Sense: to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away.
אִשָּׁה֙  a  wife 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: אִשָּׁה  
Sense: woman, wife, female.
לִבְנִ֔י  for  my  son 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
מִמִּשְׁפַּחְתִּ֖י  from  my  family 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: מִשְׁפָּחָה  
Sense: clan, family.
וּמִבֵּ֥ית  and  from  the  house 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
אָבִֽי  of  my  father 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.