The Meaning of Genesis 24:15 Explained

Genesis 24:15

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.

YLT: And it cometh to pass, before he hath finished speaking, that lo, Rebekah (who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, wife of Nahor, brother of Abraham) is coming out, and her pitcher on her shoulder,

Darby: And it came to pass before he had ended speaking, that behold, Rebecca came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother; and she had her pitcher upon her shoulder.

ASV: And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Genesis 24:15 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 24:15 mean?

And it came to pass he before had finished speaking that behold Rebekah came out who was born to Bethuel son of Milcah the wife of Nahor brother of Abraham and with her jar on her shoulder
וַֽיְהִי־ ה֗וּא טֶרֶם֮ כִּלָּ֣ה לְדַבֵּר֒ וְהִנֵּ֧ה רִבְקָ֣ה יֹצֵ֗את אֲשֶׁ֤ר יֻלְּדָה֙ לִבְתוּאֵ֣ל בֶּן־ מִלְכָּ֔ה אֵ֥שֶׁת נָח֖וֹר אֲחִ֣י אַבְרָהָ֑ם וְכַדָּ֖הּ עַל־ שִׁכְמָֽהּ

וַֽיְהִי־  And  it  came  to  pass 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
טֶרֶם֮  before 
Parse: Adverb
Root: טֶרֶם  
Sense: before, not yet, before that.
כִּלָּ֣ה  had  finished 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: כָּלָה  
Sense: to accomplish, cease, consume, determine, end, fail, finish, be complete, be accomplished, be ended, be at an end, be finished, be spent.
לְדַבֵּר֒  speaking 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Piel, Infinitive construct
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
וְהִנֵּ֧ה  that  behold 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Interjection
Root: הִנֵּה  
Sense: behold, lo, see, if.
רִבְקָ֣ה  Rebekah 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: רִבְקָה  
Sense: daughter of Bethuel, sister of Laban, wife of Isaac, and mother of Esau and Jacob.
יֹצֵ֗את  came  out 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, feminine singular construct
Root: יׄוצֵאת 
Sense: to go out, come out, exit, go forth.
יֻלְּדָה֙  was  born 
Parse: Verb, QalPass, Perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: יָלַד 
Sense: to bear, bring forth, beget, gender, travail.
לִבְתוּאֵ֣ל  to  Bethuel 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: בְּתוּאֵל 
Sense: nephew of Abraham, son of Nahor by Milcah, father of Rebekah.
בֶּן־  son 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
מִלְכָּ֔ה  of  Milcah 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִלְכָּה  
Sense: daughter of Haran and wife of Nahor, her uncle and Abraham’s brother, to whom she bore 8 children.
אֵ֥שֶׁת  the  wife 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: אִשָּׁה  
Sense: woman, wife, female.
נָח֖וֹר  of  Nahor 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: נָחֹור  
Sense: son of Serug, father of Terah, and grandfather of Abraham.
אֲחִ֣י  brother 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: אָח  
Sense: brother.
אַבְרָהָ֑ם  of  Abraham 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַבְרָהָם  
Sense: friend of God and founder of Hebrew nation via God’s elective covenant.
וְכַדָּ֖הּ  and  with  her  jar 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular construct, third person feminine singular
Root: כַּד  
Sense: jar, large jar (portable).
שִׁכְמָֽהּ  her  shoulder 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person feminine singular
Root: שְׁכֶם  
Sense: shoulder, back.