The Meaning of Genesis 24:45 Explained

Genesis 24:45

KJV: And before I had done speaking in mine heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down unto the well, and drew water: and I said unto her, Let me drink, I pray thee.

YLT: 'Before I finish speaking unto my heart, then lo, Rebekah is coming out, and her pitcher on her shoulder, and she goeth down to the fountain, and draweth; and I say unto her, Let me drink, I pray thee,

Darby: Before I ended speaking in my heart, behold, Rebecca came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder, and went down to the well, and drew water; and I said to her, Give me, I pray thee, to drink.

ASV: And before I had done speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder. And she went down unto the fountain, and drew. And I said unto her, Let me drink, I pray thee.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And before I had done  speaking  in mine heart,  behold, Rebekah  came forth  with her pitcher  on her shoulder;  and she went down  unto the well,  and drew  [water]: and I said  unto her, Let me drink,  I pray thee. 

What does Genesis 24:45 Mean?

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 24:45 mean?

I but before had finished speaking in my heart behold Rebekah coming out and with her jar on her shoulder and she went down to the well and drew [water] and I said to her let me drink please
אֲנִי֩ טֶ֨רֶם אֲכַלֶּ֜ה לְדַבֵּ֣ר אֶל־ לִבִּ֗י וְהִנֵּ֨ה רִבְקָ֤ה יֹצֵאת֙ וְכַדָּ֣הּ עַל־ שִׁכְמָ֔הּ וַתֵּ֥רֶד הָעַ֖יְנָה וַתִּשְׁאָ֑ב וָאֹמַ֥ר אֵלֶ֖יהָ הַשְׁקִ֥ינִי נָֽא

טֶ֨רֶם  but  before 
Parse: Adverb
Root: טֶרֶם  
Sense: before, not yet, before that.
אֲכַלֶּ֜ה  had  finished 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, first person common 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.
לְדַבֵּ֣ר  speaking 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Piel, Infinitive construct
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
לִבִּ֗י  my  heart 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.
וְהִנֵּ֨ה  behold 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Interjection
Root: הִנֵּה  
Sense: behold, lo, see, if.
רִבְקָ֤ה  Rebekah 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: רִבְקָה  
Sense: daughter of Bethuel, sister of Laban, wife of Isaac, and mother of Esau and Jacob.
יֹצֵאת֙  coming  out 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, feminine singular construct
Root: יׄוצֵאת 
Sense: to go out, come out, exit, go forth.
וְכַדָּ֣הּ  and  with  her  jar 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular construct, third person feminine singular
Root: כַּד  
Sense: jar, large jar (portable).
שִׁכְמָ֔הּ  her  shoulder 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person feminine singular
Root: שְׁכֶם  
Sense: shoulder, back.
וַתֵּ֥רֶד  and  she  went  down 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: יָרַד  
Sense: to go down, descend, decline, march down, sink down.
הָעַ֖יְנָה  to  the  well 
Parse: Article, Noun, common singular, third person feminine singular
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.
וַתִּשְׁאָ֑ב  and  drew  [water] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: שָׁאַב  
Sense: to draw (water).
וָאֹמַ֥ר  and  I  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, first person common singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אֵלֶ֖יהָ  to  her 
Parse: Preposition, third person feminine singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
הַשְׁקִ֥ינִי  let  me  drink 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperative, feminine singular, first person common singular
Root: שָׁקָה  
Sense: to give to drink, irrigate, drink, water, cause to drink water.
נָֽא  please 
Parse: Interjection
Root: נָא  
Sense: I (we) pray, now, please.