The Meaning of Genesis 24:48 Explained

Genesis 24:48

KJV: And I bowed down my head, and worshipped the LORD, and blessed the LORD God of my master Abraham, which had led me in the right way to take my master's brother's daughter unto his son.

YLT: and I bow, and do obeisance before Jehovah, and I bless Jehovah, God of my lord Abraham, who hath led me in the true way to receive the daughter of my lord's brother for his son.

Darby: And I stooped, and bowed down before Jehovah; and I blessed Jehovah, God of my master Abraham, who has led me the right way to take my master's brother's daughter for his son.

ASV: And I bowed my head, and worshipped Jehovah, and blessed Jehovah, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me in the right way to take my master's brother's daughter for his son.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And I bowed down my head,  and worshipped  the LORD,  and blessed  the LORD  God  of my master  Abraham,  which had led me  in the right  way  to take  my master's  brother's  daughter  unto his son. 

What does Genesis 24:48 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 24:48 mean?

And I bowed my head and worshiped Yahweh and blessed - Yahweh God of my master Abraham who had led me in the way of truth to take the daughter of brother for his son
וָאֶקֹּ֥ד וָֽאֶשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֖ה לַיהוָ֑ה וָאֲבָרֵ֗ךְ אֶת־ יְהוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵי֙ אֲדֹנִ֣י אַבְרָהָ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֤ר הִנְחַ֙נִי֙ בְּדֶ֣רֶךְ אֱמֶ֔ת לָקַ֛חַת בַּת־ אֲחִ֥י לִבְנֽוֹ

וָאֶקֹּ֥ד  And  I  bowed  my  head 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, first person common singular
Root: קָדַד  
Sense: (Qal) to bow down.
וָֽאֶשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֖ה  and  worshiped 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hitpael, Consecutive imperfect, first person common singular
Root: שָׁחָה  
Sense: to bow down.
לַיהוָ֑ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
וָאֲבָרֵ֗ךְ  and  blessed 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, first person common singular
Root: בָּרַךְ 
Sense: to bless, kneel.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
יְהוָה֙  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֱלֹהֵי֙  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
אֲדֹנִ֣י  of  my  master 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: אָדֹון  
Sense: firm, strong, lord, master.
אַבְרָהָ֔ם  Abraham 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַבְרָהָם  
Sense: friend of God and founder of Hebrew nation via God’s elective covenant.
הִנְחַ֙נִי֙  had  led  me 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person masculine singular, first person common singular
Root: נָחָה  
Sense: to lead, guide.
בְּדֶ֣רֶךְ  in  the  way 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, common singular construct
Root: דֶּרֶךְ  
Sense: way, road, distance, journey, manner.
אֱמֶ֔ת  of  truth 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֱמֶת  
Sense: firmness, faithfulness, truth.
לָקַ֛חַת  to  take 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: יָקַח 
Sense: to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away.
בַּת־  the  daughter 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: בַּת  
Sense: daughter.
אֲחִ֥י  of  brother 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: אָח  
Sense: brother.
לִבְנֽוֹ  for  his  son 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.