Genesis 24:2

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

Abraham said to his servant, the eldest in his household who managed all he owned, "Please, place your hand under my thigh.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אַבְרָהָ֗ם אֶל־עַבְדּוֹ֙ זְקַ֣ן בֵּית֔וֹ הַמֹּשֵׁ֖ל בְּכָל־אֲשֶׁר־ל֑וֹ שִֽׂים־נָ֥א יָדְךָ֖ תַּ֥חַת יְרֵכִֽי׃

Transliteration

wayyōʾmer ʾaḇrāhām ʾel-ʿaḇdô zəqan bêṯô hammōšēl bəḵāl-ʾăšer-lô śîm-nāʾ yāḏḵā taḥaṯ yərēḵî

Grammar Details

• *wayyōʾmer*: Qal imperfect consecutive, 3rd masculine singular - and he said
• *ʾaḇrāhām*: proper noun, masculine singular - Abraham
• *ʾel-*: preposition - to
• *ʿaḇdô*: noun, masculine singular construct with 3rd masculine singular suffix - his servant
• *zəqan*: adjective construct - elder of
• *bêṯô*: noun, masculine singular construct with 3rd masculine singular suffix - his house
• *hammōšēl*: definite article + Qal participle, masculine singular - the one ruling
• *bəḵāl-*: preposition + noun, masculine singular construct - over all
• *ʾăšer-lô*: relative pronoun + preposition with 3rd masculine singular suffix - that was to him
• *śîm-nāʾ*: Qal imperative, masculine singular + particle of entreaty - place please
• *yāḏḵā*: noun, feminine singular construct with 2nd masculine singular suffix - your hand
• *taḥaṯ*: preposition - under
• *yərēḵî*: noun, feminine singular construct with 1st singular suffix - my thigh

Word Meanings

• *zəqan* *bêṯô*: eldest of his house/oldest servant of his household
• *hammōšēl* *bəḵāl-ʾăšer-lô*: who ruled over all that he had/who managed everything he owned
• *taḥaṯ* *yərēḵî*: under my thigh/beneath my loins (euphemism for oath-taking gesture)

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  And Abraham said to his oldest servant of his house, who ruled over all that he had, "Please, put your hand under my thigh,

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And Abraham said unto his servant, the elder of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  And he sayde vnto his eldest servaunte of his house which had the rule over all that he had: Put thy hande vnder my thye that

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  And he sayde vnto his eldest seruaunt of his house, which had the rule of all his goodes: Laye thine hade vnder my thye, that

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Therefore Abraham saide vnto his eldest seruant of his house, which had the rule ouer all that he had, Put nowe thine hand vnder my thigh,

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And Abraham saide vnto his eldest seruaut of his house, whiche had the rule ouer all that he had: put thy hande vnder my thigh:

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  Abraham said to his servant, the elder of his house, who ruled over all that he had, "Please put your hand under my thigh.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  and Abraham saith unto his servant, the eldest of his house, who is ruling over all that he hath, `Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh,

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And Abraham said unto his servant, the elder of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And Abraham said unto his servant, the elder of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And Abraham said to his chief servant, the manager of all his property, Come now, put your hand under my leg:

• World English Bible (2000)

  Abraham said to his servant, the elder of his house, who ruled over all that he had, "Please put your hand under my thigh.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  Abraham said to his servant, the senior one in his household who was in charge of everything he had,“Put your hand under my thigh

Referenced Verses

• Gen 47:29 : 29 When the time of Israel’s death drew near, he called for his son Joseph and said to him, 'If I have found favor in your eyes, put your hand under my thigh and promise to show me steadfast love and faithfulness. Do not bury me in Egypt.'
• Gen 39:4-6 : 4 Joseph found favor in his master's eyes and became his personal servant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household and entrusted everything he owned to his care. 5 From the time he put Joseph in charge of his household and all that he owned, the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house on account of Joseph. The LORD's blessing was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field. 6 So Potiphar left everything he had in Joseph's care; with Joseph in charge, he paid no attention to anything except the food he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.
• Gen 15:2 : 2 Abram said, "Lord GOD, what will You give me, since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?"
• Gen 24:9-9 : 9 So the servant placed his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and swore an oath to him concerning this matter. 10 The servant took ten camels from his master’s herds and set out, taking with him all kinds of good gifts from his master. He went to Aram Naharaim, to the city of Nahor.
• Gen 39:8-9 : 8 But Joseph refused and said to his master's wife, "Look, my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; he has entrusted everything he owns to my care. 9 "No one in this house is greater than I am. He has not withheld anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?"
• Gen 44:1 : 1 Joseph instructed the steward of his house, saying, "Fill the men's sacks with as much food as they can carry, and put each man's silver in the opening of his sack."
• 1 Chr 29:24 : 24 All the officials, the mighty men, and all of King David’s sons pledged their allegiance to King Solomon.
• 1 Tim 5:17 : 17 The elders who lead well should be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.