Genesis 24:50

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

Laban and Bethuel answered, 'This matter comes from the Lord; we cannot say good or bad to you.'

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיַּ֨עַן לָבָ֤ן וּבְתוּאֵל֙ וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ מֵיְהוָ֖ה יָצָ֣א הַדָּבָ֑ר לֹ֥א נוּכַ֛ל דַּבֵּ֥ר אֵלֶ֖יךָ רַ֥ע אוֹ־טֽוֹב׃

Transliteration

And-wayyaʿan Lāḇān and-Bəṯûʾēl and-wayyōʾmrû: From-Yhwh yāṣāʾ the-haddāḇār [matter]; not nûḵal dabbēr to-you raʿ or-ṭôḇ.

Grammar Details

• *wayyaʿan*: Qal imperfect consecutive, 3rd person masculine singular - 'and he answered'
• *Lāḇān*: proper noun, masculine singular - 'Laban'
• *Bəṯûʾēl*: proper noun, masculine singular - 'Bethuel'
• *wayyōʾmrû*: Qal imperfect consecutive, 3rd person masculine plural - 'and they said'
• *Yhwh*: divine name
• *yāṣāʾ*: Qal perfect, 3rd person masculine singular - 'it has come forth'
• *haddāḇār*: definite article + noun, masculine singular - 'the matter'
• *nûḵal*: Qal imperfect, 1st person plural - 'we are able'
• *dabbēr*: Piel infinitive construct - 'to speak'
• *raʿ*: adjective, masculine singular - 'bad'
• *ṭôḇ*: adjective, masculine singular - 'good'

Word Meanings

• *wayyaʿan*: and he answered, and he responded
• *wayyōʾmrû*: and they said, and they spoke
• *yāṣāʾ*: has come forth, has proceeded, has gone out
• *haddāḇār*: the matter, the thing, the word
• *nûḵal*: we are able, we can
• *dabbēr*: to speak, to say
• *raʿ*: bad, evil, harmful
• *ṭôḇ*: good, pleasing, favorable

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from the LORD: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, "The thing comes from the LORD; we cannot speak to you either bad or good.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from the LORD: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  Then Laban{H3837} and Bethuel{H1328} answered{H6030} and said,{H559} The thing{H1697} proceedeth{H3318} from Jehovah:{H3068} we cannot{H3201} speak{H1696} unto thee bad{H7451} or{H176} good.{H2896}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  Then Laban{H3837} and Bethuel{H1328} answered{H6030}{(H8799)} and said{H559}{(H8799)}, The thing{H1697} proceedeth{H3318}{(H8804)} from the LORD{H3068}: we cannot{H3201}{(H8799)} speak{H1696}{(H8763)} unto thee bad{H7451} or{H176} good{H2896}.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  Than answered Laban and Bathuel saynge: The thinge is proceded even out of the LORde we can not therfore saye vnto the ether good or bad:

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Then answered Laban and Bethuel, and sayde: This is come of the LORDE, therfore can we saye nothinge agaynst the, nether euell ner good.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Then answered Laban and Bethuel, and said, This thing is proceeded of the Lorde: we cannot therefore say vnto thee, neither euill nor good.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  Then aunswered Laban and Bethuel, saying: This saying is proceeded euen of the Lorde, we can not therefore say vnto thee eyther good or bad.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from the LORD: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  Then Laban and Bethuel answered, "The thing proceeds from Yahweh. We can't speak to you bad or good.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  And Laban answereth -- Bethuel also -- and they say, `The thing hath gone out from Jehovah; we are not able to speak unto thee bad or good;

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from Jehovah. We cannot speak unto thee bad or good.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from Jehovah: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  Then Laban and Bethuel said in answer, This is the Lord's doing: it is not for us to say Yes or No to you.

• World English Bible (2000)

  Then Laban and Bethuel answered, "The thing proceeds from Yahweh. We can't speak to you bad or good.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  Then Laban and Bethuel replied,“This is the LORD’s doing. Our wishes are of no concern.

Referenced Verses

• Gen 31:24 : 24 But God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream at night and said to him, 'Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.'
• Gen 31:29 : 29 I have the power to harm you, but last night the God of your father said to me, ‘Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.’
• Ps 118:23 : 23 This is the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.
• 2 Sam 13:22 : 22 Absalom never said a word to Amnon, either good or bad; he hated Amnon because he had disgraced his sister Tamar.
• Mark 12:11 : 11 'This came from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes.'
• Acts 11:17 : 17 If then God gave them the same gift that He gave to us after we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to stand in God's way?
• Matt 21:42 : 42 Jesus said to them, 'Have you never read in the Scriptures: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This came from the Lord and is wonderful in our eyes?
• Gen 24:15 : 15 Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel, son of Milcah, who was the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother.
• Gen 24:28 : 28 The young woman ran and told her mother’s household about these things.
• Gen 24:53 : 53 Then he brought out gold and silver jewelry and clothing and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave costly gifts to her brother and her mother.
• Gen 24:55 : 55 But her brother and her mother said, 'Let the young woman stay with us ten days or so; then you may go.'
• Gen 24:60 : 60 They blessed Rebekah and said to her, "Our sister, may you become thousands upon thousands. May your offspring possess the gate of their enemies."