Genesis 24:2

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,

📖 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

• 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.

• 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:

• 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 And the time drew near that Israel must die: and he called his son Joseph, and said to him, If now I have found favor in your sight, put, I pray you, your hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me; do not bury me, I pray you, in Egypt:
• Gen 39:4-6 : 4 And Joseph found favor in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his care. 5 And from the time that he made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house and in the field. 6 And he left all that he had in Joseph's care; and he did not concern himself with anything except the bread which he ate. And Joseph was a handsome person, and well-favored.
• Gen 15:2 : 2 And Abram said, Lord GOD, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?
• Gen 24:9-9 : 9 So the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning this matter. 10 Then the servant took ten of his master's camels and departed, for all his master's goods were in his hand. And he arose and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor.
• Gen 39:8-9 : 8 But he refused, and said to his master's wife, Behold, my master does not concern himself with what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my care; 9 There is none greater in this house than I; neither has he kept back anything from me except you, because you are his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
• Gen 44:1 : 1 And he commanded the steward of his house, saying, Fill the men's sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put each man's money in the mouth of his sack.
• 1 Chr 29:24 : 24 And all the leaders, and the mighty men, and also all the sons of King David, submitted themselves to Solomon the king.
• 1 Tim 5:17 : 17 Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.