Genesis 24:2
1 By now Abraham was old and well along in years, and the LORD had blessed him in every way.
So Abraham instructed the chief servant of his household, who managed all he owned, “Place your hand under my thigh,
3 and I will have you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I am dwelling,
4 but will go to my country and my kindred to take a wife for my son Isaac.”
Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- So Abraham instructed the chief servant of his household, who managed all he owned, “Place your hand under my thigh,
- KJV
- 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:
- WEB
- Abraham said to his servant, the elder of his house, who ruled over all that he had, “Please put your hand under my thigh.
- ASV
- 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.
- DARBY
- And Abraham said to his servant, the eldest of his house, who ruled over all that he had, Put thy hand, I pray thee, under my thigh,
- BLB
- And Abraham said to his servant, the elder of his house, the one who is ruling over all that is his, “Put, please, your hand under my thigh,
- ÅB
- Da sa Abraham til sin tjener, han som var den eldste i hans hus og rådet over alt det han hadde: Kjære, legg din hånd under min lend,
- OTB
- Abraham sa til den eldste tjeneren i sitt hus, som styrte over alt han eide: "Legg, jeg ber deg, din hånd under mitt lår,
- B1930
- Da sa Abraham til sin tjener, han som var den eldste i hans hus og rådet over alt det han hadde: Kjære, legg din hånd under min lend,
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Genesis 47:29
When the time drew near for Israel to die, he called 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 kindness and faithfulness. Do not bury me in Egypt,
Read in contextGenesis 39:4–6
Joseph found favor in his sight and became his personal attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household and entrusted him with everything he owned.
Read in contextGenesis 15:2
But Abram replied, “O Lord GOD, what can You give me, since I remain childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”
Read in contextGenesis 24:9–10
So the servant placed his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and swore an oath to him concerning this matter.
Read in contextGenesis 44:1
Then Joseph instructed his steward: “Fill the men’s sacks with as much food as they can carry, and put each one’s silver in the mouth of his sack.
Read in contextGenesis 39:8–9
But he refused. “Look,” he said to his master’s wife, “with me here, my master does not concern himself with anything in his house, and he has entrusted everything he owns to my care.
Read in context1 Chronicles 29:24
All the officials and mighty men, as well as all of King David’s sons, pledged their allegiance to King Solomon.
Read in context