Genesis 24:63 · King James Version

And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming.
Genesis 24:63 in the King James Version reads: “And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming.”. Read it in the full context of Genesis 24, or compare how other translations render it below.

Genesis 24:63 in Other Translations

KJV And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming.
WEB Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the evening. He lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, there were camels coming.
ASV And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, there were camels coming.
YLT and Isaac goeth out to meditate in the field, at the turning of the evening, and he lifteth up his eyes, and looketh, and lo, camels are coming.
WBT And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at evening: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and behold, the camels [were] coming.
DBY And Isaac had gone out to meditate in the fields toward the beginning of evening. And he lifted up his eyes and saw, and behold, camels were coming.

Commentary on Genesis 24:63

Expositions from classic Bible commentators.

Matthew Henry · Genesis 24:62

Isaac and Rebekah are, at length, happily brought together. Observe,

I.Isaac was well employed when he met Rebekah: He went out to meditate, or pray, in the field, at the even-tide, Gen 24:62, Gen 24:63. Some think he expected the return of his servants about this time, and went out on purpose to meet them. But, it should seem, he went out on another errand, to take the advantage of a silent evening and a solitary field for meditation and prayer, those divine exercises by which we converse with God and our own hearts. Note, 1. Holy souls love retirement. It will do us good to be often left alone, walking alone and sitting alone; and, if we have the art of improving solitude, we shall find we are never less alone than when alone. 2. Meditation and prayer ought to be both our business and our delight when we are alone; while we have a God, a Christ, and a heaven, to acquaint ourselves with, and to secure our interest in, we need not want matter either for meditation or prayer, which, if they go together, will mutually befriend each other. 3. Our walks in the field are then truly pleasant when in them we apply ourselves to meditation and prayer. We there have a free and open prospect of the heavens above us and the earth around us, and the host and riches of both, by the view of which we should be led to the contemplation of the Maker and owner of all. 4. The exercises of devotion should be the refreshment and entertainment of the evening, to relieve us from the fatigue occasioned by the care and business of the day, and to prepare us for the repose and sleep of the night. 5. Merciful providences are then doubly comfortable when they find us well employed and in the way of our duty. Some think Isaac was now praying for good success in this affair that was depending, and meditating upon that which was proper to encourage his hope in God concerning it; and now, when he sets himself, as it were, upon his watch-tower, to see what God would answer him, as the prophet (Hab 2:1), he sees the camels coming. Sometimes God sends in the mercy prayed for immediately, Act 12:12.

II.Rebekah behaved herself very becomingly, when she met Isaac: understanding who he was, she alighted off her camel (Gen 24:64), andtook a veil, and covered herself (Gen 24:65), in token of humility, modesty, and subjection. She did not reproach Isaac for not coming himself to fetch her, or, at least, to meet her a day's journey or two, did not complain of the tediousness of her journey, or the difficulty of leaving her relations, to come into a strange place; but, having seen Providence going before her in the affair, she accommodates herself with cheerfulness to her new relation. Those that by faith are espoused to Christ, and would be presented as chaste virgins to him, must, in conformity to his example, humble themselves, as Rebekah, who alighted when she saw Isaac on foot, and must put themselves into subjection to him who is their head (Eph 5:24), as Rebekah, signifying it by the veil she put on, Co1 11:10.

III.They were brought together (probably after some further acquaintance), to their mutual comfort, Gen 24:67. Observe here, 1. What an affectionate son he was to his mother: it was about three years since her death, and yet he was not, till now, comforted concerning it; the wound which that affliction gave to his tender spirit bled so long, and was never healed till God brought him into this new relation. Thus crosses and comforts are balances to each other (Ecc 7:14), and help to keep the scale even. 2. What an affectionate husband he was to his wife. Note, Those that have approved themselves well in one relation, it may be hoped, will do so in another: She became his wife, and he loved her; there was all the reason in the world why he should, for so ought men to love their wives even an themselves. The duty of the relation is then done, and the comfort of the relation is then enjoyed, when mutual love governs; for there the Lord commands the blessing.

Read Matthew Henry's full commentary on Genesis 24 →

Adam Clarke · Genesis 24:63–64

Isaac went out to meditate - לשוח lasuach, to bend down the body, or the mind, or both. He was probably in deep thought, with his eyes fixed upon the ground. What the subject of his meditation was it is useless to inquire; he was a pious man, and could not be triflingly employed.

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John Gill · Genesis 24:61

And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done. By what means he found out the person designed for his wife, and got knowledge of her father's house, to which he was introduced, and where he was made welcome; and what agreement he had made with the parents and relations of Rebekah to be his wife, whom he had brought with him.

Genesis 24:67

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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown · Genesis 24:53–63

And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and . . . gold--These are the usual articles, with money, that form a woman's dowry among the pastoral tribes. Rebekah was betrothed and accompanied the servant to Canaan.

Read Jamieson, Fausset & Brown's full commentary on Genesis 24 →

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Cross References for Genesis 24:63

Related passages, ranked by how often readers connect them. Cross-reference data from openbible.info (CC-BY).

Questions about Genesis 24:63

What does Genesis 24:63 say?

Genesis 24:63 in the King James Version reads: “And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming.” Read it in the full context of Genesis 24, alongside the classic commentary on this page.

Where is Genesis 24:63 found in the Bible?

Genesis 24:63 is in the book of Genesis, chapter 24, verse 63, in the Old Testament.

What Bible translation is Genesis 24:63 shown in?

This is the King James Version (KJV), a public-domain translation. You can compare how other translations render Genesis 24:63 in the table on this page.

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