Bible Strands
Genesis 24:2
So Abraham instructed the chief servant of his household, who managed all he owned, “Place your hand under my thigh,
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Abraham, who is old and well along in years, instructs his chief household servant, the one ruling over all his possessions.
The words — The text highlights הַ/מֹּשֵׁ֖ל (ha./mo.Shel), meaning "who was ruling," to identify the servant’s administrative authority, and issues the physical command to place a hand under the speaker’s thigh.
The thread — The gesture of placing a hand under another’s thigh reappears when Jacob calls Joseph in Genesis 47:29, while the servant’s elevated household authority parallels Joseph’s appointment in Genesis 39:4.
Why it lands — The verse requires a reader to note that formal commitments in this narrative are established through direct verbal instruction and physical action rather than abstract declaration.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James 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:
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,
- Genesis 39:4 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.
- Genesis 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?”
- Genesis 24:9 So the servant placed his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and swore an oath to him concerning this matter.
- Genesis 39:8 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.
- Genesis 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.
- 1 Chronicles 29:24 All the officials and mighty men, as well as all of King David’s sons, pledged their allegiance to King Solomon.
- 1 Timothy 5:17 Elders who lead effectively are worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.