Genesis 24:49

Now if you will show kindness and faithfulness to my master, tell me; but if not, let me know, so that I may go elsewhere.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The servant of Abraham addresses Laban and Bethuel in Haran after completing his journey, requesting a direct answer regarding their willingness to fulfill his master's marriage proposal.

The words — The Hebrew phrase חֶסֶד וְאֱמֶת (chesed ve'emet) literally translates to "loyalty and faithfulness," denoting a binding, covenantal commitment rather than casual goodwill.

The thread — This exact pairing appears in Genesis 47:29, Joshua 2:14, and Genesis 32:10 to mark steadfast relational fidelity.

Why it lands — The text explicitly demands a binary response to determine next steps; interpreters observe that this phrasing establishes a clear boundary for covenantal obligation and removes ambiguity from the negotiation.

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

וְ֠עַתָּהVe./'a.tahand/ now אִם־'im-if יֶשְׁכֶ֨םyesh./Khem[are] there/ you עֹשִׂ֜ים'o.Simdoing חֶ֧סֶדChe.sedloyalty וֶֽאֱמֶ֛תve./'e.Metand/ faithfulness אֶת־'et-with אֲדֹנִ֖י'a.do.N/imaster/ my הַגִּ֣ידוּha.Gi.dutellלִ֑יL/ito <the>/ meוְאִם־ve./'im-and/ if לֹ֕אlo'not הַגִּ֣ידוּha.Gi.dutellלִ֔יL/ito <the>/ meוְאֶפְנֶ֥הve./'ef.Nehso/ I may turn עַל־'al-to יָמִ֖יןya.Minright א֥וֹ'oor עַל־'al-to שְׂמֹֽאל׃se.Molleft

King James Version

And now if ye will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me: and if not, tell me; that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left.

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,
Joshua 2:14 “Our lives for your lives!” the men agreed. “If you do not report our mission, we will show you kindness and faithfulness when the LORD gives us the land.”
Genesis 32:10 I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness You have shown Your servant. Indeed, with only my staff I came across the Jordan, but now I have become two camps.
Proverbs 3:3 Never let loving devotion or faithfulness leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
Numbers 20:17 Please let us pass through your land. We will not go through any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will stay on the King’s Highway; we will not turn to the right or to the left until we have passed through your territory.”
Deuteronomy 2:27 “Let us pass through your land; we will stay on the main road. We will not turn to the right or to the left.