Bible Strands
Genesis 24:52
When Abraham’s servant heard their words, he bowed down to the ground before the LORD.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Abraham’s servant stands before Rebekah’s family after they verbally consent to give her to Isaac (Gen 24:51). He responds immediately to their spoken agreement.
The words — The Hebrew שָׁמַע (sha.Ma') records that he heard their words, followed by וַ/יִּשְׁתַּ֥חוּ (va/i.yish.Ta.chu), which literally means he bowed down to the ground. These terms document his physical posture of reverence in direct response to their declaration.
The thread — This bowing before the LORD repeats when the servant first arrives at the well (Gen 24:26) and when he concludes his report (Gen 24:48), and it aligns with the Psalm 95:6 call to kneel before the LORD our Maker. The narrative pattern ties personal thanksgiving to formal acts of worship.
Why it lands — The text states a physical bow following spoken consent, establishing that confirmed divine provision demands immediate reverence. A reader must recognize that worship is the prescribed response to God’s fulfilled direction, not an optional emotional reaction.
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 it came to pass, that, when Abraham’s servant heard their words, he worshipped the Lord, bowing himself to the earth.
Cross-references
- Genesis 24:26 Then the man bowed down and worshiped the LORD,
- Genesis 24:48 Then I bowed down and worshiped the LORD; and I blessed the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who led me on the right road to take the granddaughter of my master’s brother for his son.
- Psalms 95:6 O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.
- Psalms 116:1 I love the LORD, for He has heard my voice—my appeal for mercy.
- 1 Chronicles 29:20 Then David said to the whole assembly, “Bless the LORD your God.” So the whole assembly blessed the LORD, the God of their fathers. They bowed down and paid homage to the LORD and to the king.
- 2 Chronicles 20:18 Then Jehoshaphat bowed facedown, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down before the LORD to worship Him.
- Psalms 34:1 Of David, when he pretended to be insane before Abimelech, so that the king drove him away. I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise will always be on my lips.
- Psalms 107:21 Let them give thanks to the LORD for His loving devotion and His wonders to the sons of men.
- Matthew 2:11 On coming to the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh.
- Acts 10:25 As Peter was about to enter, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet to worship him.