Genesis 24:56

But he replied, “Do not delay me, since the LORD has made my journey a success. Send me on my way so that I may go to my master.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The servant speaks to Rebekah’s brother and mother at the moment they request she remain with them for ten days before departing. He responds immediately to their proposal for postponement.

The words — הִצְלִיחַ (hitz.Li.ach) translates literally to "he has made successful" or "caused to prosper." It directly follows the invocation of Yahweh as the agent of the journey’s completion.

The thread — The concept of divinely orchestrated success in a mission appears in Isaiah 48:15, where God declares He has called and will succeed the chosen one. The theme of timely divine action also echoes the urgency found in Joshua 1:8 regarding meditating on and doing the law.

Why it lands — The text demands recognition that obedience requires acting on confirmed divine direction without unnecessary postponement. It asks the reader to align their timing with perceived divine success rather than human preferences.

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

וַיֹּ֤אמֶרva/i.Yo.merand/ he said אֲלֵהֶם֙'a.le./Hemto/ them אַל־'al-may not תְּאַחֲר֣וּte.'a.cha.Ruyou delay אֹתִ֔י'o.T/i<obj.>/ me וַֽיהוָ֖הva./Yah.wehand/ Yahweh הִצְלִ֣יחַhitz.Li.achhe has made successful דַּרְכִּ֑יdar.K/ijourney/ my שַׁלְּח֕וּנִיsha.le.Chu./nisend away/ me וְאֵלְכָ֖הve./'e.le.Khahso/ let me go לַֽאדֹנִֽי׃La./do.N/ito/ master/ my

King James Version

And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing the Lord hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master.

Cross-references

Joshua 1:8 This Book of the Law must not depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in all you do.
Proverbs 25:25 Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land.
Isaiah 48:15 I, even I, have spoken; yes, I have called him. I have brought him, and he will succeed in his mission.
Genesis 45:9 Now return quickly to my father and tell him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me without delay.