Genesis 24:5-6

Context

24:5 The servant asked him, “What if the woman is not willing to come back with me¹ to this land? Must I then² take your son back to the land from which you came?”

24:6 “Be careful³ never to take my son back there!” Abraham told him.⁴

Genesis 24:8

Context
24:8 But if the woman is not willing to come back with you,⁵ you will be free⁶ from this oath of mine. But you must not take my son back there!”

[24:5] ¹tn Heb “to go after me.”

[24:5] ²tn In the Hebrew text the construction is emphatic; the infinitive absolute precedes the imperfect. However, it is difficult to reflect this emphasis in an English translation.

[24:6] ³tn Heb “guard yourself.”

[24:6] ⁴tn The introductory clause “And Abraham said to him” has been moved to the end of the opening sentence of direct discourse in the translation for stylistic reasons.

[24:8] ⁵tn Heb “ to go after you.”

[24:8] ⁶sn You will be free. If the prospective bride was not willing to accompany the servant back to Canaan, the servant would be released from his oath to Abraham.