And before I had done speaking in mine heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down unto the well, and drew [water]: and I said unto her, Let me drink, I pray thee.
Verse 45. Before I had done speaking in mine heart] So we find that the whole of this prayer, so circumstantially related Ge 24:12-14, and again Ge 24:42-44, was mental, and heard only by that God to whom it was directed. It would have been improper to have used public prayer on the occasion, as his servants could have felt no particular interest in the accomplishment of his petitions, because they were not concerned in them, having none of the responsibility of this mission.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
And before I had done speaking in mine heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder,….
[See comments on Ge 24:15].
and she went down unto the well, and drew [water]:
[See comments on Ge 24:16].
and I said unto her, Let me drink, I pray thee.
[See comments on Ge 24:17].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(45) Speaking in mine heartThe Heb. idiom is far more exact and true: namely, before I had done speaking to my heart.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Gen 24:45 And before I had done speaking in mine heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down unto the well, and drew [water]: and I said unto her, Let me drink, I pray thee.
Ver. 45. With her pitcher on her shoulder. ] Though a sufficient man’s daughter, and a match for a prince’s son. See Trapp on “ Gen 23:6 “
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Gen 24:45-49
45″Before I had finished speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder, and went down to the spring and drew, and I said to her, ‘Please let me drink.’ 46She quickly lowered her jar from her shoulder, and said, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels also’; so I drank, and she watered the camels also. 47Then I asked her, and said, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ And she said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bore to him’; and I put the ring on her nose, and the bracelets on her wrists. 48And I bowed low and worshiped the LORD, and blessed the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who had guided me in the right way to take the daughter of my master’s kinsman for his son. 49So now if you are going to deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me; and if not, let me know, that I may turn to the right hand or the left.”
Gen 24:49 The servant asks for a response from Laban. Will he act like Abraham in lovingkindness and truth? If he does not wish to proceed with the marriage bargaining the servant will leave (metaphor, “I may turn to the right hand or left”) and try elsewhere.
The verse has three IMPERATIVES.
1. “tell me,” BDB 616, KB 665, Hiphil IMPERATIVE
2. “let me know,” same VERB repeated
3. “that I may turn,” BDB 815, KB 937, Qal IMPERFECT used in a COHORTATIVE sense
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
before: Gen 24:15-20, Isa 58:9, Isa 65:24, Dan 9:19, Dan 9:23, Act 4:24-33, Act 10:30, Act 12:12-17, Mat 7:7
speaking: 1Sa 1:13-15, 2Sa 7:27, Neh 2:4, Rom 8:26
Reciprocal: Gen 24:19 – General
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Gen 24:45. Before I had done speaking in my heart Which perhaps he mentions, lest it should be suspected that Rebekah had overheard his prayer, and designedly complied with it; no, saith he, I spake it in my heart, so that none heard it but God, to whom thoughts are words, and from whom the answer came.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
24:45 And before I had done speaking in mine {x} heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down unto the well, and drew [water]: and I said unto her, Let me drink, I pray thee.
(x) Signifying that this prayer was not spoken by the mouth, but only in his heart.