Genesis Chapter 24 verse 33 Holy Bible
And there was set food before him to eat. But he said, I will not eat, until I have told mine errand. And he said, Speak on.
read chapter 24 in ASV
And meat was put before him, but he said, I will not take food till I have made my business clear to you. And they said, Do so.
read chapter 24 in BBE
And there was set [meat] before him to eat; but he said, I will not eat until I have made known my business. And he said, Speak on.
read chapter 24 in DARBY
And there was set meat before him to eat: but he said, I will not eat, until I have told mine errand. And he said, Speak on.
read chapter 24 in KJV
And there was set food before him to eat: but he said, I will not eat, until I have told my errand. And he said, Speak on.
read chapter 24 in WBT
Food was set before him to eat. But he said, "I will not eat until I have told my message." He said, "Speak on."
read chapter 24 in WEB
and setteth before him to eat; but he saith, `I do not eat till I have spoken my word;' and he saith, `Speak.'
read chapter 24 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 33. - And there was set - appositus eat (Vulgate); i.e. if the first word be taken, as in the Keri, as the hophal of שׂוּם; but if the Kethib be preferred, then וַיַּישֶׂם is the fur. Kal of יָשַׂם, signifying, "and he set;" παρέθηκεν (LXX.) - meat before him to eat (the crowning act of an Oriental reception): but he said, I will not eat, until I have told mine errand. Oriental politeness deferred the interrogation of a guest till after he had supped ('Odyss.' 3:69); but Abraham's servant hastened to communicate the nature of his message before partaking of the offered hospitality - an instance of self-forgetful zeal of which Christ was the highest example (vide Mark 6:31; John 4:34). And he (i.e. Laban) said, Speak on.
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(33) I will not eat, until I have told mine errand.--Two points in Oriental manners are here brought into view: the first, that hospitality, so necessary in a country where there are no inns, was, and still is, a religion to the Bedouin; the second, that consequently he will concede anything rather than have his hospitality refused. Aware of this feeling, Abraham's servant will not partake of Laban's bread and salt until he has told his request. After he had become Laban's guest, Laban would have been free to do as he liked; but he must now grant what is asked, or the stranger would decline to enter his dwelling.Mr. Fraser (Historical Description of Afghanistan Genesis 11 p. 424: Edinburgh, 1834) and Ferrier (L'Af ghanistan, Genesis 11, p. 119: ed. 1842) mention a remarkable custom connected with Afghan hospitality which admirably illustrates the behaviour of Abraham's servant. It is called menawati, from two words signifying I am come in. Any one who has a favour to ask goes to the tent or house of the person from whom he expects it, but refuses to sit on his carpet or partake of his food until he has granted the required boon. And custom makes it a point of honour to concede it, if it be in the power of the person thus appealed to.
