Eliezer (Servant of Abraham)

Biblical Account

The name is usually interpreted to mean "God is my help." It appears in Scripture in only one place, Genesis 15:2. When God promises Abraham a great reward, Abraham points out that he is childless and says that "the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus." He then adds, "one born in my house is mine heir" (Genesis 15:3). God replies, "This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir" (Genesis 15:4), and promises Abraham descendants as numerous as the stars of heaven. Because the Hebrew wording of 15:2 is obscure, translations render the phrase somewhat differently.

Genesis 24 introduces Abraham's "eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had." After swearing an oath to Abraham, he travels to the city of Nahor in Mesopotamia to find a wife for Isaac. At the well he prays that God will make known the woman He has appointed by having her offer to water his camels (Genesis 24:12–14). In answer to that prayer he meets Rebekah, explains his errand to her family, and brings her back. The servant's name is never mentioned in this chapter.

Significance Within Scripture

In Genesis 15, Eliezer illustrates Abraham's situation before the child of promise had been given. God sets aside Abraham's thought of making Eliezer his heir and promises him a son of his own. The passage leads directly into the statement "And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness" (Genesis 15:6) and forms the background to the establishment of the Abrahamic covenant. The servant of Genesis 24 is portrayed as one who faithfully carries out his master's charge, seeks God's guidance, and gives thanks (Genesis 24:27). The New Testament does not mention Eliezer.

Interpretations and Debated Questions

• Identity of the servant: The identification of the servant in Genesis 24 with Eliezer has been widely held in both Jewish and Christian tradition. The text itself, however, does not make this identification. Some interpreters, noting the considerable time that passes between chapters 15 and 24, decline to treat it as certain.
• The custom of a servant as heir: In the ancient Near East, childless persons are known to have adopted a servant or member of the household as their heir. Some scholars see this custom as the background to Genesis 15, though opinions differ on whether the connection is warranted.
• Jewish tradition: Some rabbinic traditions note that the numerical value of the letters in Eliezer's name is 318 and interpret the 318 men who accompanied Abraham in Genesis 14:14 as in effect referring to Eliezer alone. This is a later interpretation, not something stated in the biblical text.
• Typological reading: Some Christian interpreters read Genesis 24 as a picture of the Holy Spirit bringing the church, the bride, to Christ. In this reading Abraham represents God the Father, Isaac represents Christ, the servant represents the Holy Spirit, and Rebekah represents the church. This reading has long been used in preaching, though some regard it with caution as going beyond the historical meaning of the text.

In the Korean Church

In Korean church preaching, Genesis 24 is frequently treated under the themes of prayer for a spouse and God's guidance. The servant is also often cited as an example of faithfulness in an assigned task. Preachers in this context generally call the servant "Eliezer," following the traditional identification described above.