“What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us?”
The full verse · Genesis 24:65 · KJV
For she had unto the , is that in the to meet ? And the had , It is my : therefore she a , and covered .
Asked by
Asked to
Abraham’s servant.. Abraham’s unnamed chief servant, likely Eliezer of Damascus, who had been sent to find a wife for Isaac and was now escorting Rebekah to her betrothed.
Why It Was Asked
The purpose behind the questionRebekah asks to identify the approaching figure and discern his relationship to her escort, allowing the narrative to heighten anticipation at this climactic moment when bride and groom first see each other. Her question invites the servant to formally introduce Isaac, transforming an observation into a sacred recognition.
The Response
What Scripture recordsThe servant answered that the man was his master, identifying him as Isaac. Upon hearing this, Rebekah immediately took her veil and covered herself.
The Bigger Picture
Where this fits in God's storyRebekah’s question expresses natural curiosity mingled with sudden awareness that this approaching figure holds profound significance for her future. The Hebrew construction uses mi, the standard interrogative pronoun for ‘who,’ combined with the demonstrative ‘that man’ (halazeh), creating personal immediacy. She asks rather than assumes, demonstrating wisdom in seeking confirmation at life’s pivotal moments. Her question transforms observation into recognition, mere sight into covenant encounter. The servant’s simple answer, ‘It is my master,’ carries enormous weight, as these words identify not just a stranger but Rebekah’s destined husband. This brief exchange marks the culmination of the servant’s mission and the beginning of Rebekah’s new identity, demonstrating how divine appointments often arrive through ordinary inquiries that open doors to extraordinary futures.
Sometimes God answers your deepest longings in ways you don’t expect, walking toward you across ordinary fields. Rebekah’s question reminds us that recognizing God’s provision often requires asking those who have walked with Him longer. When the servant identified Isaac, Rebekah responded with reverent covering, modeling how we should receive what God provides with humility rather than presumption. Like Rebekah adjusting her posture upon learning Isaac’s identity, we must adjust our hearts when we recognize Christ’s work in our circumstances (James 4:10). The greatest blessings often approach quietly, requiring spiritual attentiveness to recognize them.
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