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Viki Balsamo
Supporter
Colin Wong
Supporter
Why did Abraham make his servant put his hand under Abraham's thigh? What does that have to do with swearing?
Genesis 24:2 - 3
NKJV - 2 So Abraham said to the oldest servant of his house, who ruled over all that he had, "Please, put your hand under my thigh. 3 And I will make you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell.
Anonymous
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Viki Balsamo
Supporter
It looks a little funny, but that's how they did it. It's like shaking hands. When you put your hand under someone's thigh, your face is so close to theirs and you're looking each other directly in their eyes. Thighs mean power. Your hand is beneath their power.
Colin Wong
Supporter
This is an old Jewish custom of swearing that applies when a person of superior position request a person of lower standing (in this case master to his servant) to make an oath. According to a Jewish scholar, Abraham Ibn Ezra, it was the custom for a servant to take an oath in this manner, placing his hand under his master’s thigh. The master then sits upon his hand. This signified that the servant is under his master’s authority.
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