This verse serves as the reason for Abraham’s command to his servant in verse 6 not to take Isaac back to Mesopotamia. However, it contains two “who” clauses, a quotation, and a consequence. Accordingly it will often be necessary to make several adjustments. If the logical relation of verse 7 to verse 6 is not clear, it may be necessary to begin verse 7 with something equivalent to “The reason I say this is because…” or “The reason for this is….” It may also be necessary to break up this long sentence into several shorter ones. Note that Good News Translation shifts to indirect speech for reasons of English style.
The LORD, the God of heaven: the God of heaven is used as a title in apposition with the LORD. Some translators follow the Septuagint and add, as in verse 3, “and the God of the earth.” However, Hebrew Old Testament Text Project gives the Hebrew text an {A} rating and recommends following Revised Standard Version, or with the plural “of heavens.”
Who took me from my father’s house: father’s house is discussed in 12.1.
Land of my birth means the land where I was born.
Who spoke to me and swore to me: this refers to God speaking to Abraham in 12.1-3, 7; 13.14-17; 15.18-21.
To your descendants I will give this land is quoted from 12.7. Your descendants refers to Abraham’s descendants.
Verse 7 may need to be reworded in indirect style; for example, “The LORD God of heaven who took me … and who spoke to me and swore that he would give this land to my descendants, he will send his angel before you….”
He will send his angel before you: he is God. For angel see 16.7. You refers to the servant. The phrase before you is used of angels guarding over, preparing the way, giving a successful outcome in Exo 23.20; 32.34; Num 20.16. We may translate, for example, “He will send his angel to prepare the way for you,” “He will … to guard you,” “He will … to lead you.”
And you shall take a wife for my son from there: and suggests a consequence that Good News Translation brings out: “so that you can….” The sense of this is that the servant will be successful in his mission, which is brought out more directly by translations that say “and he [the angel] will help you to….” Take a wife is as in Gen 24.3.
Here is a model for the verse that translators may wish to follow:
• That is because the LORD, who is the God over all of heaven, took me from my father’s camp where I was born. This is what he promised, “I will give this land to your descendants.” He will send his angel to guide you so that you can bring back a wife for my son.
Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .