Genesis 29:8

Genesis 29:8 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And they said, We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and till they roll the stone from the well’s mouth; then we water the sheep.
• New International Version (NIV)“We can’t,” they replied, “until all the flocks are gathered and the stone has been rolled away from the mouth of the well. Then we will water the sheep.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)But they said, "We cannot until all the flocks are gathered together and the stone is rolled from the mouth of the well; then we water the sheep."
• New King James Version (NKJV)But they said, “We cannot until all the flocks are gathered together, and they have rolled the stone from the well’s mouth; then we water the sheep.”

Context of Genesis 29:8

6“Is he well?” Jacob asked. “Yes,” they said, “and here is his daughter Rachel, coming with his sheep.” 7Then Jacob said, “Look, it is still broad daylight. It’s not time for the animals to be gathered. Water the flock, then go out and let them graze.” But they replied, “We can’t until all the flocks have been gathered and the stone is rolled from the well’s opening. Then we will water the sheep.” 9While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess. 10As soon as Jacob saw his uncle Laban’s daughter Rachel with his sheep, he went up and rolled the stone from the opening and watered his uncle Laban’s sheep.

Genesis 29:8 word by word

וַיֹּאמְרוּ֮ לֹ֣א נוּכַל֒ עַ֣ד אֲשֶׁ֤ר יֵאָֽסְפוּ֙ כָּל־הָ֣עֲדָרִ֔ים וְגָֽלֲלוּ֙ אֶת־הָאֶ֔בֶן מֵעַ֖ל פִּ֣י הַבְּאֵ֑ר וְהִשְׁקִ֖ינוּ הַצֹּֽאן׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And they saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• We cannotיָכֹלyâkôl yâkôl · be ableH3201
• until all the flocksעֵ֫דֶר‛êder · flockH5739
• be gathered togetherאָסַף'âsaph · to gatherH622
• they rollגָּלַלgâlal · to rollH1556
• the stoneאֶ֫בֶן'eben · stoneH68
• from the well’sבְּאֵרbe'êr · wellH875
• mouthפֶּהpeh · lipH6310
• then we waterשָׁקָהshâqâh · to water: wateringH8248
• the sheepצֹאןtsô'n tse'ôn · flockH6629

Cross-references for Genesis 29:8

• Genesis 29:3The shepherds would roll the stone from the opening of the well and water the sheep when all the flocks were gathered there. Then they would return the stone to its place over the well’s opening.
• Genesis 34:14“We cannot do this thing,” they said to them. “Giving our sister to an uncircumcised man is a disgrace to us.
• Genesis 43:32They served him by himself, his brothers by themselves, and the Egyptians who were eating with him by themselves, because Egyptians could not eat with Hebrews, since that is detestable to them.
• Mark 16:3They were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone from the entrance to the tomb for us?”
• Luke 24:2They found the stone rolled away from the tomb.

Commentaries on Genesis 29:8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together - It is a rule that the stone shall not be removed till all the shepherds and the flocks which have a right to this well be gathered together; then, and not before, we may water the sheep. See note on Genesis 29:3.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-35Verses 1-35 - Jacob‘s Marriage 6. רחל rāchēl Rachel, “a ewe.” 16. לאה lê'âh Leah, “wearied.” 24. זלפה zı̂lpâh Zilpah, “drop?” 29. בלהה bı̂lhâh Bilhah, “timidity.” 32. ראוּבן re'uvbēn Reuben, “behold a son.” A paronomasia in allusion to the phrase בעניי ראה be‛ānyı̂y rā'âh Derivatives and compounds, being formed by the common speaker, are sometimes founded upon resemblance in sound, and not always on precise forms of the original sentence which…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2-12Jacob met Rachel at the well at just the right time. This happened under God’s guidance, because God rules over all things (God is sovereign). God was leading Jacob toward the fulfillment of his promises (see 24:12–20). The well was a reminder of God’s blessing (compare 16:13–14; 21:19; 26:19–25, 33).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. They said, We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered--In order to prevent the consequences of too frequent exposure in places where water is scarce, the well is not only covered, but it is customary to have all the flocks collected round it before the covering is removed in presence of the owner or one of his representatives; and it was for this reason that those who were reposing at the well of Haran with the three flocks were waiting the arrival of…Read the comment

Topics related to Genesis 29:8

• Shepherd

In the dictionaries

• Serve
• Wages
• Archaeology; Archaeology and Criticism
• Father
• Genealogy
• Genesis
• Marriage
• Relationships, Family
• Syrians
• Rachel

Commentaries on Genesis 29

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings