Keraia
Genesis 29

Genesis 29:4

Jacob Meets Rachel · Genesis 29:1–13
Read Genesis 29

Translations

Modern
“My brothers,” Jacob asked the shepherds, “where are you from?” “We are from Haran,” they answered.
Traditional
And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, Of Haran are we.
Literal
And Jacob said to them, “My brothers, from where are you?” And they said, “We are from Haran.”
Latin
Dixitque ad pastores: Fratres, unde estis? Qui responderunt: De Haran.

Original

Hebrew
English
“My brothers,” Jacob asked the shepherds, “where are you from?” “We are from Haran,” they answered.

Notes

Genesis 29:2–12

Jacob 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).

Genesis 29:1–31:55

  • These chapters describe how God fulfilled his promise by greatly blessing Jacob with a family and possessions. God also disciplined Jacob, leaving him to struggle with Laban for many years. Laban was Jacob’s match in deception, and thus a means of correction.

  • The story of Jacob and Laban is similar to Israel's later stay in Egypt. Jacob struggled while serving his uncle but finally emerged with a large family (the founders of the 12 tribes) and great wealth. In Egypt, the Israelites suffered under their oppressors, but they also flourished, becoming a great nation of 12 large tribes and escaping with great riches.

Theme notes and profiles

Arameans Jacob Symbolic Numbers The Shepherd

People

Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes

Places

Haran: A city in Mesopotamia, associated with Abraham and his family

Glossary

Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Bilhah (Person) City Ebla Tablets Genesis, Book of Jacob Maid, Maiden Nathanael Patriarchs, Period of the

Topics

Shepherd: Waters the Flocks Wells: Haran