King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
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.
Complete Jewish Bible:
They answered, "We can't, not until all the flocks have been gathered together, and they roll the stone away from the opening of the well. That's when we water the sheep."
Berean Standard Bible:
But they replied, “We cannot, until all the flocks have been gathered and the stone has been rolled away from the mouth of the well. Then we will water the sheep.”
American Standard Version:
And they said, We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and they roll the stone from the well’s mouth; then we water the sheep.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And they said{H559}, We cannot{H3201}, until all the flocks{H5739} be gathered together{H622}, and till they roll{H1556} the stone{H68} from the well's{H875} mouth{H6310}; then we water{H8248} the sheep{H6629}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Mark 16:3
- And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?
Luke 24:2
- And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
Genesis 29:3
- And thither were all the flocks gathered: and they rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon the well's mouth in his place.
Genesis 34:14
- And they said unto them, We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised; for that [were] a reproach unto us:
Genesis 43:32
- And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, which did eat with him, by themselves: because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that [is] an abomination unto the Egyptians.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Genesis 29:8
1. **Themes:**
- **Hospitality and Custom:** The verse reflects the cultural norms of hospitality and communal responsibility in nomadic societies, where sharing resources like water was essential for survival.
- **Cooperation:** It highlights the necessity of collective action, as the task of rolling away the stone from the well's mouth was too difficult for individuals to perform alone.
- **Stewardship:** The verse implies a sense of stewardship over resources, suggesting that water was not to be wasted but used wisely and communally at the appropriate time.
2. **Historical Context:**
- **Setting:** The narrative is set in the ancient Near East, where water was a precious commodity, especially in the arid regions where herding was a primary way of life.
- **Wells:** Wells were often covered with a large stone to prevent evaporation and contamination. The practice of gathering flocks before rolling the stone away indicates a structured and shared use of the well.
- **Time Period:** This event occurs during the patriarchal period, specifically in the life of Jacob, who is meeting his future wife Rachel for the first time. Jacob has arrived in Haran, the home of his mother's brother Laban, and encounters shepherds at a well.
- **Cultural Significance:** The gathering of all the flocks before watering them would have been a daily or regular practice, reflecting the social order and the cooperative nature of the community.
In summary, Genesis 29:8 illustrates the communal and cooperative aspects of life in ancient herding societies, emphasizing the importance of shared resources and collective labor, while also providing insight into the daily routines and social customs of the time.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H559
There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָמַר
Transliteration: ʼâmar
Pronunciation: aw-mar'
Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet. - Strong's Number: H3201
There are 182 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָכֹל
Transliteration: yâkôl
Pronunciation: yaw-kole'
Description: or (fuller) יָכוֹל; a primitive root; to be able, literally (can, could) or morally (may, might); be able, any at all (ways), attain, can (away with, (-not)), could, endure, might, overcome, have power, prevail, still, suffer. - Strong's Number: H5739
There are 34 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֵדֶר
Transliteration: ʻêder
Pronunciation: ay'-der
Description: from עֲדַר; an arrangement, i.e. muster (of animals); drove, flock, herd. - Strong's Number: H622
There are 281 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָסַף
Transliteration: ʼâçaph
Pronunciation: aw-saf'
Description: a primitive root; to gather for any purpose; hence, to receive, take away, i.e. remove (destroy, leave behind, put up, restore, etc.); assemble, bring, consume, destroy, felch, gather (in, together, up again), [idiom] generally, get (him), lose, put all together, receive, recover (another from leprosy), (be) rereward, [idiom] surely, take (away, into, up), [idiom] utterly, withdraw. - Strong's Number: H1556
There are 18 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: גָּלַל
Transliteration: gâlal
Pronunciation: gaw-lal'
Description: a primitive root; to roll (literally or figuratively); commit, remove, roll (away, down, together), run down, seek occasion, trust, wallow. - Strong's Number: H68
There are 1276 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶבֶן
Transliteration: ʼeben
Pronunciation: eh'-ben
Description: from the root of בָּנָה through the meaning to build; a stone; [phrase] carbuncle, [phrase] mason, [phrase] plummet, (chalk-, hail-, head-, sling-) stone(-ny), (divers) weight(-s). - Strong's Number: H875
There are 255 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בְּאֵר
Transliteration: bᵉʼêr
Pronunciation: be-ayr'
Description: from בָּאַר; a pit; especially a well; pit, well. - Strong's Number: H6310
There are 460 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פֶּה
Transliteration: peh
Pronunciation: peh
Description: from פָּאָה; the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with preposition) according to; accord(-ing as, -ing to), after, appointment, assent, collar, command(-ment), [idiom] eat, edge, end, entry, [phrase] file, hole, [idiom] in, mind, mouth, part, portion, [idiom] (should) say(-ing), sentence, skirt, sound, speech, [idiom] spoken, talk, tenor, [idiom] to, [phrase] two-edged, wish, word. - Strong's Number: H8248
There are 72 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁקָה
Transliteration: shâqâh
Pronunciation: shaw-kaw'
Description: a primitive root; to quaff, i.e. (causatively) to irrigate or furnish apotion to; cause to (give, give to, let, make to) drink, drown, moisten, water. See שָׁכַר, שָׁתָה. - Strong's Number: H6629
There are 247 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: צֹאן
Transliteration: tsôʼn
Pronunciation: tsone
Description: or צאוֹן; (Psalm 144:13), from an unused root meaning to migrate; a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men); (small) cattle, flock ([phrase] -s), lamb ([phrase] -s), sheep(-cote, -fold, -shearer, -herds).