8
They said,וַיֹּאמְרוּ“We cannot,לֹא נוּכַלuntilעַד אֲשֶׁרallכָּלthe flocksהָעֲדָרִיםare gatheredיֵאָסְפוּand they rollוְגָלֲלוּthe stoneאֶת הָאֶבֶןfromמֵעַלthe mouthפִּיof the well;הַבְּאֵרthen we waterוְהִשְׁקִינוּthe sheep.”הַצֹּאן
Genesis 29:8
Study it in the app“They said, “We cannot, until all the flocks are gathered and they roll the stone from the mouth of the well; then we water the sheep.””
With the Hebrew beneath
Genesis 29:8, word by word
- They saidיֹּאמְרוּyomru
say
To say with the mouth to someone what one thinks or wants, or to answer him.
Where else “yomru” appears- “We cannotנוּכַלnuchal
be able
To have the strength, the permission or the opportunity to do something.
Where else “nuchal” appears- the flocksעֲדָרִיםadarim
herd, flock
Herd, flock, drove.
Where else “adarim” appears- are gatheredיֵאָסְפוּyeasfu
assemble
To bring people together in one place.
Where else “yeasfu” appears- and they rollגָלֲלוּgalalu
roll
To turn something over and over, or wallow.
Where else “galalu” appears- the stoneאֶבֶןeven
stone
A piece of rock, large or small, used for building, marking or throwing.
Where else “even” appears- the mouthפִּיpi
mouth
The part of the face with which one speaks, eats and kisses.
Where else “pi” appears- of the wellבְּאֵרbeer
well
A deep hole dug in the ground to draw water.
Where else “beer” appears- then we waterהִשְׁקִינוּhishkinu
give drink
To give water or another liquid to people or animals.
Where else “hishkinu” appears- the sheepצֹּאןtson
flock
A flock of sheep and goats.
Where else “tson” appears
The context
7He said, “Look, it is still high day; it is not time for the livestock to be gathered. Water the sheep and go, pasture them.”
8 · This verse (above)
9While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with the sheep that belonged to her father, for she was a shepherdess.
To study Genesis 29 in a group
1. What it says
What happened when Jacob’s seven years of service were over, and what did he say to Laban (vv. 20-28)?
2. What it means
What irony is there in Jacob, who deceived his father, now being deceived by Laban (v. 25)?
3. How I live it
How can you stay honest with others even when the opposite would suit you better?