Genesis 29 · Verse 8

Genesis 29:8

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.
Genesis 29:8, King James Version

Genesis 29:8 in other translations

BSBBut 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.”
WEBThey said, “We can’t, until all the flocks are gathered together, and they roll the stone from the well’s mouth. Then we will water the sheep.”
ASVAnd 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.
YLTAnd they say, ‘We are not able, till that all the droves be gathered together, and they have rolled away the stone from the mouth of the well, and we have watered the flock.'
DARBYAnd they said, We cannot until all the flocks are gathered together, and they roll the stone from the mouth of the well, and we water the sheep.
BBEAnd they said, We are not able to do so till all the flocks have come together and the stone has been rolled away from the mouth of the water-hole; then we will get water for the sheep.
WebsterAnd they said, We cannot, until all the flocks are collected, and till they roll the stone from the well's mouth; then we water the sheep.

What does Genesis 29:8 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
8. 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 Rachel.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 8 We 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 Gen 29:3.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Genesis 29:1-8

Jacob proceeded cheerfully in his journey, after the sweet communion he had with God at Beth-el. Providence brought him to the field where his uncle's flocks were to be watered. What is said of the care of the shepherds for their sheep, may remind us of the tender concern which our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, has for his flock the church; for he is the good Shepherd, that knows his sheep, and is…

Read the full comment on Genesis 29:1-8 →

Genesis 29:8 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיֹּאמְרוּ֮vai.yo.me.Ruand they saidH559
לֹ֣אlo'notH3808
נוּכַל֒nu.Khalwe are ableH3201
עַ֣ד'aduntilH5704
אֲשֶׁ֤ר'a.SherthatH834
יֵאָֽסְפוּ֙ye.'a.se.Futhey will be gatheredH622
כָּל\־kol-allH3605
הָ֣עֲדָרִ֔יםha.'a.da.Rimthe flocksH5739
וְגָֽלֲלוּ֙ve.ga.la.Luand people will rollH1556
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
הָאֶ֔בֶןha.'E.venthe stoneH68
מֵעַ֖לme.'Alfrom overH5921
פִּ֣יpi[the] mouth ofH6310
הַבְּאֵ֑רha.be.'Erthe wellH875
וְהִשְׁקִ֖ינוּve.hish.Ki.nuand we will waterH8248
הַצֹּֽאן\׃ha.Tzonthe sheepH6629

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Genesis 29:8

  • 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 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 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 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.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
until.
3; 34:14; 43:32
roll.
Mr 16:3; Lu 24:2

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Genesis 29:7

    And he said, Lo, it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together: water ye the sheep, and go and feed them.

  • Genesis 29:8

    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.

  • Genesis 29:9

    And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep: for she kept them.

Read all of Genesis 29

Genesis 29:8 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y ellos respondieron: No podemos, hasta que se junten todos los ganados, y remuevan la piedra de sobre la boca del pozo, para que abrevemos las ovejas.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et ils dirent: Nous ne le pouvons pas, jusqu’à ce que tous les troupeaux soient rassemblés; alors on roule la pierre de dessus l’ouverture du puits, et nous abreuvons le bétail.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und sie sprachen: Wir können nicht, bis alle Herden zusammengetrieben werden; dann wälzt man den Stein von der Öffnung des Brunnens, und wir tränken die Schafe.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Qui responderunt: Non possumus, donec omnia pecora congregentur, et amoveamus lapidem de ore putei, ut adaquemus greges.