Genesis 29:4
◄  Genesis 29:4  ►
New International Version (©2011)
Jacob asked the shepherds, "My brothers, where are you from?" "We're from Harran," they replied.

New Living Translation (©2007)
Jacob went over to the shepherds and asked, "Where are you from, my friends?" "We are from Haran," they answered.

English Standard Version (©2001)
Jacob said to them, “My brothers, where do you come from?” They said, “We are from Haran.”

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
Jacob said to them, "My brothers, where are you from?" And they said, "We are from Haran."

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, Of Haran are we.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
Jacob asked the men at the well, "My brothers! Where are you from?"" We're from Haran," they answered."

International Standard Version (©2012)
Jacob asked them, "My brothers, where are you from?" "We're from Haran," they answered.

NET Bible (©2006)
Jacob asked them, "My brothers, where are you from?" They replied, "We're from Haran."

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Jacob asked some people, "My friends, where are you from?" "We're from Haran," they replied.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, from where are you? And they said, Of Haran are we.

American King James Version
And Jacob said to them, My brothers, from where be you? And they said, Of Haran are we.

American Standard Version
And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence are ye? And they said, Of Haran are we.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And he said to the shepherds: Brethren, whence are you? They answered: Of Haran.

Darby Bible Translation
And Jacob said to them, My brethren, whence are ye? And they said, Of Haran are we.

English Revised Version
And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, Of Haran are we.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Jacob said to them, My brethren, whence are ye? And they said, We are from Haran.

World English Bible
Jacob said to them, "My relatives, where are you from?" They said, "We are from Haran."

Young's Literal Translation
And Jacob saith to them, 'My brethren, from whence are ye?' and they say, 'We are from Haran.'

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

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 known of them. The stone at the well's mouth was to secure it; water was scarce, it was not there for every one's use: but separate interests should not take us from helping one another. When all the shepherds came together with their flocks, then, like loving neighbours, they watered their flocks together. The law of kindness in the tongue has a commanding power, Pr 31:26. Jacob was civil to these strangers, and he found them civil to him.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 4. - And Jacob said unto them (the shepherds of the three flocks), My brethren (a friendly salutation from one who was himself a shepherd), whence be ye? Anticipating that their reply would reveal his whereabouts. And they said, Of Haran are we. This could scarcely fail to remind Jacob of God's premise to guide him in his journey.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And Jacob said unto them,.... To the shepherds, though not expressly mentioned; it cannot be imagined he spoke to the flocks, but to the keepers of them:

my brethren, whence be ye? a kind and affable way of speaking, used even to strangers, since all men are brethren by nature; or might be used by Jacob, because they were of the same occupation with himself, shepherds, asking them of what city they were, and from whence they came? and which being answered, would lead on to a conversation, which was what he wanted:

and they said, of Haran are we; the very place he was bound for, and was sent unto, Genesis 27:43.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

4. Jacob said, My brethren—Finding from the shepherds who were reposing there with flocks and who all belonged to Haran, that his relatives in Haran were well and that one of the family was shortly expected, he enquired why they were idling the best part of the day there instead of watering their flocks and sending them back to pasture.

Genesis 29:4 Parallel Commentaries

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Bible Hub: Online Parallel Bible


Jacob Meets Rachel
…3And 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 on the well's mouth in his place. 4And Jacob said to them, My brothers, from where be you? And they said, Of Haran are we. 5And he said to them, Know you Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him. …

Genesis 28:10 Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Harran.
Genesis 29:3 When all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone away from the well's mouth and water the sheep. Then they would return the stone to its place over the mouth of the well.