Genesis 29:9
◄  Genesis 29:9  ►
New International Version (©2011)
While he was still talking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she was a shepherd.

New Living Translation (©2007)
Jacob was still talking with them when Rachel arrived with her father's flock, for she was a shepherd.

English Standard Version (©2001)
While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she was a shepherdess.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep: for she kept them.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she was a shepherdess.

International Standard Version (©2012)
While he was still talking with them, Rachel arrived with her father's sheep, since she was a shepherdess.

NET Bible (©2006)
While he was still speaking with them, Rachel arrived with her father's sheep, for she was tending them.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
While he was still talking to them, Rachel arrived with her father's sheep, because she was a shepherd.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
And while he yet spoke with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep: for she kept them.

American King James Version
And while he yet spoke with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep; for she kept them.

American Standard Version
While he was yet speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep. For she kept them.

Douay-Rheims Bible
They were yet speaking, and behold Rachel came with her father's sheep: for she fed the flock.

Darby Bible Translation
While he was still speaking to them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she was a shepherdess.

English Revised Version
While he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep; for she kept them.

Webster's Bible Translation
And while he was yet speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep: for she kept them.

World English Bible
While he was yet speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she kept them.

Young's Literal Translation
He is yet speaking with them, and Rachel hath come with the flock which her father hath, for she is shepherdess;

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

29:9-14 See Rachel's humility and industry. Nobody needs to be ashamed of honest, useful labour, nor ought it to hinder any one's preferment. When Jacob understood that this was his kinswoman, he was very ready to serve her. Laban, though not the best humoured, bade him welcome, and was satisfied with the account Jacob gave of himself. While we avoid being foolishly ready to believe every thing which is told us, we must take heed of being uncharitably suspicious.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 9. - And while he yet spake with them (literally, he yet speaking with them), Rachel came with her father's sheep: for she kept them - or, she was a shepherdess, the part. רֹעָה being used as a substantive (Gesenius, 'Lex.,' sub. nom.).

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And while he yet spake with them,.... While Jacob was thus discoursing with the shepherds:

Rachel came with her father's sheep; to water them at the well. She was within sight when Jacob first addressed the shepherds, but now she was come to the well, or near it, with the sheep before her:

for she kept them: or "she was the shepherdess" (d); the chief one; she might have servants under her to do some parts of the office of a shepherd, not so fit for her to do; it may be Laban's sons, for some he had, Genesis 31:1; were not as yet grown up, and Leah, the eldest daughter, having tender eyes, could not bear the open air, and light of the sun, nor so well look after the straying sheep; and therefore the flock was committed to the care of Rachel the younger daughter, whose name signifies a sheep. The Jews say (e), that the hand of God was upon Laban's flock, and there were but few left, so that he put away his shepherds, and what remained be put before his daughter Rachel, see Genesis 30:30; and some ascribe it to his covetousness that he did this; but there is no need to suggest anything of that kind; for keeping sheep in those times and countries was a very honourable employment, and not below the sons and daughters of great personages, and still is so accounted. Dr. Shaw (f) says it is customary, even to this day, for the children of the greatest Emir to attend their flocks; the same is related of the seven children of the king of Thebes, of Antiphus the son of Priam, and of Anchises, Aeneas's father (g).

(d) "quia pastor illa", Montanus, "pastrix", Schmidt. (e) Targ. Jon. in loc. Pirke Eliezer, c. 36. (f) Travels, p. 240. No. 2. Ed. 2.((g) Hom. II. 1. ver. 313. II. 6. ver. 424. II. 11. ver. 106.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

9-11. While he yet spake with them, Rachel came—Among the pastoral tribes the young unmarried daughters of the greatest sheiks tend the flocks, going out at sunrise and continuing to watch their fleecy charges till sunset. Watering them, which is done twice a day, is a work of time and labor, and Jacob rendered no small service in volunteering his aid to the young shepherdess. The interview was affecting, the reception welcome, and Jacob forgot all his toils in the society of his Mesopotamian relatives. Can we doubt that he returned thanks to God for His goodness by the way?

Genesis 29:9 Parallel Commentaries

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Bible Hub: Online Parallel Bible


Jacob Meets Rachel
…8And 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. 9And while he yet spoke with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep; for she kept them. 10And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother. …

Genesis 29:8 "We can't," they replied, "until all the flocks are gathered and the stone has been rolled away from the mouth of the well. Then we will water the sheep."
Genesis 29:10 When Jacob saw Rachel daughter of his uncle Laban, and Laban's sheep, he went over and rolled the stone away from the mouth of the well and watered his uncle's sheep.
Exodus 2:16 Now a priest of Midian had seven daughters, and they came to draw water and fill the troughs to water their father's flock.
1 Samuel 9:11 As they were going up the hill to the town, they met some young women coming out to draw water, and they asked them, "Is the seer here?"