What does Genesis 29:11 mean?

When Jacob saw his cousin Rachel arrive at the well with his uncle's sheep, he became very bold and emotional. Without apparently saying anything to Rachel, Jacob immediately watered her flock of sheep (Genesis 29:10). Now he kisses his cousin and starts crying loudly! Jacob seems to have been overcome with joy that he had so quickly found his family upon arriving in the region, as well as making contact with a woman who could be a potential wife. Isaac had sent him to marry one of Laban's daughters, after all (Genesis 28:1–2).

Jacob's joyful response is similar to that of Abraham's servant upon realizing that the young woman he had found at a well as a potential wife for Isaac was also a close relative of Abraham (Genesis 24:22–27).

To kiss a relative would not necessarily have been seen as a romantic gesture in this era. It may, however, have seemed strange to do without first identifying oneself as a relative, especially when bursting into tears immediately afterwards. We would assume Rachel was confused.