Genesis 29:7 - Printer Friendly

ESV: He said, "Behold, it is still high day; it is not time for the livestock to be gathered together. Water the sheep and go, pasture them."

NIV: "Look," he said, "the sun is still high; it is not time for the flocks to be gathered. Water the sheep and take them back to pasture."

NASB: Then he said, 'Look, it is still high day; it is not time for the livestock to be gathered. Water the sheep, and go, pasture them.'

CSB: Then Jacob said, "Look, it is still broad daylight. It’s not time for the animals to be gathered. Water the flock, then go out and let them graze."

NLT: Jacob said, 'Look, it’s still broad daylight — too early to round up the animals. Why don’t you water the sheep and goats so they can get back out to pasture?'

KJV: 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.

NKJV: Then he said, “Look, it is still high day; it is not time for the cattle to be gathered together. Water the sheep, and go and feed them.”

The conversation between Jacob and the shepherds has provided him with what must have been shocking and welcome information. They were from Haran, precisely where he is headed (Genesis 28:1–2). They knew Laban. Laban's daughter, a perspective wife for Jacob, was just arriving with a flock of sheep.

We don't know why, exactly, but for some reason Jacob addresses the shepherds with what seems like a challenge. In fact, he gives them an order. Some commentators suggest perhaps the shepherds were being short with Jacob, not giving the stranger much respect. From Jacob's perspective, it's too early in the day to gather the separate flocks of sheep into a single herd for the night. They should still be out with their flocks grazing on the vegetation in this region. Jacob tells the shepherds, in essence, to stop hanging out, to water the sheep, and to get back to the pasture.

Is Jacob just the kind of guy who tells other people what to do or is he beginning to assert himself as a relative of an important man in the region? Or does he perhaps wish for these shepherds to go away so he can meet and get to know his cousin and prospective wife Rachel?

Genesis 29:1–30 describes Jacob's arrival at his uncle's household. Laban is happy to see his nephew, likely for the first time. Jacob falls in love with Laban's more attractive daughter, Rachel, and agrees to work for Laban seven years to marry her. On the wedding night, however, Laban treacherously switches Rachel for her older sister Leah. Jacob agrees to marry Rachel the next week, but now must work another seven years.

Jacob's journey from his home brings him to his uncle's household in Haran. He falls in love with Laban's younger daughter Rachel and agrees to work for Laban for seven years to marry her. When the time comes, Laban switches out Rachel for her older, less attractive sister Leah. Jacob is surprised to find he has consummated the marriage with the wrong sister. Manipulative Laban assures Jacob he can still marry Rachel the next week, as long as he will work another seven years. Jacob loves Rachel more than Leah, but with the Lord's help, unloved Leah bears Jacob his first four sons.

The previous chapter described Jacob fleeing from home to seek his uncle in Mesopotamia. This was both to escape the rage of his brother, Esau, and to look for a suitable wife. Now Jacob arrives and falls in love with his uncle's daughter Rachel. After working seven years to marry her, Jacob is tricked by his uncle into marrying the older daughter, Leah, instead. Laban allows Jacob to marry Rachel, as well, in exchange for another seven years' work. Though she is unloved by Jacob, the Lord notices Leah's heartbreak and allows her to bear four sons. In the next chapter, Rachel's jealousy sets off something of a birth war, as she and Leah compete to obtain children.

The book of Genesis establishes fundamental truths about God. Among these are His role as the Creator, His holiness, His hatred of sin, His love for mankind, and His willingness to provide for our redemption. We learn not only where mankind has come from, but why the world is in its present form. The book also presents the establishment of Israel, God's chosen people. Many of the principles given in other parts of Scripture depend on the basic ideas presented here in the book of Genesis. Within the framework of the Bible, Genesis explains the bare-bones history of the universe leading up to the captivity of Israel in Egypt, setting the stage for the book of Exodus.