And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks: and a great stone was upon the well's mouth.

GENESIS 29:2KJV
Know the Bible

Genesis 29:2 (KJV)

What does Genesis 29:2 mean?

Genesis 29:2 shows Jacob arriving at a shared watering place during his journey. The flocks resting beside the well and the stone covering its opening set the scene for his meeting with the local shepherds and, soon afterward, with Rachel.

The narrator describes what Jacob sees after arriving in the land of the eastern people. The sheep are lying down rather than being led away, giving the scene a sense of waiting.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 29:2

  • “well” — בְּאֵר (beʾer): A well is a place from which water is drawn. The Hebrew word points to a water source used by the flocks, rather than to a container of water.
  • “mouth” — פֶּה (peh): The word can mean a mouth or an opening. Here, it pictures the opening of the well, where the large stone has been placed.

Why Genesis 29:2 matters

  • The well is a meeting place for more than one flock. Genesis 29:3 says the flocks gathered there before the shepherds rolled the stone away and watered the sheep.
  • The stone helps explain why the sheep are waiting. In Genesis 29:8, the shepherds tell Jacob that they wait until all the flocks are gathered before moving the stone.
  • The setting makes Jacob’s meeting with Rachel natural within the story. Genesis 29:9 says she comes with her father’s sheep while Jacob is still speaking with the shepherds.

Where else these words appear

“lying” Hebrew H7257 · used in 30 verses

  • Genesis 4:7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
  • Job 11:19 Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee.
  • Isaiah 27:10 Yet the defenced city shall be desolate, and the habitation forsaken, and left like a wilderness: there shall the calf feed, and there shall he lie down, and consume the branches thereof.

“well” Hebrew H875 · used in 33 verses

  • Genesis 14:10 And the vale of Siddim was full of slimepits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there; and they that remained fled to the mountain.
  • Genesis 26:20 And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac's herdmen, saying, The water is ours: and he called the name of the well Esek; because they strove with him.
  • Numbers 21:17 Then Israel sang this song, Spring up, O well; sing ye unto it:

“flocks” Hebrew H5739 · used in 34 verses

  • 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.
  • Song of Solomon 1:7 Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions?
  • Jeremiah 31:10 Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.

“watered” Hebrew H8248 · used in 72 verses

  • Genesis 2:6 But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.
  • Genesis 40:21 And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand:
  • Psalms 60:3 Thou hast shewed thy people hard things: thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment.