Genesis 29:2

¹ Jacob resumed his journey and came to the land of the people of the east.

He looked and saw a well in the field, and near it lay three flocks of sheep, because the sheep were watered from this well. And a large stone covered the mouth of the well.

³ When all the flocks had been gathered there, the shepherds would roll away the stone from the mouth of the well and water the sheep. Then they would return the stone to its place over the mouth of the well.

⁴ “My brothers,” Jacob asked the shepherds, “where are you from?” “We are from Haran,” they answered.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: He looked and saw a well in the field, and near it lay three flocks of sheep, because the sheep were watered from this well. And a large stone covered the mouth of the well.
KJV: 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.
WEB: He looked, and saw a well in the field, and saw three flocks of sheep lying there by it. For out of that well they watered the flocks. The stone on the well’s mouth was large.
ASV: And he looked, and behold, a well in the field, and, lo, three flocks of sheep lying there by it. For out of that well they watered the flocks. And the stone upon the well`s mouth was great.
DARBY: And he looked, and behold, there was a well in the fields, and behold there, three flocks of sheep were lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks, and a great stone was at the mouth of the well.
BLB: And he looked, and behold, a well in the field, and behold, there [were] three flocks of sheep lying by it, for from that well they watered the flocks. And the stone [was] great on the mouth of the well.

ÅB: Og da han så seg omkring, fikk han se en brønn på marken, og ved den lå det tre flokker småfe. for av denne brønn vannet de feet; men steinen som lå over brønnens åpning, var stor.
OTB: Han la merke til en brønn på marken, med tre flokker sauer liggende i nærheten, ettersom flokkene ble vannet fra den brønnen. Steinen som dekket brønnens munn var stor.
B1930: Og da han så sig omkring, fikk han se en brønn på marken, og ved den lå det tre flokker småfe. for av denne brønn vannet de feet; men stenen som lå over brønnens åpning, var stor.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

John 4:14
But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a fount of water springing up to eternal life.”
Read in context
John 4:6
Since Jacob’s well was there, Jesus, weary from His journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour.
Read in context
Isaiah 49:10
They will not hunger or thirst, nor will scorching heat or sun beat down on them. For He who has compassion on them will guide them and lead them beside springs of water.
Read in context
Revelation 7:17
For the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd. ‘He will lead them to springs of living water,’ and ‘God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”
Read in context
Song of Solomon 1:6–7
Do not stare because I am dark, for the sun has gazed upon me. My mother’s sons were angry with me; they made me a keeper of the vineyards, but my own vineyard I have neglected.
Read in context
Genesis 24:13
Here I am, standing beside the spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water.
Read in context
Exodus 2:15–16
When Pharaoh heard about this matter, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and settled in the land of Midian, where he sat down beside a well.
Read in context
Genesis 24:11
As evening approached, he made the camels kneel down near the well outside the town at the time when the women went out to draw water.
Read in context