Genesis 29:6
New International Version
Then Jacob asked them, “Is he well?” “Yes, he is,” they said, “and here comes his daughter Rachel with the sheep.”

New Living Translation
“Is he doing well?” Jacob asked. “Yes, he’s well,” they answered. “Look, here comes his daughter Rachel with the flock now.”

English Standard Version
He said to them, “Is it well with him?” They said, “It is well; and see, Rachel his daughter is coming with the sheep!”

Berean Standard Bible
“Is he well?” Jacob inquired. “Yes,” they answered, “and here comes his daughter Rachel with his sheep.”

King James Bible
And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.

New King James Version
So he said to them, “Is he well?” And they said, “He is well. And look, his daughter Rachel is coming with the sheep.”

New American Standard Bible
And he said to them, “Is it well with him?” And they said, “It is well, and here is his daughter Rachel coming with the sheep.”

NASB 1995
And he said to them, “Is it well with him?” And they said, “It is well, and here is Rachel his daughter coming with the sheep.”

NASB 1977
And he said to them, “Is it well with him?” And they said, “It is well, and behold, Rachel his daughter is coming with the sheep.”

Legacy Standard Bible
And he said to them, “Is it well with him?” And they said, “It is well, and here is Rachel his daughter coming with the sheep.”

Amplified Bible
And he asked them, “Is it well with him?” And they said, “He is doing well; look, here comes his daughter Rachel with the sheep!”

Christian Standard Bible
“Is he well? ” Jacob asked. “Yes,” they said, “and here is his daughter Rachel, coming with his sheep.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Is he well?” Jacob asked.” Yes,” they said, “and here is his daughter Rachel, coming with his sheep.”

American Standard Version
And he said unto them, Is it well with him? And they said, It is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.

Contemporary English Version
"How is he?" Jacob asked. "He's fine," they answered. "And here comes his daughter Rachel with the sheep."

English Revised Version
And he said unto them, Is it well with him? And they said, It is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"How is he doing?" Jacob asked them. "He's fine," they answered. "Here comes his daughter Rachel with the sheep."

Good News Translation
"Is he well?" he asked. "He is well," they answered. "Look, here comes his daughter Rachel with his flock."

International Standard Version
So he asked them, "How's he doing?" "Very well," they answered. "As a matter of fact, look over there! That's his daughter Rachel, coming here with his sheep."

Majority Standard Bible
?Is he well?? Jacob inquired. ?Yes,? they answered, ?and here comes his daughter Rachel with his sheep.?

NET Bible
"Is he well?" Jacob asked. They replied, "He is well. Now look, here comes his daughter Rachel with the sheep."

New Heart English Bible
He said to them, "Is it well with him?" They said, "It is well. See, Rachel, his daughter, is coming with the sheep."

Webster's Bible Translation
And he said to them, Is he well? And they said, He is well: and behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.

World English Bible
He said to them, “Is it well with him?” They said, “It is well. See, Rachel, his daughter, is coming with the sheep.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And he says to them, “Does he have peace?” And they say, “Peace; and behold, his daughter Rachel is coming with the flock.”

Young's Literal Translation
And he saith to them, 'Hath he peace?' and they say, 'Peace; and lo, Rachel his daughter is coming with the flock.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will say to them, Is health to him? and they will say, Health: Behold, Rachel his daughter came with the sheep.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
He said: Is he in health? He is in health, say they: and behold Rachel his daughter cometh with his flock.

Catholic Public Domain Version
He said, “Is he well?” “He is very well,” they said. “And behold, his daughter Rachel approaches with his flock.”

New American Bible
He inquired further, “Is he well?” “He is,” they answered; “and here comes his daughter Rachel with the sheep.”

New Revised Standard Version
He said to them, “Is it well with him?” “Yes,” they replied, “and here is his daughter Rachel, coming with the sheep.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And he said to them, Is he well? And they said, He is well; and, behold, Rachel his daughter is coming with the sheep.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
He said to them, “Is he well?” They said to him, “He is well, and look, Rakhyl his daughter is coming with the sheep.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And he said unto them: 'Is it well with him?' And they said: 'It is well; and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And he said to them, Is he well? And they said, He is well. And behold Rachel his daughter came with the sheep.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jacob Meets Rachel
5“Do you know Laban the grandson of Nahor?” Jacob asked. “We know him,” they replied. 6“Is he well?” Jacob inquired. “Yes,” they answered, “and here comes his daughter Rachel with his sheep.” 7“Look,” said Jacob, “it is still broad daylight; it is not yet time to gather the livestock. Water the sheep and take them back to pasture.”…

Cross References
Genesis 24:15-20
Before the servant had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah, the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor. / Now the girl was very beautiful, a virgin who had not had relations with any man. She went down to the spring, filled her jar, and came up again. / So the servant ran to meet her and said, “Please let me have a little water from your jar.” ...

Genesis 24:29-31
Now Rebekah had a brother named Laban, and he rushed out to the man at the spring. / As soon as he saw the ring, and the bracelets on his sister’s wrists, and heard Rebekah’s words, “The man said this to me,” he went and found the man standing by the camels near the spring. / “Come, you who are blessed by the LORD,” said Laban. “Why are you standing out here? I have prepared the house and a place for the camels.”

Genesis 30:25-28
Now after Rachel had given birth to Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, “Send me on my way so I can return to my homeland. / Give me my wives and children for whom I have served you, that I may go on my way. You know how hard I have worked for you.” / But Laban replied, “If I have found favor in your eyes, please stay. I have learned by divination that the LORD has blessed me because of you.” ...

Genesis 31:4-7
So Jacob sent word and called Rachel and Leah to the field where his flocks were, / and he told them, “I can see from your father’s countenance that his attitude toward me has changed; but the God of my father has been with me. / You know that I have served your father with all my strength. ...

Genesis 33:13-14
But Jacob replied, “My lord knows that the children are frail, and I must care for sheep and cattle that are nursing their young. If they are driven hard for even a day, all the animals will die. / Please let my lord go ahead of his servant. I will continue on slowly, at a comfortable pace for the livestock and children, until I come to my lord at Seir.”

Genesis 34:3-5
And his soul was drawn to Dinah, the daughter of Jacob. He loved the young girl and spoke to her tenderly. / So Shechem told his father Hamor, “Get me this girl as a wife.” / Jacob heard that Shechem had defiled his daughter Dinah, but since his sons were with his livestock in the field, he remained silent about it until they returned.

Exodus 2:16-21
Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters, and they came to draw water and fill the troughs to water their father’s flock. / And when some shepherds came along and drove them away, Moses rose up to help them and watered their flock. / When the daughters returned to their father Reuel, he asked them, “Why have you returned so early today?” ...

Ruth 2:4-5
Just then Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and said to the harvesters, “The LORD be with you.” “The LORD bless you,” they replied. / And Boaz asked the foreman of his harvesters, “Whose young woman is this?”

1 Samuel 9:11-13
And as they were climbing the hill to the city, they met some young women coming out to draw water and asked, “Is the seer here?” / “Yes, he is ahead of you,” they answered. “Hurry now, for today he has come to the city because the people have a sacrifice on the high place. / As soon as you enter the city, you will find him before he goes up to the high place to eat. The people will not eat until he comes, because he must bless the sacrifice; after that, the guests will eat. Go up at once; you will find him.”

1 Samuel 16:11
And Samuel asked him, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse replied, “but he is tending the sheep.” “Send for him,” Samuel replied. “For we will not sit down to eat until he arrives.”

1 Samuel 25:2-3
Now there was a man in Maon whose business was in Carmel. He was a very wealthy man with a thousand goats and three thousand sheep, which he was shearing in Carmel. / His name was Nabal, and his wife’s name was Abigail. She was an intelligent and beautiful woman, but her husband, a Calebite, was harsh and evil in his dealings.

Song of Solomon 1:7-8
Tell me, O one I love, where do you pasture your sheep? Where do you rest them at midday? Why should I be like a veiled woman beside the flocks of your companions? / If you do not know, O fairest of women, follow the tracks of the flock, and graze your young goats near the tents of the shepherds.

John 4:7-10
When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” / (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) / “You are a Jew,” said the woman. “How can You ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) ...

John 4:16-18
Jesus told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.” / “I have no husband,” the woman replied. Jesus said to her, “You are correct to say that you have no husband. / In fact, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. You have spoken truthfully.”

John 4:28-30
Then the woman left her water jar, went back into the town, and said to the people, / “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” / So they left the town and made their way toward Jesus.


Treasury of Scripture

And he said to them, Is he well? And they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter comes with the sheep.

Is he well? Heb.

Genesis 37:14
And he said to him, Go, I pray thee, see whether it be well with thy brethren, and well with the flocks; and bring me word again. So he sent him out of the vale of Hebron, and he came to Shechem.

Genesis 43:27
And he asked them of their welfare, and said, Is your father well, the old man of whom ye spake? Is he yet alive?

Exodus 18:7
And Moses went out to meet his father in law, and did obeisance, and kissed him; and they asked each other of their welfare; and they came into the tent.

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Daughter Flock Jacob Peace Rachel Sheep
Genesis 29
1. Jacob comes to the well of Haran.
9. He becomes acquainted with Rachel.
13. Laban entertains him.
18. Jacob covenants for Rachel.
23. He is deceived by Laban with Leah.
28. He marries also Rachel, and serves for her seven years more.
32. Leah bears Reuben;
33. Simeon;
34. Levi;
35. and Judah.














Is he well?
Jacob's inquiry about Laban's well-being reflects the customary greetings and concern for family members in ancient Near Eastern culture. This question shows Jacob's respect and interest in his relatives, whom he is meeting for the first time. It also sets the stage for the unfolding narrative of Jacob's time with Laban, which will significantly impact his life and the future of Israel.

Jacob inquired.
Jacob's journey to Haran is a pivotal moment in his life, as he seeks refuge from Esau and looks to establish his own family. His inquiry demonstrates his proactive nature and desire to connect with his mother's family. This moment is part of God's providential plan, as Jacob's experiences in Haran will shape his character and fulfill God's promises to Abraham.

Yes, they answered,
The shepherds' affirmative response indicates that Laban is indeed alive and well, which would have been reassuring to Jacob. This brief exchange highlights the communal nature of shepherding in the region, where news and greetings are shared among those tending flocks. It also underscores the importance of oral communication in maintaining social ties.

and here comes his daughter Rachel
Rachel's introduction is significant, as she will become a central figure in Jacob's life. Her arrival at this moment is providential, aligning with God's plan for Jacob's family. Rachel's role as a shepherdess is notable, as it was less common for women to tend flocks, suggesting her industrious nature. This encounter foreshadows the love story and the complex family dynamics that will unfold.

with his sheep.
Rachel's association with Laban's sheep indicates her active participation in the family's livelihood. This detail emphasizes the pastoral lifestyle of the time, where wealth and status were often measured by the size of one's flocks. The imagery of sheep is recurrent in Scripture, symbolizing God's people and the care they require, drawing a parallel to Jesus as the Good Shepherd in the New Testament.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jacob
The son of Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob is on a journey to find a wife from his mother's family in Paddan-aram. He is a central figure in the account of Genesis, known for his eventual name change to Israel.

2. Rachel
The daughter of Laban, Rachel is introduced here as a shepherdess. She will become one of Jacob's wives and the mother of Joseph and Benjamin.

3. Laban
Although not directly mentioned in this verse, Laban is Rachel's father and Jacob's uncle. He plays a significant role in the events that follow, particularly in Jacob's marriages to Leah and Rachel.

4. Sheep
The presence of sheep indicates the pastoral lifestyle of the time. Rachel's role as a shepherdess is significant, as it shows her active participation in her family's livelihood.

5. Paddan-aram
The region where Laban and his family live. It is significant as the place where Jacob finds refuge and eventually builds his family.
Teaching Points
Divine Providence
God's hand is evident in the meeting of Jacob and Rachel, reminding us that He orchestrates events in our lives for His purposes.

Family and Heritage
The importance of family connections and heritage is emphasized, encouraging us to value and maintain our familial relationships.

Role of Women
Rachel's role as a shepherdess highlights the active and vital roles women play in God's plans, challenging us to recognize and support the contributions of women in our communities.

Faithfulness in Daily Tasks
Rachel's diligence in her work with the sheep serves as a reminder to be faithful in our daily responsibilities, trusting that God uses our efforts for His greater purposes.Verse 6. - And he said unto them, Is he well? Literally, is there peace to him? meaning not simply bodily health, but all manner of felicity; ὑγιαίνει (LXX.); sanusne est? (Vulgate). Cf. the Christian salutation, tax vobiscum And they said, He is well (literally, peace): and, behold, Rachel - "Ewe" (Gesenius) - his daughter cometh with the sheep.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“Is he well?”
הֲשָׁל֣וֹם (hă·šā·lō·wm)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7965: Safe, well, happy, friendly, welfare, health, prosperity, peace

Jacob inquired.
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Yes,”
שָׁל֔וֹם (šā·lō·wm)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7965: Safe, well, happy, friendly, welfare, health, prosperity, peace

they answered,
וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ (way·yō·mə·rū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“and here
וְהִנֵּה֙ (wə·hin·nêh)
Conjunctive waw | Interjection
Strong's 2009: Lo! behold!

comes
בָּאָ֖ה (bā·’āh)
Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

his daughter
בִּתּ֔וֹ (bit·tōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1323: A daughter

Rachel
רָחֵ֣ל (rā·ḥêl)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 7354: Rachel -- a wife of Jacob

with
עִם־ (‘im-)
Preposition
Strong's 5973: With, equally with

his sheep.”
הַצֹּֽאן׃ (haṣ·ṣōn)
Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 6629: Small cattle, sheep and goats, flock


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OT Law: Genesis 29:6 He said to them Is it well (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 29:5
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