Genesis 29:4

4 Ya'akov said to them, "My brothers, where are you from?" They answered, "We're from Haran."

Genesis 29:4 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 29:4

And Jacob said unto them
To the shepherds, though not expressly mentioned; it cannot be imagined he spoke to the flocks, but to the keepers of them: my brethren, whence [be] ye?
a kind and affable way of speaking, used even to strangers, since all men are brethren by nature; or might be used by Jacob, because they were of the same occupation with himself, shepherds, asking them of what city they were, and from whence they came? and which being answered, would lead on to a conversation, which was what he wanted: and they said, of Haran [are] we;
the very place he was bound for, and was sent unto, ( Genesis 27:43 ) ( 28:10 ) .

Genesis 29:4 In-Context

2 As he looked, he saw a well in a field; and there were three flocks of sheep lying there next to it; because they watered the sheep from that well. The stone on the well's mouth was large,

3 and only when all the flocks had gathered there would they roll the stone away from the opening of the well and water the sheep. Then they would put the stone back in its place on the well's opening.

4 Ya'akov said to them, "My brothers, where are you from?" They answered, "We're from Haran."

5 He asked them, "Do you know Lavan the [grand]son of Nachor?" They said, "We do."

6 He asked them, "Are things going well with him?""Yes," they answered, "and here comes his daughter Rachel with the sheep."