Genesis 29:7

7 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."

Genesis 29:7 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 29:7

And he said, lo, [it is] yet high day
Noonday, when the sun is highest; at which time in those hot countries flocks used to be made to lie down in shady places, and by still waters, to which the allusion is in ( Psalms 23:2 ) ( Song of Solomon 1:7 ) ; or however the sun was still up very high, and there was a great deal of the day yet to come; for so the phrase is, "yet the day is great" or "much" ^F3, a long time still untonight:

neither [is it] time that the cattle should be gathered together;
off of the pastures, to be had home, and put into folds, which was usually done in the evening:

water ye the sheep, and go [and] feed [them];
give them water out of the well to drink, and then lead them out the pastures, and let them feed until the night is coming on: this he said not in an authoritative way, or in a surly ill natured manner, and as reproving them for their slothfulness; but kindly and gently giving his advice, who was a shepherd himself, and knew what was proper to be done; and this appears by the shepherds taking in good part what he said, and returning a civil answer.

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FOOTNOTES:

F3 (lwdg) "magnus", Pagninus, Montanus, Drusius; "multus", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Schmidt; "multum adhuc suparet diei", Vatablus.

Genesis 29:7 In-Context

5 And he said unto them, "Know ye Laban the son of Nahor?" And they said, "We know him."

6 And he said unto them, "Is he well?" And they said, "He is well; and behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep."

7 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."

8 And they said, "We cannot until all the flocks are gathered together, and until they roll the stone from the well's mouth. Then we water the sheep."

9 And while he yet spoke with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she kept them.