Genesis 29:8

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."

Genesis 29:8 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 29:8

And they said, we cannot
That is, water the sheep; either because the stone was a great one, as Jarchi observes, and therefore used to be removed by the joint strength of all the shepherds when they came together, though Jacob rolled it away of himself afterwards; but this is imputed to his great strength: or rather it was a custom that obtained among them, or an agreement made between them, that the stone should not be removed from the mouth of the well, and any flock watered,

until all the flocks be gathered together;
and therefore they could not fairly and rightly do it, without violating the law and custom among them:

and [till] they roll the stone from the well's mouth;
that is, the shepherds of the several flocks:

then we water the sheep;
and not till then.

Genesis 29:8 In-Context

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.

10 And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban, his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban, his mother's brother, that Jacob went near and rolled the stone from the well's mouth and watered the flock of Laban, his mother's brother.