Genesis 29:1
in Genesis 29Jacob resumed his journey and came to the land of the people of the east.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the children of the east.
KJV
Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east.
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This verse in Genesis 29
Commentary
7 notes on this verseThen Jacob went on his journey Moses now relates the arrival of Jacob in Mesopotamia, and the manner in which he was received by his uncle; and although the narration may seem superfluous, it yet contains nothing but what is useful to be known; for he commends the extraordinary strength of Jacob's faith, when he says, that he lifted up his feet to come into an unknown land.
This site's exposition
the land of the people of the east
on Genesis 29:1-3
Jacob stops at a well in a field among the people of the east. A large stone covers the mouth of it. The shepherds wait until every flock has gathered, then roll the stone away and water the sheep. He has just left one stone standing as a pillar at Bethel, and now another lies between him and the water.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Then Jacob went on his journey,....
If, when we are at a loss, we meet seasonably with those that can direct us--if we meet with a disaster, and those are at hand that will help us--we must not say that it was by chance, nor that fortune therein favoured us, but that it was by Providence, and that God therein favoured us.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
Then Jacob went, &c.--Hebrew, "lifted up his feet." He resumed his way next morning with a light heart and elastic step after the vision of the ladder; for tokens of the divine favor tend to quicken the discharge of duty (Ne 8:10). and came into the land, &c.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
Then Jacob went on his journey - The original is very remarkable: And Jacob lifted up his feet, and he traveled unto the land of the children of the east. There is a certain cheerfulness marked in the original which comports well with the state of mind into which he had been brought by the vision of the ladder and the promises of God. He now saw that having God for his protector he had nothing to fear, and therefore he went on his way rejoicing. People of the east - The inhabitants of Mesopotamia and the whole country beyond the Euphrates are called קדם kedem, or easterns, in the sacred writings.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
- Jacob’s Marriage 6. רחל rāchēl, Rachel, “a ewe.” 16. לאה lê'âh, Leah, “wearied.” 24. זלפה zı̂lpâh, Zilpah, “drop?” 29. בלהה bı̂lhâh, Bilhah, “timidity.” 32. ראוּבן re'uvbēn, Reuben, “behold a son.” A paronomasia in allusion to the phrase בעניי ראה be‛ānyı̂y rā'âh. Derivatives and compounds, being formed by the common speaker, are sometimes founded upon resemblance in sound, and not always on precise forms of the original sentence which prompted them.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
Yaakov [then] lifted his feet and went toward the land of the people of the East.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 6 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
7 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיִּשָּׂ֥א | vaiyisa' | and he lifted up | H5375 → | 656 times |
| יַעֲקֹ֖ב | yaako | Jacob | H3290 → | 350 times |
| רַגְלָ֑יו | raglav | feet his | H7272 → | 247 times |
| וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ | vaiyelekh | and he went | H1980 → | 1546 times |
| אַ֥רְצָה | ʾartzah | [the] land of towards | H776 → | 2504 times |
| בְנֵי־ | venei- | [the] people of | H1121 → | 4930 times |
| קֶֽדֶם׃ | kedem | [the] east | H6924 → | 87 times |
וַיִּשָּׂ֥אand he lifted up
vaiyisa'H5375 →656 times
יַעֲקֹ֖בJacob
yaakoH3290 →350 times
רַגְלָ֑יוfeet his
raglavH7272 →247 times
וַיֵּ֖לֶךְand he went
vaiyelekhH1980 →1546 times
אַ֥רְצָה[the] land of towards
ʾartzahH776 →2504 times
בְנֵי־[the] people of
venei-H1121 →4930 times
קֶֽדֶם׃[the] east
kedemH6924 →87 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Psalms 119:32I run in the path of Your commandments, for You will enlarge my heart.
it leads to
- 1 Kings 4:29
And God gave Solomon wisdom, exceedingly deep insight, and understanding beyond measure, like the sand on the seashore.
- 2 Corinthians 3:17
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
- John 8:36
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
- Hebrews 12:1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set…
- John 8:32
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
- 1 Kings 4:29
Through
Psalms 119:60I hurried without hesitating to keep Your commandments.
it leads to
- Psalms 95:7–8
For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, the sheep under His care. Today, if you hear His voice,
- Ecclesiastes 9:10
Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might, for in Sheol, where you are going, there is no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.
- Galatians 1:16
to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not rush to consult with flesh and blood,
- Psalms 95:7–8
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Genesis
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Calvin, Commentaries; John Calvin, Commentary on Genesis; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.