Genesis 29:11 kjv

And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.

Genesis 29:11 nkjv

Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice and wept.

Genesis 29:11 niv

Then Jacob kissed Rachel and began to weep aloud.

Genesis 29:11 esv

Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept aloud.

Genesis 29:11 nlt

Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and he wept aloud.

Genesis 29 verses

Genesis 29 11 Meaning

Genesis 29:11 describes Jacob's profound emotional outpouring upon meeting Rachel at the well. It captures a moment of intense joy, relief, and deep affection, culminating his arduous journey and marking the divine fulfillment of finding his family and beginning the next phase of his life as per God's covenantal promises. His tears are an expression of overwhelmed emotion at the long-awaited connection and the recognition of God's faithful guidance.

Genesis 29 11 Context

Genesis chapter 29 begins with Jacob arriving in the land of the eastern peoples, having fled from his brother Esau. His journey, marked by God's promise and presence at Bethel (Gen 28:13-15), has been long and solitary. He encounters shepherds at a well in Haran and learns that they know Laban, his mother Rebekah's brother. At this point, Rachel, Laban's daughter, approaches with her father's sheep. Jacob then single-handedly rolls the massive stone from the mouth of the well, indicating his strength and eagerness to help. Verse 11 captures the climax of this immediate encounter: the moment he identifies her, his emotional dam breaks, releasing all the pent-up tension, loneliness, and anticipation of finding his family. This deeply personal interaction immediately precedes him telling Rachel he is her relative and her running to inform her father, setting in motion the patriarchal events of Laban's household.

Genesis 29 11 Word analysis

• Then Jacob: Marks a sequential action following Jacob's encounter with Rachel and the rolling away of the stone. "Jacob" (יַעֲקֹב, Ya'akov) carries the significance of the patriarch chosen by God, who is now finding his destined partner and family.
• kissed (וַיִּשַּׁק, vayyishaq): From the Hebrew root נָשַׁק (nashaq), meaning "to kiss." In ancient Near Eastern culture and the Bible, a kiss could denote various strong emotions:
  • Affection/Love: As seen here, an immediate, deeply personal, and intimate expression of profound emotion and connection.
  • Greeting: A customary salutation, especially among kin.
  • Reunion/Reconciliation: Often seen after long separation or conflict (e.g., Gen 33:4 - Jacob and Esau; Gen 45:15 - Joseph and his brothers).
  • Veneration/Homage: To royalty or figures of authority.
  • Betrayal: Tragically, a kiss can also be a sign of treachery (e.g., Judas's kiss, Matt 26:49), contrasting sharply with the sincerity shown here.Here, it signifies the overflowing joy and relief of finally finding his relative and the one with whom he would form the next branch of the Abrahamic covenant line.
• Rachel (רָחֵל, Rakhel): From the Hebrew, meaning "ewe." She is presented as the primary object of Jacob's immediate affection and would become one of the foundational matriarchs of Israel, mother of Joseph and Benjamin.
• and lifted up (וַיִּשָּׂא, vayyissa): From the Hebrew root נָשָׂא (nasa), meaning "to lift, carry." It suggests a deliberate and perhaps forceful action. In the context of "voice," it means to raise or utter it loudly.
• his voice (קֹלֹו, qolo): Refers to his audible sound. Lifting up his voice indicates a public and unrestrained display of emotion, not a silent, internal feeling.
• and wept (וַיֵּבְּךְּ, vayyevk): From the Hebrew root בָּכָה (bakha), meaning "to weep, lament, cry." This verb describes deep, often audible and intense crying, much more profound than simple tears.
  • Emotional Release: For Jacob, it signifies an overwhelming flood of emotions – the relief after a fearful flight, the culmination of a long and uncertain journey, the joy of encountering family after isolation, and the realization that God's providence (promised at Bethel) was guiding his steps and bringing him to his future.
  • Significance: This emotional outburst reveals a different side of Jacob, the "supplanter." Here he is vulnerable, human, and overcome by sincere, heartfelt emotion. It sets a precedent for his deep, often tearful, emotional responses throughout his life.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Then Jacob kissed Rachel": This phrase immediately establishes Jacob's profound attraction and connection to Rachel, distinct from a mere customary greeting. It is the spontaneous overflow of intense feeling, signaling an intimate and deeply personal bond from the very first moment.
• "and lifted up his voice and wept": This second part highlights the overwhelming nature of his emotional experience. The combination of an intimate physical act (kissing) with an audible and public display of intense grief or overwhelming emotion (weeping loudly) reveals the depth of Jacob's relief, joy, and the psychological release of pent-up fear and loneliness. It is the culmination of his journey and a powerful affirmation of God's presence in his life, bringing him to his promised destiny and a new beginning.

Genesis 29 11 Bonus section

The intense weeping of Jacob upon meeting Rachel is paralleled by other significant emotional outbursts in Genesis and beyond. For example, Abraham's servant bowed down and wept in thanks to the Lord after finding Rebekah (Gen 24:52), signifying gratitude for divine guidance. Jacob himself weeps in later reconciliations with Esau (Gen 33:4) and Joseph (Gen 46:29), highlighting his capacity for deep emotion and the spiritual significance of familial reunions within God's providence. This initial weeping for Rachel establishes a recurring motif of profound, sometimes overwhelming, emotional responses in Jacob's life, showing him not merely as a cunning survivor but as a deeply feeling man whose journey is intertwined with God's ongoing faithfulness.

Genesis 29 11 Commentary

Genesis 29:11 serves as a pivotal moment in the life of Jacob and the unfolding of the patriarchal narrative. After fleeing from Esau and a solitary journey, Jacob finds himself at the well, a common biblical location for significant encounters. His immediate reaction to Rachel is not just polite recognition but an unreserved outburst of profound emotion. The physical act of kissing Rachel, combined with his loud weeping, underscores the intensity of his experience.

This scene is a dramatic release for Jacob. He had been alone, journeying with uncertainty, and haunted by his past. Upon seeing Rachel, a true relative from his mother's lineage, and realizing God's hand in leading him directly to her (echoing Abraham's servant finding Rebekah), all the fear, loneliness, and long-awaited relief manifest in these powerful tears. It is a moment of immense joy and validation, affirming God's protective and guiding presence in his life. These are tears of profound relief and discovery, marking the commencement of the central phase of his family's formation in the covenant narrative. It is through Rachel that Joseph, a pivotal figure in the Genesis narrative, will eventually be born, highlighting the divine plan unfolding through human emotions and encounters.