The Meaning of Genesis 29:13 Explained

Genesis 29:13

KJV: And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister's son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. And he told Laban all these things.

YLT: And it cometh to pass, when Laban heareth the report of Jacob his sister's son, that he runneth to meet him, and embraceth him, and kisseth him, and bringeth him in unto his house; and he recounteth to Laban all these things,

Darby: And it came to pass when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister's son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house; and he told Laban all these things.

ASV: And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister's son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. And he told Laban all these things.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And it came to pass, when Laban  heard  the tidings  of Jacob  his sister's  son,  that he ran  to meet  him, and embraced  him, and kissed  him, and brought  him to his house.  And he told  Laban  all these things. 

What does Genesis 29:13 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 29:1-20 - Jacob In Laban's Home
Well might Jacob lift up his feet! See margin. When we are sure of God we receive strength that enables us to run with patience the race that is set before us. The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and we have a special claim on His guidance in our matrimonial alliances-the most solemn and momentous step of all. There were many good qualities in Rachel, fitting her to be a good wife. Her humility and industry, her patience under the oppression of the unmannerly shepherds, her haste to share her joy with her father-all these elicited Jacob's love. What a touch of old-world and new-world poetry is in those words of Genesis 29:20! Where Love is queen time is too short, labor never hard, distance never long, sacrifice unheard of! Oh, that we so loved our Lord, that for the missionary toiling through long years, and the invalid condemned to a life of pain, affliction might appear light and but for a moment. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 29

1  Jacob comes to the well of Haran
9  He becomes acquainted with Rachel
13  Laban entertains him
18  Jacob covenants for Rachel
23  He is deceived by Laban with Leah
28  He marries also Rachel, and serves for her seven years more
32  Leah bears Reuben;
33  Simeon;
34  Levi;
35  and Judah

What do the individual words in Genesis 29:13 mean?

And it came to pass when heard Laban - the report about Jacob son of his sister that he ran to meet him and embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house So he told Laban - all things these
וַיְהִי֩ כִשְׁמֹ֨עַ לָבָ֜ן אֶת־ שֵׁ֣מַע ׀ יַעֲקֹ֣ב בֶּן־ אֲחֹת֗וֹ וַיָּ֤רָץ לִקְרָאתוֹ֙ וַיְחַבֶּק־ לוֹ֙ וַיְנַשֶּׁק־ ל֔וֹ וַיְבִיאֵ֖הוּ אֶל־ בֵּית֑וֹ וַיְסַפֵּ֣ר לְלָבָ֔ן אֵ֥ת כָּל־ הַדְּבָרִ֖ים הָאֵֽלֶּה

וַיְהִי֩  And  it  came  to  pass 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
כִשְׁמֹ֨עַ  when  heard 
Parse: Preposition-k, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
לָבָ֜ן  Laban 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: לָבָן 
Sense: son of Bethuel, brother of Rebekah, and father of Leah and Rachel.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
שֵׁ֣מַע ׀  the  report  about 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: שֵׁמַע  
Sense: report, a hearing.
יַעֲקֹ֣ב  Jacob 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יַעֲקֹב  
Sense: son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham, and father of the 2 patriarchs of the tribes of Israel.
בֶּן־  son 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
אֲחֹת֗וֹ  of  his  sister 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אָחֹות  
Sense: sister.
וַיָּ֤רָץ  that  he  ran 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: רוּץ 
Sense: to run.
לִקְרָאתוֹ֙  to  meet  him 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, third person masculine singular
Root: קָרָא  
Sense: to encounter, befall, meet.
וַיְחַבֶּק־  and  embraced 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: חָבַק  
Sense: to embrace, clasp.
וַיְנַשֶּׁק־  and  kissed 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָשַׁק 
Sense: to put together, kiss.
וַיְבִיאֵ֖הוּ  and  brought  him 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
בֵּית֑וֹ  his  house 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
וַיְסַפֵּ֣ר  So  he  told 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: סָפַר 
Sense: to count, recount, relate.
לְלָבָ֔ן  Laban 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: לָבָן 
Sense: son of Bethuel, brother of Rebekah, and father of Leah and Rachel.
אֵ֥ת  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַדְּבָרִ֖ים  things 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
הָאֵֽלֶּה  these 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, common plural
Root: אֵהֶל 
Sense: these.