Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 4. My brethren, whence be ye?] The language of Laban and his family was Chaldee and not Hebrew; (see chap. xxxi. 47;) but from the names which Leah gave to her children we see that the two languages had many words in common, and therefore Jacob and the shepherds might understand each other with little difficulty. It is possible also that Jacob might have learned the Chaldee or Aramitish language from his mother, as this was his mother's tongue.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-8 - Jacob proceeded cheerfully in his journey, after the sweet communion he had with God at Beth-el. Providence brought him to the field where his uncle's flocks were to be watered. What is said of the care of the shepherds for their sheep, may remind us of the tender concern whic our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, has for his flock the church; for he is the good Shepherd, that knows his sheep, and is know of them. The stone at the well's mouth was to secure it; water wa scarce, it was not there for every one's use: but separate interest should not take us from helping one another. When all the shepherd came together with their flocks, then, like loving neighbours, the watered their flocks together. The law of kindness in the tongue has commanding power, Pr 31:26. Jacob was civil to these strangers, and he found them civil to him.
Original Hebrew ויאמר559 להם יעקב3290 אחי251 מאין370 אתם859 ויאמרו559 מחרן2771 אנחנו׃580
