Verses 4-8 describe Jacob’s conversation with the sheep herders at the well. The narrator gives a picture contrasting, on the one hand, Jacob who is excited and talkative, and on the other hand, the herdsmen who have little interest in this stranger; as Speiser says, “they act as if each word were just too much trouble.”

Jacob said to them: said must often be rendered as “asked” in the context of verses 4-6.

My brothers is a general address form used between men and does not imply in this context any kinship with Jacob. For a similar usage see 19.7. In English it may be rendered as “My friends” (Speiser, Good News Translation). In this context it is perhaps just as important for Jacob to address the shepherds with an appropriate greeting word as to try to find a close equivalent for brothers. A translation in an Australian language has Jacob say “Good day. Where are you from?”

Where do you come from?: Jacob asks about their origin, probably because he wishes to know where he is. Their short reply We are from Haran means they are from the town called Haran. In some languages this is expressed as “We are Haran’s people,” “Our village is Haran,” “Haran is where we live.” Translators should try to express this answer in as few words as possible.

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .