New American Standard Bible 1995

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Genesis

29

:

2

He looked, and saw a well in the field, and behold, three flocks of sheep were lying there beside it, for from that well they watered the flocks. Now the stone on the mouth of the well was large.

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Hebrew: Transliteration:
He looked, and saw to see Verb H7200 וַיַּ֞רְא vai·yar·
a well a well, pit Noun H875 בְאֵ֣ר ve·'er
in the field, field, land Noun H7704 בַּשָּׂדֶ֗ה bas·sa·deh
and behold, lo! behold! Particle H2009 וְהִנֵּ֧ה ve·hin·neh
three a three, triad Noun H7969 שְׁלֹשָׁ֤ה she·lo·shah
Analysis:

Three: Purposes of God in: Testing, revealing, proving, documenting, victory and if applied to God, holiness

The number "three" is one of the most significant numbers in the Scriptures. Its primary purpose is for the sake of revealing or documenting something as fact (testing to validate something). It is also connected to the outcome of the will of God. One of the most famous occurrences for the number three is found in the book of Jonah, where Jonah is in the belly of the fish "three days and three nights."  A major aspect of the book of Jonah is that the prophet was fleeing from the presence of HaShem. Instead of Jonah going to Nineveh as God had commanded, the prophet desired not to obey this commandment, even if it meant that his relationship with God would be destroyed. HaShem decided to test to see if Jonah preferred to end his relationship with God rather than go to Nineveh. By placing Jonah in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights, it would be revealed whether it was true that Jonah wanted to end his relationship with God over this commandment to go to Nineveh. It is most significant that immediately after (in the next verse) the reader is informed that Jonah was in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights.  What does Jonah do? The text states that Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from within the fish. Hence, the three days and three nights ultimately revealed, proved, or documented that what Jonah said he wanted was not true. One could also say that Jonah was tested for those three days and three nights and the test results showed that he did not want to end his relationship with God and in the end Jonah went to Nineveh.

In a similar manner, Peter rejects Yeshua's statement that he will deny Him. Therefore, Yeshua says to Peter that he will deny Him three times. These three denials prove, document, and reveal to the reader that Yeshua's statement was factual. It is not a coincidence that when Yeshua reinstated Peter after the resurrection, He asked him three times, "do you love Me?” In this context, Yeshua was testing the validity of Peter's statement. 

Yeshua also revealed that He, in a similar manner to Jonah being in the belly of the fish three days and three nights, would be in the belly of the earth three days and three nights and then rise from the dead. In this passage, the number three not only documents the fact that He died, but also the resurrection. It is also very significant that Yeshua rose on the third day.

The number three also relates to victory, as in the completion of God's purposes and plans. In the book of Genesis, one reads about the offering of Isaac. This passage has great theological significance and is one of the first passages which is read in the morning synagogue service each day. This section begins with HaShem commanding Abraham to offer his son as a burnt offering on one of the mountains in the land of Moriah. The climax of this portion of Scripture comes about on the third day. It was on the third day that HaShem provided the ram so that Isaac would live. In this passage, Isaac represents the promise (of God) which would have died (ended) had not HaShem acted. There is not a conflict between the two concepts for the number three of victory (the fulfillment of God’s will) and revelation or documentation. Often, it is the climax of what HaShem wants to do, which is simply being revealed or proved with the use of the number three.

Please note that when the number three is applied to God, then it can relate to holiness; whereas the number seven relates to holiness when this number is about man (see explanation for the number seven).

Loveisrael.org - Baruch Korman, Ph.D. - All Rights Reserved - Used with Permission 2016

flocks a flock, herd Noun H5739 עֶדְרֵי־ ed·rei-
of sheep small cattle, sheep and goats, flock Noun H6629 צֹאן֙ tzon
were lying stretch oneself out, lie down, lie stretched out Verb H7257 רֹבְצִ֣ים ro·ve·tzim
there there, thither Adverb H8033 שָׁ֞ם sham
beside upon, above, over Prepostion H5921 עָלֶ֔יהָ a·lei·ha,
it, for from that well a well, pit Noun H875 הַבְּאֵ֣ר hab·be·'er
they watered cause to drink water, give to drink Verb H8248 יַשְׁק֖וּ yash·ku
the flocks. a flock, herd Noun H5739 הָעֲדָרִ֑ים ha·'a·da·rim;
Now the stone a stone Noun H68 וְהָאֶ֥בֶן ve·ha·'e·ven
on the mouth mouth Noun H6310 פִּ֥י pi
of the well a well, pit Noun H875 הַבְּאֵֽר׃ hab·be·'er.
was large. great Adjective H1419 גְּדֹלָ֖ה ge·do·lah

Parallel Verses

Removed text
Added text
New American Standard Bible 1995 He looked, and saw a well in the field, and behold, three flocks of sheep were lying there beside it, for from that well they watered the flocks. Now the stone on the mouth of the well was large.
King James Bible He And he looked, and saw behold a well in the field, and behold, and, lo, there were three flocks of sheep were lying there beside it, by it; for from out of that well they watered the flocks. Now the flocks: and a great stone on was upon the mouth of the well was large.well's mouth.
Hebrew Greek English He looked, and saw a well in the field, and behold, three flocks of sheep were lying there beside it, for from that well they watered the flocks. Now the stone on the mouth of the well was large.