Vayeitzei 29:12 · unit 1

Parashas Vayeitzei · Passuk 29:12

The Complete Passuk

וַיַּגֵּ֨ד יַעֲקֹ֜ב לְרָחֵ֗ל כִּ֣י אֲחִ֤י אָבִ֙יהָ֙ ה֔וּא וְכִ֥י בֶן־רִבְקָ֖ה ה֑וּא וַתָּ֖רׇץ וַתַּגֵּ֥ד לְאָבִֽיהָ׃

And Yaakov told Rachel that he was her father’s kinsman and that he was Rivkah’s son; and she ran and told her father.

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to classical sources on the identification and the weeping of the previous verse.

TT lemma: כי אחי אביה הוא.

Sefaria — Genesis 29:12

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
אָמְרוּ: מִפְּנֵי מָה בָּכָה? רָאָה שֶׁאֵין בְּיָדוֹ כְּלוּם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״וַיִּשָּׂא אֶת קוֹלוֹ וַיֵּבְךְּ״.

English: They said: Why did he weep? He saw that he had nothing in his hand, as it is stated “and he lifted his voice and wept.”

On the daf / in context: The midrash links the weeping of 29:11 to Yaakov’s poverty upon arrival, in contrast to Eliezer who came with gifts.

Type of Learning

Derash on the verse (midrashic) — not a formal named middah of the 13. The emotional reaction is explained by the contrast with the earlier mission of Eliezer.

What Is Learned

Yaakov wept because he arrived empty-handed, unlike Eliezer who had brought gifts for the bride’s family.