Genesis 29

Jacob Meets Rachel

1 Jacob resumed his journey and went to the eastern country. 2 He looked and saw a well in a field. Three flocks of sheep were lying there beside it because the sheep were watered from this well. A large stone covered the opening of the well.

3 When all the flocks were gathered there, the [shepherds] would roll the stone from the opening of the well and water the sheep. The stone was then placed back on the well's opening.

4 Jacob asked the men at the well, "My brothers! Where are you from?"
"We're from Haran," they answered.

5 "Do you know Laban grandson of Nahor?" Jacob asked them.
They answered, "We know [him]."

6 "Is he well?" Jacob asked.
"Yes," they said, "and here is his daughter Rachel, coming with his sheep."

7 Then Jacob said, "Look, it is still broad daylight. It's not time for the animals to be gathered. Water the flock, then go out and let them graze."

8 But they replied, "We can't until all the flocks have been gathered and the stone is rolled from the well's opening. Then we will water the sheep."
9 While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she was a shepherdess. 10 As soon as Jacob saw his uncle Laban's daughter Rachel with his sheep, he went up and rolled the stone from the opening and watered his uncle Laban's sheep. 11 Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept loudly.

12 He told Rachel that he was her father's relative, Rebekah's son. She ran and told her father.

Jacob Deceived

13 When Laban heard the news about his sister's son Jacob, he ran to meet him, hugged him, and kissed him. Then he took him to his house, and Jacob told him all that had happened.

14 Laban said to him, "Yes, you are my own flesh and blood."
After Jacob had stayed with him a month,

15 Laban said to him, "Just because you're my relative, should you work for me for nothing? Tell me what your wages should be."
16 Now Laban had two daughters: the older was named Leah, and the younger was named Rachel. 17 Leah had ordinary eyes, but Rachel was shapely and beautiful.

18 Jacob loved Rachel, so he answered Laban, "I'll work for you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel."
19 Laban replied, "Better that I give her to you than to some other man. Stay with me."

20 So Jacob worked seven years for Rachel, and they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.
21 Then Jacob said to Laban, "Give me my wife, for my time is completed. I want to sleep with her." 22 So Laban invited all the men of the place to a feast. 23 That evening, Laban took his daughter Leah and gave her to Jacob, and he slept with her.

24 And Laban gave his slave Zilpah to his daughter Leah as her slave.

25 When morning came, there was Leah! So he said to Laban, "What is this you have done to me? Wasn't it for Rachel that I worked for you? Why have you deceived me?"
26 Laban answered, "It is not the custom in this place to give the younger [daughter in marriage] before the firstborn.

27 Complete this week [of wedding celebration], and we will also give you this [younger] one in return for working yet another seven years for me."
28 And Jacob did just that. He finished the week [of celebration], and Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife. 29 And Laban gave his slave Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her slave.

30 Jacob slept with Rachel also, and indeed, he loved Rachel more than Leah. And he worked for Laban another seven years.

Jacob's Sons

31 When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb; but Rachel was unable to conceive.

32 Leah conceived, gave birth to a son, and named him Reuben, for she said, "The Lord has seen my affliction; surely my husband will love me now."

33 She conceived again, gave birth to a son, and said, "The Lord heard that I am unloved and has given me this [son] also." So she named him Simeon.

34 She conceived again, gave birth to a son, and said, "At last, my husband will become attached to me because I have borne three sons for him." Therefore he was named Levi.

35 And she conceived again, gave birth to a son, and said, "This time I will praise the Lord." Therefore she named him Judah. Then Leah stopped having children.

Genesis 29

The Marriages of Jacob

1 So Jacob moved ont and came to the land of the eastern people.t2 He sawt in the field a well witht three flocks of sheep lying beside it, because the flocks were watered from that well. Nowt a large stone covered the mouth of the well.

3 When all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherdst would roll the stone off the mouth of the well and water the sheep. Then they would put the stone back in its place over the well’s mouth.
4 Jacob asked them, “My brothers, where are you from?” They replied, “We’re from Haran.”5 So he said to them, “Do you know Laban, the grandsont of Nahor?” “We know him,”t they said.6 “Is he well?”t Jacob asked. They replied, “He is well.t Now look, here comes his daughter Rachel with the sheep.”7 Then Jacobt said, “Since it is still the middle of the day,t it is not time for the flocks to be gathered. You should water the sheep and then go and let them graze some more.”t

8 “We can’t,” they said, “until all the flocks are gathered and the stone is rolled off the mouth of the well. Then we watert the sheep.”
9 While he was still speaking with them, Rachel arrived with her father’s sheep, for she was tending them.t10 When Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of his uncle Laban,t and the sheep of his uncle Laban, het went overt and rolled the stone off the mouth of the well and watered the sheep of his uncle Laban.t11 Then Jacob kissed Rachel and began to weep loudly.t12 When Jacob explainedt to Rachel that he was a relative of her fathert and the son of Rebekah, she ran and told her father.13 When Laban heard this news about Jacob, his sister’s son, he rushed out to meet him. He embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house. Jacobt told Laban how he was related to him.t

14 Then Laban said to him, “You are indeed my own flesh and blood.”t So Jacobt stayed with him for a month.t
15 Then Laban said to Jacob, “Should you workt for me for nothing because you are my relative?t Tell me what your wages should be.”16 (Now Laban had two daughters;t the older one was named Leah, and the younger one Rachel.17 Leah’s eyes were tender,t but Rachel had a lovely figure and beautiful appearance.)t18 Since Jacob had fallen in love witht Rachel, he said, “I’ll serve you seven years in exchange for your younger daughter Rachel.”19 Laban replied, “I’d rather give her to you than to another man.t Stay with me.”

20 So Jacob worked for seven years to acquire Rachel.t But they seemed like only a few days to hims because his love for her was so great.t
21 Finally Jacob saidt to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my time of service is up.t I want to have marital relations with her.”t22 So Laban invited all the peoplet of that place and prepared a feast.23 In the evening he brought his daughter Leahts to Jacob,t and Jacobt had marital relations with her.t

24 (Laban gave his female servant Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her servant.)t
25 In the morning Jacob discovered it was Leah!t So Jacobt said to Laban, “What in the world have you done to me!t Didn’t I work for you in exchange for Rachel? Why have you trickeds me?”26 “It is not our custom here,”t Laban replied, “to give the younger daughter in marriaget before the firstborn.

27 Complete my older daughter’s bridal week.ts Then we will give you the younger onet too, in exchange for seven more years of work.”ts
28 Jacob did as Laban said.t When Jacobt completed Leah’s bridal week,t Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife.t29 (Laban gave his female servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her servant.)t

30 Jacobt had marital relationst with Rachel as well. He loved Rachel more than Leah, so he worked for Labant for seven more years.t

The Family of Jacob

31 When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved,t he enabled her to become pregnantt while Rachel remained childless.

32 So Leah became pregnantt and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben,s for she said, “The Lord has looked with pity on my oppressed condition.ts Surely my husband will love me now.”

33 She became pregnant again and had another son. She said, “Because the Lord heard that I was unloved,t he gave me this one too.” So she named him Simeon.s

34 She became pregnant again and had another son. She said, “Now this time my husband will show me affection,t because I have given birth to three sons for him.” That is why he was named Levi.s

35 She became pregnant again and had another son. She said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” That is why she named him Judah.s Then she stopped having children.