Genesis 29

Jacob meets Rachel

1Jacob got to his feet and set out for the land of the easterners. 2He saw a well in the field in front of him, near which three flocks of sheep were lying down. That well was their source for water because the flocks drank from that well. A huge stone covered the well’s opening. 3When all of the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone from the well’s opening, water the sheep, and return the stone to its place at the well’s opening. 4Jacob said to them, “Where are you from, my brothers?”

They said, “We’re from Haran.”

5Then he said to them, “Do you know Laban, Nahor’s grandson?”

They said, “We know him.”

6He said to them, “Is he well?”

They said, “He’s fine. In fact, this is his daughter Rachel now, coming with the flock.”

7He said to them, “It’s now only the middle of the day. It’s not time yet to gather the animals. Water the flock, and then go, put them out to pasture.”

8They said to him, “We can’t until all the herds are gathered, and then we#29.8 Or they roll the stone away from the well’s opening and water the flock.”

9While he was still talking to them, Rachel came with her father’s flock since she was its shepherd. 10When Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his uncle, and the flock of Laban, Jacob came up, rolled the stone from the well’s opening, and watered the flock of his uncle Laban. 11Jacob kissed Rachel and wept aloud. 12Jacob told Rachel that he was related to her father and that he was Rebekah’s son. She then ran to tell her father. 13When Laban heard about Jacob his sister’s son, he ran to meet him. Laban embraced him, kissed him, and invited him into his house, where Jacob recounted to Laban everything that had happened. 14Laban said to him, “Yes, you are my flesh and blood.”

Jacob marries Leah and Rachel

After Jacob had stayed with Laban for a month, 15Laban said to Jacob, “You shouldn’t have to work for free just because you are my relative. Tell me what you would like to be paid.”

16Now Laban had two daughters: the older was named Leah and the younger Rachel. 17Leah had delicate eyes,#29.17 Heb uncertain; perhaps Leah had poor eyesight but Rachel had a beautiful figure and was good-looking. 18Jacob loved Rachel and said, “I will work for you for seven years for Rachel, your younger daughter.”

19Laban said, “I’d rather give her to you than to another man. Stay with me.”

20Jacob worked for Rachel for seven years, but it seemed like a few days because he loved her. 21Jacob said to Laban, “The time has come. Give me my wife so that I may sleep with her.” 22So Laban invited all the people of that place and prepared a banquet. 23However, in the evening, he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and he slept with her. 24Laban had given his servant Zilpah to his daughter Leah as her servant. 25In the morning, there she was—Leah! Jacob said to Laban, “What have you done to me? Didn’t I work for you to have Rachel? Why did you betray me?”

26Laban said, “Where we live, we don’t give the younger woman before the oldest. 27Complete the celebratory week with this woman. Then I will give#29.27 LXX, Sam, Syr, Tg, Vulg; MT we will give you this other woman too for your work, if you work for me seven more years.” 28So that is what Jacob did. He completed the celebratory week with this woman, and then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife. 29Laban had given his servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her servant. 30Jacob slept with Rachel, and he loved Rachel more than Leah. He worked for Laban seven more years.

Jacob’s sons are born

31When the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, he opened her womb; but Rachel was unable to have children. 32Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben#29.32 Or see, a son because she said, “The LORD saw my harsh treatment, and now my husband will love me.” 33She became pregnant again and gave birth to a son. She said, “The LORD heard that I was unloved, so he gave me this son too,” and she named him Simeon.#29.33 Sounds like the Heb verb hear 34She became pregnant again and gave birth to a son. She said, “Now, this time my husband will embrace me,#29.34 Or be connected to me since I have given birth to three sons for him.” So she named him Levi.#29.34 Sounds like the Heb verb embrace, or connect 35She became pregnant again and gave birth to a son. She said, “This time I will praise the LORD.” So she named him Judah.#29.35 Sounds like the Heb verb praise Then she stopped bearing children.

Genesis 29

1¶ Then Jacob walked on and came into the land of the people of the east.

2And he looked and saw a well in the field, and, behold, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it, for out of that well they watered the flocks, and a great stone was upon the well’s mouth.

3And all the flocks gathered there; and they would roll the stone from the well’s mouth and water the sheep and put the stone again upon the well’s mouth in its place.

4And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, where are you from? And they said, We are from Haran.

5And he said unto them, Do you know Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him.

6And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He is well, and, behold, Rachel, his daughter, comes with the sheep.

7And he said, behold, it is yet high day; neither is it time that the livestock should be gathered together; water the sheep and go and feed them.

8And they said, We cannot until all the flocks are gathered together and until they roll the stone from the well’s mouth, that we may water the sheep.

9¶ And while he yet spoke with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she was the pastor.

10And it came to pass when Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of Laban, his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban, his mother’s brother, that Jacob went near and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth and watered the flock of Laban, his mother’s brother.

11And Jacob kissed Rachel and lifted up his voice and wept.

12And Jacob told Rachel that he was of her father’s brethren, and that he was Rebekah’s son, and she ran and told her father.

13And it came to pass when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister’s son that he ran to meet him and embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house. And he told Laban all these things.

14And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month.

15¶ And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art of my brethren, should thou therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall thy wages be?

16And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.

17Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.

18And Jacob loved Rachel and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel, thy younger daughter.

19And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee than that I should give her to another man; abide with me.

20And Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.

21And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled that I may go in unto her.

22So Laban gathered together all the men of the place and made a banquet.

23And it came to pass in the evening that he took Leah, his daughter, and brought her to him, and he went in unto her.

24And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah, his maid, for a handmaid.

25And it came to pass that in the morning, behold, it was Leah; and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? Did not I serve with thee for Rachel? Why then hast thou beguiled me?

26And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country to give the younger before the firstborn.

27Fulfil her week, and we will give thee the other also for another seven years of service which thou shalt serve with me.

28And Jacob did so and fulfilled her week; and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.

29And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah, his handmaid, to be her maid.

30And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah and served with him yet another seven years.

31¶ And when the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb; but Rachel was barren.

32And Leah conceived and gave birth to a son, and she called his name Reuben; for she said, Surely the Lord has looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.

33And she conceived again and gave birth to a son; and said, Because the Lord has heard that I was hated, he has therefore given me this son also; and she called his name Simeon.

34And she conceived again and gave birth to a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me because I have born him three sons; therefore his name was called Levi.

35And she conceived again and gave birth a son; and she said, Now I will praise the Lord; therefore she called his name Judah and stopped bearing children.

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Genesis 29

Genesis 29