Genesis 29
29
1Then Ya’akov (he who holds onto the heel of) went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east.
2And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, 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 there were all the flocks gathered: and they rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon the well’s mouth in his place.
4And Ya’akov said unto them, My brethren, from what place [be] youf? And they said, Of Haran [mountaineer] [are] we.
5And he said unto them, Know youf Lavan (to be white; white guy) the son of Nokhor (a snort, a snorting; charred, scorched)? 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, Lo, [it is] yet high day, neither [is it] time that the cattle should be gathered together: water youf the sheep, and go [and] feed [them].
8And they said, We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and [till] they roll the stone from the well’s mouth; then we water the sheep.
9And while he yet spoke with them, Rachel (ewe) came with her father’s sheep: for she kept them.
10And it came to pass, when Ya’akov (he who holds onto the heel of) saw Rachel (ewe) the daughter of Lavan (to be white; white guy) his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Lavan his mother’s brother, that Ya’akov went near, and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the flock of Lavan his mother’s brother.
11And Ya’akov (he who holds onto the heel of) kissed Rachel (ewe), and lifted up his voice, and wept.
12And Ya’akov told Rachel that he [was] her father’s brother, and that he [was] Rivkah’s son: and she ran and told her father.
13And it came to pass, when Lavan (to be white; white guy) heard the tidings of Ya’akov (he who holds onto the heel of) 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 Lavan these things.
14And Lavan (to be white; white guy) him, Surely youi [are] my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month.
15And Lavan said unto Ya’akov, Because youi [are] my brother, should youi therefore serve me for nothing (bad; vain)? tell me, what [shall] youri wages [be]?
16And Lavan had two daughters: the name of the elder [was] Le’ah, and the name of the younger [was] Rachel.
17Le’ah [was] tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.
18And Ya’akov loved Rachel; and said, I will serve youi seven years for Rachel youri younger daughter.
19And Lavan said, [It is] better that I give her to youi, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me.
20And Ya’akov served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him [but] a few days, for the love he had to her.
21And Ya’akov said unto Lavan, Give [me] my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.
22And Lavan gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.
23And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Le’ah (weary; grieved) his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her.
24And Lavan (to be white; white guy) gave unto his daughter Le’ah (weary; grieved) Zilpah (a tickling; a sprinkle) his maid [for] an female servant.
25And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it [was] Le’ah: and he said to Lavan, What [is] this youi hast done unto me? did not I serve with youi for Rachel? For what reason then hast youi beguiled me?
26And Lavan said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.
27Fulfill her week, and we will give youi this also for the service which youi shall serve with me yet seven other years.
28And Ya’akov (he who holds onto the heel of) did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel (ewe) his daughter to wife also.
29And Lavan gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah (troubled; timid) his female servant to be her maid.
30And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel (ewe) more than Le’ah (weary; grieved), and served with him yet seven other years.
31And when the Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) saw that Le’ah (weary; grieved) [was] hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel (ewe) [was] barren.
32And Le’ah conceived, and bore a son, and she called his name Re’uven (behold a son): for she said, Surely the Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) has looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.
33And she conceived again, and bore a son; and said, Because the Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) has heard that I [was] hated, he has therefore given me this [son] also: and she called his name Shim’on (heard; he who hears; man of hearing).
34And she conceived again, and bore a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi (Levite) [Joined to] (joined).
35And she conceived again, and bore a son: and she said, Now will I praise the Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate): therefore she called his name Y’hudah (Let the Powerful One be Praised [Yah]); and left bearing.
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Genesis 29
29
Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel
1Then Jacob went on his journey and came to #Num. 23:7; Judg. 6:3the land of the people of the east. 2As he looked, he saw a well in the field, and behold, three flocks of sheep lying beside it, for out of that well the flocks were watered. The stone on the well’s mouth was large, 3and when all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone from the mouth of the well and water the sheep, and put the stone back in its place over the mouth of the well.
4Jacob said to them, “My brothers, where do you come from?” They said, #ch. 27:43“We are from Haran.” 5He said to them, “Do you know Laban the son of Nahor?” They said, “We know him.” 6He said to them, “Is it well with him?” They said, “It is well; and see, Rachel his daughter is coming with the sheep!” 7He said, “Behold, it is still high day; it is not time for the livestock to be gathered together. Water the sheep and go, pasture them.” 8But they said, “We cannot until all the flocks are gathered together and the stone is rolled from the mouth of the well; then we water the sheep.”
9While he was still speaking with them, #Ex. 2:16, 17Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess. 10Now as soon as Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother, Jacob came near and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother. 11Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept aloud. 12And Jacob told Rachel that he was #ch. 13:8; 14:14, 16 her father’s kinsman, and that he was Rebekah’s son, #[ch. 24:28, 29]and she ran and told her father.
13As soon as Laban heard the news about Jacob, his sister’s son, #[See ver. 12 above]he ran to meet him and embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban all these things, 14and Laban said to him, #ch. 2:23; 37:27; Judg. 9:2; 2 Sam. 5:1; 19:12, 13; 1 Chr. 11:1“Surely you are my bone and my flesh!” And he stayed with him a month.
15Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my kinsman, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?” 16Now Laban had two daughters. The name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17Leah’s eyes were weak,#29:17 Or soft but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance. 18Jacob loved Rachel. And he said, #ch. 30:26; 31:41; [Hos. 12:12]“I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.” 19Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to any other man; stay with me.” 20So Jacob #[See ver. 18 above]served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her.
21Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife that I may go in to her, for my time is completed.” 22So Laban gathered together all the people of the place and #Judg. 14:10; [John 2:1, 2]made a feast. 23But in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and he went in to her. 24(Laban gave#29:24 Or had given; also verse 29 #See ch. 30:9-12his female servant Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her servant.) 25And in the morning, behold, it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?” 26Laban said, “It is not so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. 27#[Judg. 14:12]Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also in return for serving me another seven years.” 28Jacob did so, and completed her week. Then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife. 29(Laban gave #See ch. 30:3-7his female servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her servant.) 30So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah, and served Laban #ver. 20; ch. 31:41for another seven years.
Jacob’s Children
31When the Lord saw that Leah was #Deut. 21:15 hated, #[ch. 30:22]he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. 32And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben,#29:32 Reuben means See, a son for she said, “Because the Lord #ch. 31:42; Ex. 3:7; 4:31; Deut. 26:7has looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me.” 33She conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Because the Lord has heard that I am hated, he has given me this son also.” And she called his name Simeon.#29:33 Simeon sounds like the Hebrew for heard 34Again she conceived and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will be #[Num. 18:2, 4]attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi.#29:34 Levi sounds like the Hebrew for attached 35And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” Therefore she called his name #Matt. 1:2; [ch. 49:8]Judah.#29:35 Judah sounds like the Hebrew for praise Then she ceased bearing.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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