Genesis 29
29
Jacob Arrives at Laban's Home
1Jacob continued on his way and went towards the land of the East. 2Suddenly he came upon a well out in the fields with three flocks of sheep lying round it. The flocks were watered from this well, which had a large stone over the opening. 3Whenever all the flocks came together there, the shepherds would roll the stone back and water them. Then they would put the stone back in place.
4Jacob asked the shepherds, “My friends, where are you from?”
“From Haran,” they answered.
5He asked, “Do you know Laban, grandson of Nahor?”
“Yes, we do,” they answered.
6“Is he well?” he asked.
“He is well,” they answered. “Look, here comes his daughter Rachel with his flock.”
7Jacob said, “Since it is still broad daylight and not yet time to bring the flocks in, why don't you water them and take them back to pasture?”
8They answered, “We can't do that until all the flocks are here and the stone has been rolled back; then we will water the flocks.”
9While Jacob was still talking to them, Rachel arrived with the flock. 10When Jacob saw Rachel with his uncle Laban's flock, he went to the well, rolled the stone back, and watered the sheep. 11Then he kissed her and began to cry for joy. 12He told her, “I am your father's relative, the son of Rebecca.”
She ran to tell her father; 13and when he heard the news about his nephew Jacob, he ran to meet him, hugged him and kissed him, and brought him into the house. When Jacob told Laban everything that had happened, 14Laban said, “Yes, indeed, you are my own flesh and blood.” Jacob stayed there a whole month.
Jacob Serves Laban for Rachel and Leah
15Laban said to Jacob, “You shouldn't work for me for nothing just because you are my relative. How much pay do you want?” 16Laban had two daughters; the elder was named Leah, and the younger Rachel. 17Leah had lovely#29.17 lovely; or weak. eyes, but Rachel was shapely and beautiful.
18Jacob was in love with Rachel, so he said, “I will work seven years for you, if you will let me marry Rachel.”
19Laban answered, “I would rather give her to you than to anyone else; stay here with me.” 20Jacob worked seven years so that he could have Rachel, and the time seemed like only a few days to him, because he loved her.
21Then Jacob said to Laban, “The time is up; let me marry your daughter.” 22So Laban gave a wedding feast and invited everyone. 23But that night, instead of Rachel, he took Leah to Jacob, and Jacob had intercourse with her. 24(Laban gave his slave woman Zilpah to his daughter Leah as her maid.) 25Not until the next morning did Jacob discover that it was Leah. He went to Laban and said, “Why did you do this to me? I worked to get Rachel. Why have you tricked me?”
26Laban answered, “It is not the custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the elder. 27Wait until the week's marriage celebrations are over, and I will give you Rachel, if you will work for me another seven years.”
28Jacob agreed, and when the week of marriage celebrations was over, Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife. 29(Laban gave his slave woman Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maid.) 30Jacob had intercourse with Rachel also, and he loved her more than Leah. Then he worked for Laban another seven years.
The Children Born to Jacob
31When the LORD saw that Leah was loved less than Rachel, he made it possible for her to have children, but Rachel remained childless. 32Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She said, “The LORD has seen my trouble, and now my husband will love me”; so she named him Reuben.#29.32 Reuben: This name sounds like the Hebrew for “see, a son” and “has seen my trouble”. 33She became pregnant again and gave birth to another son. She said, “The LORD has given me this son also, because he heard that I was not loved”; so she named him Simeon.#29.33 Simeon: This name sounds like the Hebrew for “hear”. 34Once again she became pregnant and gave birth to another son. She said, “Now my husband will be bound more tightly to me, because I have borne him three sons”; so she named him Levi.#29.34 Levi: This name sounds like the Hebrew for “bound”. 35Then she became pregnant again and gave birth to another son. She said, “This time I will praise the LORD”; so she named him Judah.#29.35 Judah: This name sounds like the Hebrew for “praise”. Then she stopped having children.
Good News Bible. Scripture taken from the Good News Bible (r) (Today's English Version Second Edition, UK/British Edition). Copyright © 1992 British & Foreign Bible Society. Used by permission.
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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