Genesis 29
29
1And Jacob continued his journey, and went into the land of the children of the east. 2And he looked, and behold, there was a well in the fields, and behold there, three flocks of sheep were lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks, and a great stone was at the mouth of the well. 3And when all the flocks were gathered there, they rolled the stone from the mouth of the well, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again on the mouth of the well in its place. 4And Jacob said to them, My brethren, whence are ye? And they said, Of Haran are we. 5And he said to them, Do ye know Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We do know him. 6And he said to them, Is he well? And they said, He is well; and behold, there comes Rachel his daughter with the sheep. 7And he said, Behold, it is yet high day; it is not time that the cattle should be gathered together; water the sheep, and go, feed them. 8And they said, We cannot until all the flocks are gathered together, and they roll the stone from the mouth of the well, and we water the sheep.
9While he was still speaking to them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she was a shepherdess. 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 mouth of the well, and watered the sheep of Laban his mother's brother. 11And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice and wept. 12And Jacob told Rachel that he was a brother of her father, and that he was Rebecca'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, Thou art indeed my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him a month's time.
15And Laban said to Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou serve me for nothing? tell me, what shall be thy wages? 16And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger, Rachel. 17And the eyes of Leah were tender; but Rachel was of beautiful form and beautiful countenance. 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 were in his eyes as single days, because he loved her. 21And Jacob said to Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her. 22And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast. 23And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in to her. 24And Laban gave to her Zilpah, his maidservant, to be maidservant to Leah his daughter. 25And it came to pass in the morning, that behold, it was Leah. And he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done to me? Have I not served thee for Rachel? Why then hast thou deceived me? 26And Laban said, It is not so done in our place, to give the younger before the firstborn. 27Fulfil the week with this one: then we will give thee the other one also, for the service that thou shalt serve me yet seven other years. 28And Jacob did so, and fulfilled the week with this one, and he gave him Rachel his daughter to be his wife. 29And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter, Bilhah, his maidservant, to be her maidservant. 30And he went in also to Rachel; and he loved also Rachel more than Leah. And he served with him yet seven other years.
31And when Jehovah saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb; but Rachel was barren. 32And Leah conceived, and bore a son, and called his name Reuben; for she said, Because Jehovah has looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me. 33And she again conceived, and bore a son, and said, Because Jehovah has heard that I am hated, he has therefore given me this one also; and she called his name Simeon. 34And she again conceived, and bore a son, and said, Now this time will my husband be united to me, for I have borne him three sons; therefore was his name called Levi. 35And she again conceived, and bore a son, and said, This time will I praise Jehovah; therefore she called his name Judah. And she ceased to bear.
First published in 1890. This edition is maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.
Genesis 29
29
1Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the people of the east. 2As he looked, he saw a well in the field, and lo, 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 upon the mouth of the well.
4Jacob said to them, “My brothers, where do you come from?” They said, “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 animals 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, Rachel came with her father's sheep; for she kept them. 10Now when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, Jacob went up 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 her father's kinsman, and that he was Rebekah's son; and she ran and told her father.
13When Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister's son, 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, “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, but Rachel was beautiful and lovely. 18Jacob loved Rachel; and he said, “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 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 men of the place, and 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 his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her maid.) 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 first-born. 27Complete 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 wife. 29(Laban gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her maid.) 30So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah, and served Laban for another seven years.
31When the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb; but Rachel was barren. 32And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben;#29.32 That is See, a son for she said, “Because the Lord has looked upon my affliction; surely now my husband will love me.” 33She conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Because the Lord has heard#29.33 Heb shama that I am hated, he has given me this son also”; and she called his name Simeon. 34Again she conceived and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will be joined#29.34 Heb lawah to me, because I have borne him three sons”; therefore his name was called Levi. 35And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “This time I will praise#29.35 Heb hodah the Lord”; therefore she called his name Judah; then she ceased bearing.
Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America