Genesis 29
1 Then
Jacob went
on his
journey, and
came into the
land of the
people of the
east. 2 And 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. 3 And thither 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. 4 And
Jacob said unto them, My
brethren, whence be ye? And they
said, Of
Haran are we.
5 And he
said unto them,
Know ye
Laban the
son of
Nahor? And they
said, We
know him.
6 And he
said unto them, Is he
well? And they
said, He is
well: and, behold,
Rachel his
daughter cometh with the
sheep. 7 And he
said,
Lo, it is yet
high day, neither is it
time that the
cattle should be gathered
together:
water ye the
sheep, and
go and
feed them.
8 And 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. 9 And while he
yet spake with them,
Rachel came with her
father's sheep: for she kept
them.
10 And 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. 11 And
Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted
up his
voice, and
wept.
12 And
Jacob told Rachel that he was her
father's brother, and that he was
Rebekah's son: and she
ran and
told her
father. 13 And 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. 14 And
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 my
brother, shouldest thou therefore
serve me for
nought? tell me, what shall thy
wages be?
16 And
Laban had
two daughters: the
name of the
elder was
Leah, and the
name of the
younger was
Rachel. 17 Leah was
tender eyed; but
Rachel was
beautiful and well favoured. 18 And
Jacob loved Rachel; and
said, I will
serve thee
seven years for
Rachel thy
younger daughter. 19 And
Laban said, It is
better that I
give her to thee, than that I should
give her to
another man: abide with me.
20 And
Jacob served seven years for
Rachel; and they
seemed unto him but a
few days, for the love he
had to her.
21 And
Jacob said unto
Laban, Give me my
wife, for my
days are
fulfilled, that I may go
in unto her.
22 And
Laban gathered
together all the
men of the
place, and
made a
feast. 23 And it came to pass in the
evening, that he
took Leah his
daughter, and
brought her to him; and he went
in unto her.
24 And
Laban gave unto his
daughter Leah Zilpah his
maid for an
handmaid. 25 And 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? wherefore then hast thou
beguiled me?
26 And
Laban said, It must not be so
done in our
country, to
give the
younger before the
firstborn. 27 Fulfil her week, and we will
give thee this also for the
service which thou shalt
serve with me yet
seven other years. 28 And
Jacob did so, and
fulfilled her
week: and he
gave him
Rachel his
daughter to
wife also.
29 And
Laban gave to
Rachel his
daughter Bilhah his
handmaid to be her
maid. 30 And he went
in also unto
Rachel, and he
loved also
Rachel more than
Leah, and
served with him yet
seven other years. 31 And when the
LORD saw that
Leah was
hated, he
opened her
womb: but
Rachel was
barren. 32 And
Leah conceived, and
bare a
son, and she
called his
name Reuben: for she
said,
Surely the
LORD hath
looked upon my
affliction; now
therefore my
husband will
love me.
33 And she
conceived again, and
bare a
son; and
said, Because the
LORD hath
heard that I was
hated, he hath therefore
given me this son also: and she
called his
name Simeon. 34 And she conceived
again, and
bare 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. 35 And she
conceived again, and
bare a
son: and she
said,
Now will I
praise the
LORD: therefore she
called his
name Judah; and
left bearing.