Genesis 29

Jacob Meets Rachel at the Well

1Jacob continued his journey and reached the land of the eastern peoples. 2He saw a well in a field. Three flocks of sheep were lying beside it because the flocks were watered from that well. A large stone covered the well’s opening. 3When all the flocks gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone away from the well’s opening and water the sheep. Then they would return the stone to its place over the opening.

4Jacob asked the shepherds, “My brothers, where are you from?” “We are from Haran,” they answered. 5“Do you know Laban, Nahor’s grandson?” he asked. “We do,” they answered. 6“Is he well?” Jacob asked. “He is well,” they said. “Here comes his daughter Rachel with the sheep.”

7Jacob said, “There is still plenty of daylight. It is not time to gather the livestock. Water the sheep, then take them out to graze.” 8“We cannot,” they answered, “until all the flocks have gathered and the stone is rolled away from the well’s opening. Then we can water the sheep.”

9While he was still speaking with them, Rachel arrived with her father’s sheep. She was tending the flock. 10When Jacob saw Rachel, daughter of Laban, his mother’s brother, and saw Laban’s sheep, he went to the well, rolled the stone away, and watered his uncle’s flock.

11Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept aloud. 12Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s relative and Rebekah’s son. She ran and told her father.

Jacob in Laban’s Household

13When Laban heard the news about his sister’s son Jacob, he ran to meet him, embraced him, kissed him, and brought him home. Jacob told Laban everything that had happened. 14Laban said, “You truly are my own bone and flesh.” Jacob stayed with him for a full month.

15Then Laban said to Jacob, “Should you work for me without pay because you are my relative? Tell me what your wages should be.” 16Laban had two daughters. The older was named Leah and the younger Rachel. 17Leah’s eyes were gentle, while Rachel was lovely in figure and appearance.

18Jacob loved Rachel. He said, “I will work for you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.” 19Laban answered, “It is better for me to give her to you than to another man. Stay with me.” 20Jacob worked seven years for Rachel, but because he loved her, they seemed like only a few days to him.

Laban’s Deception

21Jacob said to Laban, “My time is complete. Give me my wife so I may sleep with her.” 22Laban gathered all the people of the place and held a feast. 23But that evening Laban took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and Jacob slept with her. 24Laban gave his enslaved woman Zilpah to his daughter Leah as her slave woman.

25In the morning—there was Leah! Jacob said to Laban, “What have you done to me? Didn’t I work for you for Rachel? Why did you deceive me?” 26Laban answered, “In our place, the younger daughter is not given before the firstborn.

27Complete this daughter’s wedding week, and we will give you the other one too, in return for another seven years of work for me.” 28Jacob agreed and completed Leah’s wedding week. Then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife. 29Laban gave his enslaved woman Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her slave woman.

30Jacob slept with Rachel too, and he loved Rachel more than Leah. He worked for Laban another seven years.

Leah’s Children

31When the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, while Rachel was unable to conceive.

32Leah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, saying, “The LORD has seen my suffering. Now my husband will love me.”

33She conceived again and gave birth to a son. “The LORD heard that I am hated,” she said, “and he has given me this son too.” So she named him Simeon.

34She conceived again and gave birth to a son. “At last my husband will become attached to me,” she said, “because I have borne him three sons.” That is why he was named Levi.

35She conceived once more and gave birth to a son. “This time I will praise the LORD,” she said. So she named him Judah. Then she stopped giving birth.