Genesis 29

Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east.

1Then Jacob kept walking. He came to the land of the people in 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.

2He saw a well out in a field. Three groups of sheep lay near it. Shepherds gave the sheep water from that well. A big stone lay over the top of the well.

3And 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.

3All the sheep were brought there. Then the shepherds rolled the stone off the well. They gave the sheep water. Then they put the stone back on top.

4And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, Of Haran are we.

4Jacob said to them, "My friends, where are you from?" They said, "We are from Haran."

5And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him.

5He said, "Do you know Laban? He comes from the family of Nahor." They said, "Yes, we know him."

6And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.

6Jacob asked, "Is he well?" They said, "He is well. Look, here comes his daughter Rachel with the sheep."

7And 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.

7Jacob said, "Look, the sun is still high. It is not time to bring the animals in yet. Give the sheep water. Then take them back to eat grass."

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.

8They said, "We cannot. We wait until all the flocks are here. Then the stone is rolled off the well. After that we give the sheep water."

9And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep: for she kept them.

9While he was still talking with them, Rachel came. She brought her father's sheep, because she took care of them.

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 well’s mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother.

10Jacob saw Rachel and her father's sheep. Laban was the brother of Jacob's mother. So Jacob went over and rolled the stone off the well. Then he gave Laban's sheep water.

11And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.

11Then Jacob kissed Rachel. He cried out loud.

12And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s brother, and that he was Rebekah’s son: and she ran and told her father.

12Jacob told Rachel that he was part of her father's family. He said his mother was Rebekah. Rachel 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.

13Laban heard the news about Jacob, his sister's son. He ran out to meet him. He hugged him and kissed him. He brought him home. Jacob told Laban everything that had happened.

14And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month.

14Laban said, "You really are my own family." Jacob stayed with him for a month.

15And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be?

15Then Laban said to Jacob, "You are family, but you should not work for free. Tell me what your pay should be."

16And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.

16Laban had two daughters. The older one was named Leah. The younger one was named Rachel.

17Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.

17Leah had weak eyes. Rachel had a lovely face and shape.

18And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.

18Jacob loved Rachel. He said, "I will work for you seven years. Then let me marry Rachel, your 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.

19Laban said, "Better that I give her to you than to another man. Stay here with me."

20And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.

20So Jacob worked seven years to marry Rachel. It felt like only a few days to him. That was because he loved her so much.

21And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.

21Then Jacob said to Laban, "Give me my wife. My time of work is finished. I want to live with her as her husband."

22And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.

22So Laban called all the men of that place together. He made a big feast.

23And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her.

23But that evening he took his daughter Leah. He brought her to Jacob, and Jacob slept with her.

24And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid.

24Laban also gave a servant girl named Zilpah to Leah. She would be Leah's helper.

25And 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?

25In the morning Jacob saw that it was Leah! He said to Laban, "What have you done to me? I worked for you to marry Rachel. Why did you trick me?"

26And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.

26Laban said, "That is not how we do things here. The younger daughter does not marry first."

27Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.

27"Finish this week of wedding parties. Then we will give you Rachel too. But you must work for me seven more years."

NoteA wedding lasted a whole week of parties. Laban told Jacob to finish Leah's week first.

28And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.

28Jacob did that. He finished the week of parties. Then Laban gave him Rachel as his wife too.

29And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.

29Laban also gave a servant girl named Bilhah to Rachel. She would be Rachel's helper.

30And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.

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

31And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.

31The LORD saw that Leah was not loved. So he let her have babies. But Rachel could not have babies.

NoteThe KJV says Leah was "hated." That old word here means she was loved less, not that Jacob hated her.

32And 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.

32Leah had a baby boy. She named him Reuben. She said, "The LORD saw how sad I was. Now my husband will love me."

33And 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.

33She had another baby boy. She said, "The LORD heard that I am not loved. So he gave me this son too." She named him Simeon.

34And 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.

34She had another baby boy. She said, "Now my husband will stay close to me. I have given him three sons." So he was named Levi.

35And 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.

35She had another baby boy. She said, "This time I will praise the LORD." So she named him Judah. After that she stopped having babies.