Rachel

1Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east.

Then 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.

He 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.

All 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.

Jacob 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.

He 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.

Jacob 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.

Jacob 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.

They 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.

While 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.

Jacob 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.

Then 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.

Jacob 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.

Laban 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.

Laban 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?

Then 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.

Laban 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.

Leah 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.

Jacob 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.

Laban 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.

So 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.

Then 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.

So 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.

But 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.

Laban 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?

In 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.

Laban 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.

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

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

Jacob 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.

Laban 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.

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

1And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.

Rachel saw that she had no children with Jacob. She was jealous of her sister Leah. She said to Jacob, "Give me children, or I will die!"

2And Jacob’s anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God’s stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?

Jacob got angry with Rachel. He said, "I am not God. He is the one who has not given you children."

3And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her.

Rachel said, "Here is Bilhah, my servant. Have a baby with her. Her child will count as my own child."

4And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her.

So Rachel gave her servant Bilhah to Jacob as a wife. Jacob slept with her.

5And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son.

Bilhah was going to have a baby. She gave birth to a son for Jacob.

6And Rachel said, God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and hath given me a son: therefore called she his name Dan.

Rachel said, "God has been fair to me. He heard me and gave me a son." So she named him Dan.

7And Bilhah Rachel’s maid conceived again, and bare Jacob a second son.

Bilhah, Rachel's servant, had another baby. It was a second son for Jacob.

8And Rachel said, With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali.

Rachel said, "I fought hard against my sister, and I won." So she named him Naphtali.

14And Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them unto his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, Give me, I pray thee, of thy son’s mandrakes.

It was time to bring in the wheat. Reuben was out in the field. He found some mandrake plants and brought them to his mother, Leah. Rachel said to Leah, "Please give me some of your son's mandrakes."

15And she said unto her, Is it a small matter that thou hast taken my husband? and wouldest thou take away my son’s mandrakes also? And Rachel said, Therefore he shall lie with thee to night for thy son’s mandrakes.

Leah said, "You already took my husband. Now you want my son's mandrakes too?" Rachel said, "Fine. Jacob can sleep at your tent tonight, for the mandrakes."

16And Jacob came out of the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said, Thou must come in unto me; for surely I have hired thee with my son’s mandrakes. And he lay with her that night.

That evening Jacob came in from the field. Leah went out to meet him. She said, "You must come with me. I paid for you with my son's mandrakes." So he slept with her that night.

17And God hearkened unto Leah, and she conceived, and bare Jacob the fifth son.

God listened to Leah. She had another baby. It was a fifth son for Jacob.

18And Leah said, God hath given me my hire, because I have given my maiden to my husband: and she called his name Issachar.

Leah said, "God has paid me back, because I gave my servant to my husband." So she named him Issachar.

19And Leah conceived again, and bare Jacob the sixth son.

Leah had another baby. It was a sixth son for Jacob.

20And Leah said, God hath endued me with a good dowry; now will my husband dwell with me, because I have born him six sons: and she called his name Zebulun.

Leah said, "God has given me a fine gift. Now my husband will stay with me. I have given him six sons." So she named him Zebulun.

21And afterwards she bare a daughter, and called her name Dinah.

After that Leah had a daughter. She named her Dinah.

22And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb.

Then God remembered Rachel. He listened to her and let her have a baby.

23And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach:

She gave birth to a son. She said, "God has taken away my shame."

24And she called his name Joseph; and said, The LORD shall add to me another son.

She named him Joseph. She said, "May the LORD give me one more son."

4And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock,

So Jacob sent word to Rachel and Leah, his wives. He asked them to come out to the field where his animals were.

5And said unto them, I see your father’s countenance, that it is not toward me as before; but the God of my father hath been with me.

He said, "I can see your father's face. He is not friendly to me like before. But my father's God has stayed with me."

6And ye know that with all my power I have served your father.

"You know how hard I have worked for your father. I gave him all my strength."

7And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me.

"He tricked me. He changed my pay ten times. But God did not let him hurt me."

8If he said thus, The speckled shall be thy wages; then all the cattle bare speckled: and if he said thus, The ringstraked shall be thy hire; then bare all the cattle ringstraked.

"When he said, 'The spotted animals are your pay,' all the babies were born spotted. When he said, 'The striped ones are your pay,' all the babies were born striped."

9Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me.

"So God took your father's animals and gave them to me."

10And it came to pass at the time that the cattle conceived, that I lifted up mine eyes, and saw in a dream, and, behold, the rams which leaped upon the cattle were ringstraked, speckled, and grisled.

"When the animals were having babies, I had a dream. In it the male animals were striped, spotted, and speckled."

11And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I said, Here am I.

"In the dream God's angel, his messenger, called me. He said, 'Jacob!' I said, 'I am here.'"

12And he said, Lift up now thine eyes, and see, all the rams which leap upon the cattle are ringstraked, speckled, and grisled: for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee.

"He said, 'Look up. All the males are striped, spotted, and speckled. I have seen everything Laban has done to you.'"

13I am the God of Bethel, where thou anointedst the pillar, and where thou vowedst a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred.

"'I am the God of Bethel. That is where you poured oil on a stone and made a promise to me. Now get up. Leave this land and go back to your own family.'"

14And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him, Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father’s house?

Rachel and Leah answered him. They said, "Is anything left for us in our father's house? No, nothing."

15Are we not counted of him strangers? for he hath sold us, and hath quite devoured also our money.

"He treats us like strangers, not like daughters. He sold us. Then he used up all the money."

16For all the riches which God hath taken from our father, that is ours, and our children’s: now then, whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do.

"All the riches God took from our father belong to us and our children. So do whatever God has told you."

17Then Jacob rose up, and set his sons and his wives upon camels;

Then Jacob got ready. He put his children and his wives on camels.

18And he carried away all his cattle, and all his goods which he had gotten, the cattle of his getting, which he had gotten in Padanaram, for to go to Isaac his father in the land of Canaan.

He took all his animals and everything he owned. He had gotten it all in Padanaram. He set out for Canaan, to see his father Isaac.

19And Laban went to shear his sheep: and Rachel had stolen the images that were her father’s.

Laban had gone away to cut the wool off his sheep. While he was gone, Rachel stole his little statues of gods.

20And Jacob stole away unawares to Laban the Syrian, in that he told him not that he fled.

Jacob did not tell Laban the Syrian that he was leaving. He slipped away in secret.

21So he fled with all that he had; and he rose up, and passed over the river, and set his face toward the mount Gilead.

Jacob ran away with everything he had. He crossed the big river and headed for the hills of Gilead.

22And it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob was fled.

Three days later, someone told Laban that Jacob had run away.

23And he took his brethren with him, and pursued after him seven days’ journey; and they overtook him in the mount Gilead.

Laban took his relatives and chased Jacob. They followed for seven days. They caught up with him in the hills of Gilead.

24And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said unto him, Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.

That night God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream. God said, "Be careful. Do not say anything to Jacob, good or bad."

25Then Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mount: and Laban with his brethren pitched in the mount of Gilead.

Laban caught up with Jacob. Jacob's tent was set up in the hills. Laban and his relatives camped in those hills too.

26And Laban said to Jacob, What hast thou done, that thou hast stolen away unawares to me, and carried away my daughters, as captives taken with the sword?

Laban said to Jacob, "What have you done? You tricked me. You took my daughters away like prisoners from a war."

27Wherefore didst thou flee away secretly, and steal away from me; and didst not tell me, that I might have sent thee away with mirth, and with songs, with tabret, and with harp?

"Why did you run away in secret? Why didn't you tell me? I would have sent you off with singing and happy music, with drums and harps."

28And hast not suffered me to kiss my sons and my daughters? thou hast now done foolishly in so doing.

"You did not even let me kiss my grandchildren and my daughters goodbye. What you did was foolish."

29It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt: but the God of your father spake unto me yesternight, saying, Take thou heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.

"I am strong enough to hurt you. But last night your father's God spoke to me. He said, 'Be careful. Do not say anything to Jacob, good or bad.'"

30And now, though thou wouldest needs be gone, because thou sore longedst after thy father’s house, yet wherefore hast thou stolen my gods?

"You wanted to go home to your father. I understand that. But why did you steal my gods?"

31And Jacob answered and said to Laban, Because I was afraid: for I said, Peradventure thou wouldest take by force thy daughters from me.

Jacob answered Laban, "I left because I was afraid. I thought you would take your daughters away from me by force."

32With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, let him not live: before our brethren discern thou what is thine with me, and take it to thee. For Jacob knew not that Rachel had stolen them.

"But if you find your gods with anyone here, that person will not live. Look around while our relatives watch. If anything here is yours, take it." Jacob did not know that Rachel had taken them.

33And Laban went into Jacob’s tent, and into Leah’s tent, and into the two maidservants’ tents; but he found them not. Then went he out of Leah’s tent, and entered into Rachel’s tent.

Laban searched Jacob's tent, then Leah's tent, then the tents of the two servant women. He found nothing. Then he went into Rachel's tent.

34Now Rachel had taken the images, and put them in the camel’s furniture, and sat upon them. And Laban searched all the tent, but found them not.

Rachel had hidden the little statues inside her camel's saddle bag. She was sitting on top of it. Laban searched the whole tent and found nothing.

35And she said to her father, Let it not displease my lord that I cannot rise up before thee; for the custom of women is upon me. And he searched, but found not the images.

Rachel said to her father, "Please do not be angry, sir. I cannot stand up for you. I am having my monthly period." So he kept looking, but he did not find the statues.

1And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids.

Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming with four hundred men. So Jacob split the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two servant women.

2And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost.

He put the servant women and their children in front. Leah and her children came next. Rachel and Joseph came last.

3And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.

Jacob walked ahead of them all. He bowed down to the ground seven times as he came near his brother.

4And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.

But Esau ran to meet him. He threw his arms around him and kissed him. They both cried.

5And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are those with thee? And he said, The children which God hath graciously given thy servant.

Esau looked up and saw the women and children. He asked, "Who are these with you?" Jacob said, "These are the children God kindly gave me, your servant."

6Then the handmaidens came near, they and their children, and they bowed themselves.

Then the servant women came near with their children, and they bowed down.

7And Leah also with her children came near, and bowed themselves: and after came Joseph near and Rachel, and they bowed themselves.

Leah and her children came near and bowed down too. Then Joseph and Rachel came near and bowed down.

16And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour.

They left Bethel and traveled on. They were still a little way from the town of Ephrath. Then Rachel began to have her baby, and it was very hard for her.

17And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also.

While she was working so hard, the midwife spoke to her. A midwife is a woman who helps babies be born. She said, "Do not be afraid. You are having another son."

18And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin.

Rachel was dying, and with her last breath she named the baby Benoni. But his father named him Benjamin.

19And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem.

So Rachel died. They buried her beside the road to Ephrath, the town also called Bethlehem.

20And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel’s grave unto this day.

Jacob set up a tall stone over her grave. That stone still marks Rachel's grave today.