Chapter 29

Then Jacob went on⁴ his journey, and came⁴ into the land of the people of the east.

And he looked,⁴ and behold a well in the field, and, lo, there [were] three flocks of sheep lying⁶ by it; for out of that well they watered⁵⁵ the flocks: and a great stone [was] upon the well's mouth.

And thither were all the flocks gathered:⁸ and they rolled¹ the stone from the well's mouth, and watered⁵² the sheep, and put the stone again⁵² upon the well's mouth in his place.

And Jacob said⁴ unto them, My brethren, whence [be] ye? And they said,⁴ Of Haran [are] we.

And he said⁴ unto them, Know¹ ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they said,⁴ We know¹ [him].

And he said⁴ unto them, [Is] he well? And they said,⁴ [He is] well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh⁶ with the sheep.

And he said,⁴ Lo, [it is] yet high day, neither [is it] time that the cattle should be gathered⁹ together: water⁵⁴ ye the sheep, and go³ [and] feed³ [them].

And they said,⁴ We cannot, ^{3201 4} until all the flocks be gathered¹¹ together, and [till] they roll¹ the stone from the well's mouth; then we water⁵² the sheep.

And while he yet spake¹⁸ with them, Rachel came¹ with her father's sheep: for she kept⁶ them.

And it came to pass, when Jacob saw¹ Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, that Jacob went near,⁴ and rolled⁵⁵ the stone from the well's mouth, and watered⁵⁵ the flock of Laban his mother's brother.

And Jacob kissed⁴ Rachel, and lifted up⁴ his voice, and wept.⁴

And Jacob told⁵⁵ Rachel that he [was] her father's brother, and that he [was] Rebekah's son: and she ran⁴ and told⁵⁵ her father.

And it came to pass, when Laban heard² the tidings of Jacob his sister's son, that he ran⁴ to meet² him, and embraced¹⁷ him, and kissed¹⁷ him, and brought⁵⁵ him to his house. And he told¹⁷ Laban all these things.

And Laban said⁴ to him, Surely thou [art] my bone and my flesh. And he abode⁴ with him the space of a month.

And Laban said⁴ unto Jacob, Because thou [art] my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve¹ me for nought? tell⁵⁴ me, what [shall] thy wages [be]?

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

Leah [was] tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful ⁸³⁸⁹ and well favoured.

And Jacob loved⁴ Rachel; and said,⁴ I will serve⁴ thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.

And Laban said,⁴ [It is] better that I give² her to thee, than that I should give² her to another man: abide³ with me.

And Jacob served⁴ seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him [but] a few days, for the love he had to her.

And Jacob said⁴ unto Laban, Give³ [me] my wife, for my days are fulfilled,¹ that I may go in⁴ unto her.

And Laban gathered⁴ together all the men of the place, and made⁴ a feast.

And it came to pass in the evening, that he took⁴ Leah his daughter, and brought⁵⁵ her to him; and he went in⁴ unto her.

And Laban gave⁴ unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid [for] an handmaid.

And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it [was] Leah: and he said⁴ to Laban, What [is] this thou hast done¹ unto me? did not I serve¹ with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled¹⁴ me?

And Laban said,⁴ It must not be so done¹¹ in our country, to give² the younger before the firstborn.

Fulfil¹⁶ her week, and we will give⁴ thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve⁴ with me yet seven other years.

And Jacob did⁴ so, and fulfilled¹⁷ her week: and he gave⁴ him Rachel his daughter to wife also.

And Laban gave⁴ to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.

And he went in⁴ also unto Rachel, and he loved⁴ also Rachel more than Leah, and served⁴ with him yet seven other years.

And when the LORD saw⁴ that Leah [was] hated,⁷ he opened⁴ her womb: but Rachel [was] barren.

And Leah conceived,⁴ and bare⁴ a son, and she called⁴ his name Reuben: for she said,¹ Surely the LORD hath looked¹ upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love⁴ me.

And she conceived⁴ again, and bare⁴ a son; and said,⁴ Because the LORD hath heard¹ that I [was] hated,⁷ he hath therefore given⁴ me this [son] also: and she called⁴ his name Simeon.

And she conceived⁴ again, and bare⁴ a son; and said,⁴ Now this time will my husband be joined¹¹ unto me, because I have born¹ him three sons: therefore was his name called¹ Levi.

And she conceived⁴ again, and bare⁴ a son: and she said,⁴ Now will I praise⁵⁵ the LORD: therefore she called¹ his name Judah; and left⁴ bearing.²