Genesis 29 (GNV)

1Then Iaakob lift vp his feete and came into the East countrey.Jacob resumed his journey and came to the land of the people of the east.

2And as he looked about, behold there was a well in the field, and lo, three flocks of sheepe lay thereby (for at that well were the flockes watered) and there was a great stone vpon the welles mouth.He looked and saw a well in the field, and near it lay three flocks of sheep, because the sheep were watered from this well. And a large stone covered the mouth of the well.

3And thither were all the flockes gathered, and they rolled the stone from the welles mouth, and watered the sheepe, and put the stone againe vpon the welles mouth in his place.When all the flocks had been gathered there, the shepherds would roll away the stone from the mouth of the well and water the sheep. Then they would return the stone to its place over the mouth of the well.

4And Iaakob sayde vnto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they answered, We are of Haran.“My brothers,” Jacob asked the shepherds, “where are you from?” “We are from Haran,” they answered.

5Then he sayd vnto them, Know ye Laban the sonne of Nahor? Who said, We know him.“Do you know Laban the grandson of Nahor?” Jacob asked. “We know him,” they replied.

6Againe he sayd vnto them, Is he in good health? And they answered, He is in good health, and beholde, his daughter Rahel commeth with the sheepe.“Is he well?” Jacob inquired. “Yes,” they answered, “and here comes his daughter Rachel with his sheep.”

7Then he sayd, Lo, it is yet hie day, neither is it time that the cattell shoulde be gathered together: water ye the sheepe and go feede them.“Look,” said Jacob, “it is still broad daylight; it is not yet time to gather the livestock. Water the sheep and take them back to pasture.”

8But they sayde, We may not vntill all the flocks be brought together, and till men rolle the stone from the welles mouth, that we may water the sheepe.But they replied, “We cannot, until all the flocks have been gathered and the stone has been rolled away from the mouth of the well. Then we will water the sheep.”

9While he talked with them, Rahel also came with her fathers sheepe, for she kept them.While he was still speaking with them, Rachel arrived with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess.

10And assoone as Iaakob saw Rahel ye daughter of Laban his mothers brother, and the sheepe of Laban his mothers brother, then came Iaakob neere, and rolled the stone from the welles mouth, and watered ye flocke of Laban his mothers brother.As soon as Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of his mother’s brother Laban, with Laban’s sheep, he went up and rolled the stone away from the mouth of the well and watered his uncle’s sheep.

11And Iaakob kissed Rahel, and lift vp his voyce and wept.Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept aloud.

12(For Iaakob tolde Rahel, that he was her fathers brother, and that he was Rebekahs sonne) then she ranne and tolde her father.He told Rachel that he was Rebekah’s son, a relative of her father, and she ran and told her father.

13And when Laban heard tell of Iaakob his sisters sonne, he ranne to meete him, and embraced him and kissed him, and brought him to his house: and he tolde Laban all these things.When Laban heard the news about his sister’s son Jacob, he ran out to meet him. He embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his home, where Jacob told him all that had happened.

14To whome Laban sayd, Well, thou art my bone and my flesh. and he abode with him the space of a moneth.Then Laban declared, “You are indeed my own flesh and blood.” After Jacob had stayed with him a month,

15For Laban sayde vnto Iaakob, Though thou be my brother, shouldest thou therfore serue me for nought? tell me, what shalbe thy wages?Laban said to him, “Just because you are my relative, should you work for nothing? Tell me what your wages should be.”

16Now Laban had two daughters, the elder called Leah, and the yonger called Rahel.Now Laban had two daughters; the older was named Leah, and the younger was named Rachel.

17And Leah was tender eyed, but Rahel was beautifull and faire.Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel was shapely and beautiful.

18And Iaakob loued Rahel, and sayde, I will serue thee seuen yeeres for Rahel thy yonger daughter.Since Jacob loved Rachel, he answered, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.”

19Then Laban answered, It is better that I giue her thee, then that I should giue her to another man: abide with me.Laban replied, “Better that I give her to you than to another. Stay here with me.”

20And Iaakob serued seuen yeres for Rahel, and they seemed vnto him but a few dayes, because he loued her.So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, yet it seemed but a few days because of his love for her.

21Then Iaakob sayde to Laban, Giue me my wife, that I may goe in to her: for my terme is ended.Finally Jacob said to Laban, “Grant me my wife, for my time is complete, and I want to sleep with her.”

22Wherefore Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.So Laban invited all the men of that place and prepared a feast.

23But whe the euening was come, he tooke Leah his daughter and brought her to him, and he went in vnto her.But when evening came, Laban took his daughter Leah and gave her to Jacob, and he slept with her.

24And Laban gaue his mayde Zilpah to his daughter Leah, to be her seruant.And Laban gave his servant girl Zilpah to his daughter Leah as her maidservant.

25But when the morning was come, behold, it was Leah. Then sayde he to Laban, Wherefore hast thou done thus to mee? did not I serue thee for Rahel? wherfore then hast thou beguiled me?When morning came, there was Leah! “What have you done to me?” Jacob said to Laban. “Wasn’t it for Rachel that I served you? Why have you deceived me?”

26And Laban answered, It is not the maner of this place, to giue the yonger before the elder.Laban replied, “It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older.

27Fulfill seuen yeeres for her, and we wil also giue thee this for the seruice, which thou shalt serue me yet seuen yeeres more.Finish this week’s celebration, and we will give you the younger one in return for another seven years of work.”

28Then Iaakob did so, and fulfilled her seuen yeeres, so he gaue him Rahel his daughter to be his wife.And Jacob did just that. He finished the week’s celebration, and Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife.

29Laban also gaue to Rahel his daughter Bilhah his mayde to be her seruant.Laban also gave his servant girl Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maidservant.

30So entred he in to Rahel also, and loued also Rahel more then Leah, and serued him yet seuen yeeres more.Jacob slept with Rachel as well, and indeed, he loved Rachel more than Leah. So he worked for Laban another seven years.

31When the Lord saw that Leah was despised, he made her fruitful: but Rahel was barren.When the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb; but Rachel was barren.

32And Leah conceiued and bare a sonne, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Because the Lord hath looked vpon my tribulation, now therefore mine husband will loue me.And Leah conceived and gave birth to a son, and she named him Reuben, for she said, “The LORD has seen my affliction. Surely my husband will love me now.”

33And she conceiued againe and bare a sonne, and sayde, Because the Lord heard that I was hated, he hath therefore giuen me this sonne also, and she called his name Simeon.Again she conceived and gave birth to a son, and she said, “Because the LORD has heard that I am unloved, He has given me this son as well.” So she named him Simeon.

34And she conceiued againe and bare a sonne, and said, Now at this time wil my husband keepe mee company, because I haue borne him three sonnes: therefore was his name called Leui.Once again Leah conceived and gave birth to a son, and she said, “Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” So he was named Levi.

35Moreouer shee conceiued againe and bare a sonne, saying, Nowe will I prayse the Lord: therefore shee called his name Iudah, and left bearing.And once more she conceived and gave birth to a son and said, “This time I will praise the LORD.” So she named him Judah. Then Leah stopped having children.

Jacob Meets Rachel

Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel

Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah

You’ve read Genesis 29

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Jacob Meets Rachel

Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel

Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah

You’ve read Genesis 29

Go deeper