Jacob Meets Rachel 1 RV Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the children of the east. BSB BSB: Jacob resumed his journey and came to the land of the people of the east.
2 RV And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, three flocks of sheep lying there by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks: and the stone upon the well’s mouth was great. BSB BSB: 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.
3 RV And 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 its place. BSB BSB: 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.
4 RV And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, Of Haran are we. BSB BSB: “My brothers,” Jacob asked the shepherds, “where are you from?” “We are from Haran,” they answered.
5 RV And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him. BSB BSB: “Do you know Laban the grandson of Nahor?” Jacob asked. “We know him,” they replied.
6 RV And he said unto them, Is it well with him? And they said, It is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep. BSB BSB: “Is he well?” Jacob inquired. “Yes,” they answered, “and here comes his daughter Rachel with his sheep.”
7 RV And 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. BSB BSB: “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.”
8 RV And they said, We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and they roll the stone from the well’s mouth; then we water the sheep. BSB BSB: 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.”
9 RV While he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep; for she kept them. BSB BSB: While he was still speaking with them, Rachel arrived with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess.
10 RV And 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. BSB BSB: 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.
11 RV And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept. BSB BSB: Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept aloud.
12 RV And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s brother, and that he was Rebekah’s son: and she ran and told her father. BSB BSB: He told Rachel that he was Rebekah’s son, a relative of her father, and she ran and told her father.
13 RV And 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. BSB BSB: 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.
Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel 14 RV And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month. BSB BSB: Then Laban declared, “You are indeed my own flesh and blood.” After Jacob had stayed with him a month,
15 RV And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be? BSB BSB: Laban said to him, “Just because you are my relative, should you work for nothing? Tell me what your wages should be.”
16 RV And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. BSB BSB: Now Laban had two daughters; the older was named Leah, and the younger was named Rachel.
17 RV And Leah’s eyes were tender; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured. BSB BSB: Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel was shapely and beautiful.
18 RV And Jacob loved Rachel; and he said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter. BSB BSB: Since Jacob loved Rachel, he answered, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.”
19 RV And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me. BSB BSB: Laban replied, “Better that I give her to you than to another. Stay here with me.”
20 RV And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her. BSB BSB: So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, yet it seemed but a few days because of his love for her.
21 RV And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her. BSB BSB: Finally Jacob said to Laban, “Grant me my wife, for my time is complete, and I want to sleep with her.”
22 RV And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast. BSB BSB: So Laban invited all the men of that place and prepared a feast.
23 RV And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her. BSB BSB: But when evening came, Laban took his daughter Leah and gave her to Jacob, and he slept with her.
24 RV And Laban gave Zilpah his handmaid unto his daughter Leah for an handmaid. BSB BSB: And Laban gave his servant girl Zilpah to his daughter Leah as her maidservant.
25 RV And it came to pass in the morning that, 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? BSB BSB: 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?”
26 RV And Laban said, It is not so done in our place, to give the younger before the firstborn. BSB BSB: Laban replied, “It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older.
27 RV Fulfill the week of this one, and we will give thee the other also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years. BSB BSB: Finish this week’s celebration, and we will give you the younger one in return for another seven years of work.”
28 RV And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife. BSB BSB: And Jacob did just that. He finished the week’s celebration, and Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife.
29 RV And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her handmaid. BSB BSB: Laban also gave his servant girl Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maidservant.
Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah 31 RV And the LORD saw that Leah was hated, and he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren. BSB BSB: When the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb; but Rachel was barren.
32 RV And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Because the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me. BSB BSB: 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.”
33 RV And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the LORD hath heard that I am hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon. BSB BSB: 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.
34 RV And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have borne him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi. BSB BSB: 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.
35 RV And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, This time will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and she left bearing. BSB BSB: 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.