Jacob Meets Rachel
1 So Jacob went on his journeyand came to the land of the people of the East.
2 And he looked, and saw awell in the field; and behold, therewerethree flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks. A large stonewason the well’s mouth.
3 Now all the flocks would be gathered there; and they would roll the stone from the well’s mouth, water the sheep, and put the stone back in its place on the well’s mouth.
4 And Jacob said to them, “My brethren, whereareyou from?”
# And they said, “WearefromHaran.”
5 Then he said to them, “Do you knowLaban the son of Nahor?”
And they said, “We know him.”
6 So he said to them,“Is he well?”
# And they said, “Heiswell. And look, his daughter Rachelis coming with the sheep.”
7 Then he said, “Look,itisstill high day;itisnot time for the cattle to be gathered together. Water the sheep, and go and feedthem.”
8 But they said, “We cannot until all the flocks are gathered together, and they have rolled the stone from the well’s mouth; then we water the sheep.”
9 Now while he was still speaking with them,Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess.
10 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 androlled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother.
11 Then Jacobkissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice and wept.
12 And Jacob told Rachel that hewasher father’s relative and that hewasRebekah’s son.So she ran and told her father.
13 Then it came to pass, when Laban heard the report about Jacob his sister’s son, thathe ran to meet him, and embraced him and kissed him, and brought him to his house. So he told Laban all these things.
14 And Laban said to him,“Surely youaremy bone and my flesh.” And he stayed with him for a month.
Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel
15 Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because youaremy relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me,whatshouldyour wagesbe?”
16 Now Laban had two daughters: the name of the elderwasLeah, and the name of the youngerwasRachel.
17 Leah’s eyesweredelicate, but Rachel wasbeautiful of form and appearance.
18 Now Jacob loved Rachel; so he said,“I will serve you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter.”
19 And Laban said, “Itisbetter that I give her to you than that I should give her to another man. Stay with me.”
20 So Jacobserved seven years for Rachel, and they seemedonlya few days to him because of the love he had for her.
21 Then Jacob said to Laban, “Givememy wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I maygo in to her.”
22 And Laban gathered together all the men of the place andmade a feast.
23 Now it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter and brought her to Jacob; and he went in to her.
24 And Laban gave his maidZilpah to his daughter Leahasa maid.
25 So it came to pass in the morning, that behold, itwasLeah. And he said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served you? Why then have youdeceived me?”
26 And Laban said, “It must not be done so in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.
27 Fulfill her week, and we will give you this one also for the service which you will serve with me still another seven years.”
28 Then Jacob did so and fulfilled her week. So he gave him his daughter Rachel as wife also.
29 And Laban gave his maidBilhah to his daughter Rachel as a maid.
30 ThenJacobalso went in to Rachel, and he alsoloved Rachel more than Leah. And he served with Labanstill another seven years.
The Children of Jacob
31 When theLordsaw that Leahwasunloved, Heopened her womb; but Rachelwasbarren.
32 So Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben; for she said, “TheLordhas surelylooked on my affliction. Now therefore, my husband will love me.”
33 Then she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Because theLordhas heard that Iamunloved, He has therefore given me thissonalso.” And she called his name Simeon.
34 She conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi.
35 And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Now I will praise theLord.” Therefore she called his nameJudah. Then she stopped bearing.