Genesis 29

1Then Jacob set out and went to the land of the sons of the east.

2He looked, and behold, there was a well in the field, and behold, three flocks of sheep were lying there beside it, because from that well they watered the flocks. And the stone on the mouth of the well was large.

3And all the flocks would gather there, and they would roll the stone away from the mouth of the well and water the flock, and then put the stone back in its place over the mouth of the well.

4Jacob said to them, “My brothers, where are you from?” They said, “We are from Haran.”

5He said to them, “Do you know Laban son of Nahor?” They said, “We know him.”

6He said to them, “Is he well?” And they said, “He is well. And look, Rachel his daughter is coming with the flock.”

7Then he said, “Look, the day is still long; it is not time for the livestock to be gathered. Water the flock, then go and pasture them.”

8They said, “We cannot until all the flocks are gathered and they roll the stone away from the mouth of the well; then we water the sheep.”

9While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s flock, for she was a shepherdess.

10And when Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of Laban, his mother’s brother, and the flock of Laban, his mother’s brother, Jacob came near and rolled the stone from the mouth of the well, and watered the flock of Laban, his mother’s brother.

11Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and he lifted up his voice and wept.

12Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's relative and that he was Rebekah's son. Then she ran and told her father.

13And when Laban heard the news about Jacob, his sister’s son, he ran to meet him and embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house. Then Jacob told Laban all these things.

14Then Laban said to him, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh.” And he stayed with him for a month.

15Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my relative, should you work for me for nothing? Tell me, what your wages should be.”

16Laban had two daughters; the name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.

17Leah’s eyes were soft, but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance.

18Jacob loved Rachel, and he said, “I will serve you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter.”

19Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I give her to another man. Stay with me.”

20So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.

21Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her.”

22So Laban gathered all the men of the place and made a feast.

23And in the evening he took Leah his daughter and brought her to him, and he went in to her.

24And Laban gave Zilpah his female servant to Leah his daughter as a female servant.

25In the morning, behold, it was Leah. And he said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I worked with you? So why have you deceived me?”

26Laban said, “It is not done this way in our place, to give the younger before the older.”

27Complete this woman's bridal week, and we will give you this one also in return for the work that you will do with me for another seven years.

28And Jacob did so, and he completed this week; then Laban gave him Rachel his daughter as his wife.

29And Laban gave Bilhah, his female servant, to Rachel his daughter as her female servant.

30So he went in to Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah; and he served with him for another seven years.

31When the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.

32Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben, for she said, “Because Yahweh has seen my affliction, now my husband will love me.”

33Then she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Because Yahweh has heard that I am hated, he has given me this one also.” So she called his name Simeon.

34And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will be attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi.

35And she conceived again and bore a son, and she said, “This time I will praise Yahweh.” Therefore she named him Judah. Then she stopped bearing children.