Jacob Meets Rachel

1. Then Jacob lifted up his feet, and went to the land of the sons of the east.

2. And he looked, and behold, a well in the field,
and behold, there were three flocks of sheep lying beside it;
for out of that well they watered the flocks,
and the stone on the well’s mouth was large.

3. And when all the flocks were gathered there,
they would roll the stone from the well’s mouth,
and water the sheep,
and put the stone again upon the well’s mouth in its place.

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

5. And he said to them,
“Do you know Laban the son of Nahor?”
And they said, “We know him.”

6. And he said to them, “Is he well?”
And they said, “He is well; and behold, Rachel his daughter is coming with the sheep.”

7. And he said,
“Behold, it is still high day; it is not time that the livestock should be gathered together.
Water the sheep, and go, feed them.”

8. And they said,
“We cannot, until all the flocks are gathered together,
and they roll the stone from the well’s mouth;
then we water the sheep.”

9. 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 and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth,
and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother.

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

12. And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s kinsman,
and that he was Rebekah’s son;
and she ran and told her father.

Jacob Meets Laban

13. And it came to pass, when Laban heard the news 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.

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

Jacob Serves for Rachel

15. And Laban said to Jacob,
“Because you are my brother, should you therefore serve me for nothing?
Tell me, what shall your wages be?”

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

17. And Leah’s eyes were tender,
but Rachel was beautiful of form and beautiful of appearance.

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

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

20. And Jacob served seven years for Rachel;
and they seemed to him but a few days,
because of the love he had for her.

Laban Deceives Jacob

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

22. And Laban gathered together all the men of the place,
and made a feast.

23. And it came to pass in the evening,
that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him;
and he went in to her.

24. And Laban gave Zilpah his maid to his daughter Leah for a handmaid.

25. And it came to pass in the morning, that behold, it was Leah!
And he said to Laban,
“What is this that you have done to me?
Did I not serve with you for Rachel?
Why then have you deceived me?”

26. And Laban said,
“It is not done so in our place,
to give the younger before the firstborn.

27. Fulfill the week of this one,
and we will give you the other also for the service
which you shall serve with me yet another seven years.”

28. And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week;
and he gave him Rachel his daughter as wife also.

29. And Laban gave Bilhah his handmaid to Rachel his daughter for a handmaid.

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

The Children of Leah

31. And when Jehovah saw that Leah was hated (unloved),
He opened her womb;
but Rachel was barren.

32. And Leah conceived and bore a son,
and she called his name Reuben (“Behold, a son”),
for she said, “Surely Jehovah has looked upon my affliction;
now therefore my husband will love me.”

33. And she conceived again, and bore a son, and said,
“Because Jehovah has heard that I am hated,
He has therefore given me this son also.”
And she called his name Simeon (“hearing”).

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

35. And she conceived again, and bore a son, and said,
“This time I will praise Jehovah.”
Therefore she called his name Judah (“praise”).
And she ceased from bearing.