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The First Book of Moses: Genesis

⭑ World English Bible Catholic :: King James Version ⭑

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- Chapter 29 -

1
Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the children of the east.
2
He looked, and saw a well in the field, and saw three flocks of sheep lying there by it. For out of that well they watered the flocks. The stone on the well’s mouth was large.
3
There all the flocks were gathered. They rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone back on the well’s mouth in its place.
4
Jacob said to them, “My relatives, where are you from?” They said, “We are from Haran.”
5
He said to them, “Do you know Laban, the son of Nahor?” They said, “We know him.”
6
He said to them, “Is it well with him?” They said, “It is well. See, Rachel, his daughter, is coming with the sheep.”
7
He said, “Behold, it is still the middle of the day, not time to gather the livestock together. Water the sheep, and go and feed them.”
8
They said, “We can’t, until all the flocks are gathered together, and they roll the stone from the well’s mouth. Then we will water the sheep.”
9
While he was yet speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she kept them.
10
When Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban, his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban, his mother’s brother, Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother.
11
Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.
12
Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s relative, and that he was Rebekah’s son. She ran and told her father.
13
When Laban heard the news of Jacob, his sister’s son, he ran to meet Jacob, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban all these things.

Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel

14
Laban said to him, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh.” Jacob stayed with him for a month.
15
Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what will your wages be?”
16
Laban had two daughters. The name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
17
Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and attractive.
18
Jacob loved Rachel. He said, “I will serve you seven years for Rachel, your younger daughter.”
19
Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you, than that I should give her to another man. Stay with me.”
20
Jacob served seven years for Rachel. They seemed to him but a few days, for the love he had for her.
21
Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her.”
22
Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.
23
In the evening, he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to Jacob. He went in to her.
24
Laban gave Zilpah his servant to his daughter Leah for a servant.
25
In the morning, behold, it was Leah! He said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Didn’t I serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?”
26
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 will serve with me for seven more years.”
28
Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week. He gave him Rachel his daughter as wife.
29
Laban gave Bilhah, his servant, to his daughter Rachel to be her servant.
30
He went in also to Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him seven more years.

Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah

31
The LORD saw that Leah was hated, and he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.
32
Leah conceived, and bore a son, and she named him Reuben. For she said, “Because the LORD has looked at my affliction; for now my husband will love me.”
33
She conceived again, and bore a son, and said, “Because the LORD has heard that I am hated, he has therefore given me this son also.” She named him Simeon.
34
She conceived again, and bore a son. She said, “Now this time my husband will be joined to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi.
35
She conceived again, and bore a son. She said, “This time I will praise the LORD.” Therefore she named him Judah. Then she stopped bearing.
1
Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east.(a) (b)
2
And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks: and a great stone was upon the well’s mouth.
3
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 his place.
4
And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, Of Haran are we.
5
And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him.
6
And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.(c)
7
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.(d)
8
And they said, We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and till they roll the stone from the well’s mouth; then we water the sheep.
9
And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep: for she kept them.
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 brother, and that he was Rebekah’s son: and she ran and told her father.
13
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.(e)

Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel

14
And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month.(f)
15
And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be?
16
And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
17
Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.
18
And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.
19
And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me.
20
And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.
21
And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto 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 unto her.
24
And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid.
25
And it came to pass, that in the morning, 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?
26
And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.(g)
27
Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.
28
And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.
29
And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.
30
And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.

Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah

31
And when the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.
32
And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the Lord hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.(h)
33
And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the Lord hath heard that I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon.(i)
34
And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi.(j)
35
And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the Lord : therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.(k) (l)

Footnotes

(a)29:1 went…: Heb. lift up his feet
(b)29:1 people: Heb. children
(c)29:6 Is he…: Heb. Is there peace to him?
(d)29:7 it is…: Heb. yet the day is great
(e)29:13 tidings: Heb. hearing
(f)29:14 the space…: Heb. a month of days
(g)29:26 country: Heb. place
(h)29:32 Reuben: that is, See a son
(i)29:33 Simeon: that is, Hearing
(j)29:34 Levi: that is, Joined
(k)29:35 Judah: that is, Praise
(l)29:35 left…: Heb. stood from bearing
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