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Genesis 28:10-30:13
King James Version
Genesis 28:10-30:13
King James Version
10 And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran.
11 And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep.
12 And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.
13 And, behold, the Lord stood above it, and said, I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;
14 And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
15 And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.
16 And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not.
17 And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.
18 And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.
19 And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first.
20 And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,
21 So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the Lord be my God:
22 And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.
29 Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east.
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.
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.
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.
14 And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month.
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.
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.
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.
33 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the Lord hath heard I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon.
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.
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.
30 And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.
2 And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God's stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?
3 And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her.
4 And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her.
5 And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son.
6 And Rachel said, God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and hath given me a son: therefore called she his name Dan.
7 And Bilhah Rachel's maid conceived again, and bare Jacob a second son.
8 And Rachel said, With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali.
9 When Leah saw that she had left bearing, she took Zilpah her maid, and gave her Jacob to wife.
10 And Zilpah Leah's maid bare Jacob a son.
11 And Leah said, A troop cometh: and she called his name Gad.
12 And Zilpah Leah's maid bare Jacob a second son.
13 And Leah said, Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed: and she called his name Asher.
Genesis 28:10-30:13
New International Version
Genesis 28:10-30:13
New International Version
Jacob’s Dream at Bethel
10 Jacob left Beersheba(A) and set out for Harran.(B) 11 When he reached a certain place,(C) he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head(D) and lay down to sleep. 12 He had a dream(E) in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.(F) 13 There above it[a] stood the Lord,(G) and he said: “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac.(H) I will give you and your descendants the land(I) on which you are lying.(J) 14 Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you(K) will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south.(L) All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.[b](M) 15 I am with you(N) and will watch over you(O) wherever you go,(P) and I will bring you back to this land.(Q) I will not leave you(R) until I have done what I have promised you.(S)”(T)
16 When Jacob awoke from his sleep,(U) he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” 17 He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place!(V) This is none other than the house of God;(W) this is the gate of heaven.”
18 Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head(X) and set it up as a pillar(Y) and poured oil on top of it.(Z) 19 He called that place Bethel,[c](AA) though the city used to be called Luz.(AB)
20 Then Jacob made a vow,(AC) saying, “If God will be with me and will watch over me(AD) on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear(AE) 21 so that I return safely(AF) to my father’s household,(AG) then the Lord[d] will be my God(AH) 22 and[e] this stone that I have set up as a pillar(AI) will be God’s house,(AJ) and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.(AK)”
Jacob Arrives in Paddan Aram
29 Then Jacob continued on his journey and came to the land of the eastern peoples.(AL) 2 There he saw a well in the open country, with three flocks of sheep lying near it because the flocks were watered from that well.(AM) The stone(AN) over the mouth of the well was large. 3 When all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone(AO) away from the well’s mouth and water the sheep.(AP) Then they would return the stone to its place over the mouth of the well.
4 Jacob asked the shepherds, “My brothers, where are you from?”(AQ)
“We’re from Harran,(AR)” they replied.
5 He said to them, “Do you know Laban, Nahor’s grandson?”(AS)
“Yes, we know him,” they answered.
6 Then Jacob asked them, “Is he well?”
“Yes, he is,” they said, “and here comes his daughter Rachel(AT) with the sheep.(AU)”
7 “Look,” he said, “the sun is still high; it is not time for the flocks to be gathered. Water the sheep and take them back to pasture.”
8 “We can’t,” they replied, “until all the flocks are gathered and the stone(AV) has been rolled away from the mouth of the well. Then we will water(AW) the sheep.”
9 While he was still talking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep,(AX) for she was a shepherd. 10 When Jacob saw Rachel(AY) daughter of his uncle Laban, and Laban’s sheep, he went over and rolled the stone(AZ) away from the mouth of the well and watered(BA) his uncle’s sheep.(BB) 11 Then Jacob kissed(BC) Rachel and began to weep aloud.(BD) 12 He had told Rachel that he was a relative(BE) of her father and a son of Rebekah.(BF) So she ran and told her father.(BG)
13 As soon as Laban(BH) heard the news about Jacob, his sister’s son, he hurried to meet him. He embraced him(BI) and kissed him and brought him to his home, and there Jacob told him all these things. 14 Then Laban said to him, “You are my own flesh and blood.”(BJ)
Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel
After Jacob had stayed with him for a whole month, 15 Laban said to him, “Just because you are a relative(BK) of mine, should you work for me for nothing? Tell me what your wages(BL) should be.”
16 Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the older was Leah,(BM) and the name of the younger was Rachel.(BN) 17 Leah had weak[f] eyes, but Rachel(BO) had a lovely figure and was beautiful.(BP) 18 Jacob was in love with Rachel(BQ) and said, “I’ll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel.”(BR)
19 Laban said, “It’s better that I give her to you than to some other man. Stay here with me.” 20 So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel,(BS) but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.(BT)
21 Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife. My time is completed, and I want to make love to her.(BU)”
22 So Laban brought together all the people of the place and gave a feast.(BV) 23 But when evening came, he took his daughter Leah(BW) and brought her to Jacob, and Jacob made love to her. 24 And Laban gave his servant Zilpah(BX) to his daughter as her attendant.(BY)
25 When morning came, there was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me?(BZ) I served you for Rachel, didn’t I? Why have you deceived me?(CA)”
26 Laban replied, “It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older one.(CB) 27 Finish this daughter’s bridal week;(CC) then we will give you the younger one also, in return for another seven years of work.(CD)”
28 And Jacob did so. He finished the week with Leah, and then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife.(CE) 29 Laban gave his servant Bilhah(CF) to his daughter Rachel as her attendant.(CG) 30 Jacob made love to Rachel also, and his love for Rachel was greater than his love for Leah.(CH) And he worked for Laban another seven years.(CI)
Jacob’s Children
31 When the Lord saw that Leah was not loved,(CJ) he enabled her to conceive,(CK) but Rachel remained childless. 32 Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son.(CL) She named him Reuben,[g](CM) for she said, “It is because the Lord has seen my misery.(CN) Surely my husband will love me now.”
33 She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Because the Lord heard that I am not loved,(CO) he gave me this one too.” So she named him Simeon.[h](CP)
34 Again she conceived, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Now at last my husband will become attached to me,(CQ) because I have borne him three sons.” So he was named Levi.[i](CR)
35 She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” So she named him Judah.[j](CS) Then she stopped having children.(CT)
30 When Rachel saw that she was not bearing Jacob any children,(CU) she became jealous of her sister.(CV) So she said to Jacob, “Give me children, or I’ll die!”
2 Jacob became angry with her and said, “Am I in the place of God,(CW) who has kept you from having children?”(CX)
3 Then she said, “Here is Bilhah,(CY) my servant.(CZ) Sleep with her so that she can bear children for me and I too can build a family through her.”(DA)
4 So she gave him her servant Bilhah as a wife.(DB) Jacob slept with her,(DC) 5 and she became pregnant and bore him a son. 6 Then Rachel said, “God has vindicated me;(DD) he has listened to my plea and given me a son.”(DE) Because of this she named him Dan.[k](DF)
7 Rachel’s servant Bilhah(DG) conceived again and bore Jacob a second son. 8 Then Rachel said, “I have had a great struggle with my sister, and I have won.”(DH) So she named him Naphtali.[l](DI)
9 When Leah(DJ) saw that she had stopped having children,(DK) she took her servant Zilpah(DL) and gave her to Jacob as a wife.(DM) 10 Leah’s servant Zilpah(DN) bore Jacob a son. 11 Then Leah said, “What good fortune!”[m] So she named him Gad.[n](DO)
12 Leah’s servant Zilpah bore Jacob a second son. 13 Then Leah said, “How happy I am! The women will call me(DP) happy.”(DQ) So she named him Asher.[o](DR)
Footnotes
- Genesis 28:13 Or There beside him
- Genesis 28:14 Or will use your name and the name of your offspring in blessings (see 48:20)
- Genesis 28:19 Bethel means house of God.
- Genesis 28:21 Or Since God … father’s household, the Lord
- Genesis 28:22 Or household, and the Lord will be my God, 22 then
- Genesis 29:17 Or delicate
- Genesis 29:32 Reuben sounds like the Hebrew for he has seen my misery; the name means see, a son.
- Genesis 29:33 Simeon probably means one who hears.
- Genesis 29:34 Levi sounds like and may be derived from the Hebrew for attached.
- Genesis 29:35 Judah sounds like and may be derived from the Hebrew for praise.
- Genesis 30:6 Dan here means he has vindicated.
- Genesis 30:8 Naphtali means my struggle.
- Genesis 30:11 Or “A troop is coming!”
- Genesis 30:11 Gad can mean good fortune or a troop.
- Genesis 30:13 Asher means happy.
Genesis 28:10-30:13
New King James Version
Genesis 28:10-30:13
New King James Version
Jacob’s Vow at Bethel
10 Now Jacob (A)went out from Beersheba and went toward (B)Haran. 11 So he came to a certain place and stayed there all night, because the sun had set. And he took one of the stones of that place and put it at his head, and he lay down in that place to sleep. 12 Then he (C)dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there (D)the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.
13 (E)And behold, the Lord stood above it and said: (F)“I am the Lord God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; (G)the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants. 14 Also your (H)descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad (I)to the west and the east, to the north and the south; and in you and (J)in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed. 15 Behold, (K)I am with you and will (L)keep[a] you wherever you go, and will (M)bring you back to this land; for (N)I will not leave you (O)until I have done what I have spoken to you.”
16 Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in (P)this place, and I did not know it.” 17 And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!”
18 Then Jacob rose early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put at his head, (Q)set it up as a pillar, (R)and poured oil on top of it. 19 And he called the name of (S)that place [b]Bethel; but the name of that city had been Luz previously. 20 (T)Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If (U)God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me (V)bread to eat and clothing to put on, 21 so that (W)I come back to my father’s house in peace, (X)then the Lord shall be my God. 22 And this stone which I have set as a pillar (Y)shall be God’s house, (Z)and of all that You give me I will surely give a [c]tenth to You.”
Jacob Meets Rachel
29 So Jacob went on his journey (AA)and came to the land of the people of the East. 2 And he looked, and saw a (AB)well in the field; and behold, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks. A large stone was on 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, where are you from?”
And they said, “We are from (AC)Haran.”
5 Then he said to them, “Do you know (AD)Laban the son of Nahor?”
And they said, “We know him.”
6 So he said to them, (AE)“Is he well?”
And they said, “He is well. And look, his daughter Rachel (AF)is coming with the sheep.”
7 Then he said, “Look, it is still [d]high day; it is not time for the cattle to be gathered together. Water the sheep, and go and feed them.”
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, (AG)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 (AH)rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother. 11 Then Jacob (AI)kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice and wept. 12 And Jacob told Rachel that he was (AJ)her father’s relative and that he was Rebekah’s son. (AK)So she ran and told her father.
13 Then it came to pass, when Laban heard the report about Jacob his sister’s son, that (AL)he 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, (AM)“Surely you are my bone and my flesh.” And he stayed with him for a month.
Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel
15 Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, (AN)what should your wages be?” 16 Now Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17 Leah’s eyes were [e]delicate, but Rachel was (AO)beautiful of form and appearance.
18 Now Jacob loved Rachel; so he said, (AP)“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 So Jacob (AQ)served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed only a few days to him because of the love he had for her.
21 Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may (AR)go in to her.” 22 And Laban gathered together all the men of the place and (AS)made 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 maid (AT)Zilpah to his daughter Leah as a maid. 25 So it came to pass in the morning, that behold, it was Leah. 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 you (AU)deceived me?”
26 And Laban said, “It must not be done so in our [f]country, to give the younger before the firstborn. 27 (AV)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 maid (AW)Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as a maid. 30 Then Jacob also went in to Rachel, and he also (AX)loved Rachel more than Leah. And he served with Laban (AY)still another seven years.
The Children of Jacob
31 When the Lord (AZ)saw that Leah was [g]unloved, He (BA)opened her womb; but Rachel was barren. 32 So Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name [h]Reuben; for she said, “The Lord has surely (BB)looked on my affliction. Now therefore, my husband will love me.” 33 Then she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Because the Lord has heard that I am [i]unloved, He has therefore given me this son also.” And she called his name [j]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 [k]Levi. 35 And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Now I will praise the Lord.” Therefore she called his name (BC)Judah.[l] Then she stopped bearing.
Jacob’s Children
30 Now when Rachel saw that (BD)she bore Jacob no children, Rachel (BE)envied her sister, and said to Jacob, “Give me children, (BF)or else I die!”
2 And Jacob’s anger was aroused against Rachel, and he said, (BG)“Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?”
3 So she said, “Here is (BH)my maid Bilhah; go in to her, (BI)and she will bear a child on my knees, (BJ)that I also may [m]have children by her.” 4 Then she gave him Bilhah her maid (BK)as wife, and Jacob went in to her. 5 And Bilhah conceived and bore Jacob a son. 6 Then Rachel said, “God has (BL)judged my case; and He has also heard my voice and given me a son.” Therefore she called his name [n]Dan. 7 And Rachel’s maid Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son. 8 Then Rachel said, “With [o]great wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister, and indeed I have prevailed.” So she called his name [p]Naphtali.
9 When Leah saw that she had stopped bearing, she took Zilpah her maid and (BM)gave her to Jacob as wife. 10 And Leah’s maid Zilpah bore Jacob a son. 11 Then Leah said, [q]“A troop comes!” So she called his name [r]Gad. 12 And Leah’s maid Zilpah bore Jacob a second son. 13 Then Leah said, “I am happy, for the daughters (BN)will call me blessed.” So she called his name [s]Asher.
Footnotes
- Genesis 28:15 protect
- Genesis 28:19 Lit. House of God
- Genesis 28:22 tithe
- Genesis 29:7 early in the day
- Genesis 29:17 Or weak
- Genesis 29:26 Lit. place
- Genesis 29:31 Lit. hated
- Genesis 29:32 Lit. See, a Son
- Genesis 29:33 Lit. hated
- Genesis 29:33 Lit. Heard
- Genesis 29:34 Lit. Attached
- Genesis 29:35 Lit. Praise
- Genesis 30:3 Lit. be built up by her
- Genesis 30:6 Lit. Judge
- Genesis 30:8 Lit. wrestlings of God
- Genesis 30:8 Lit. My Wrestling
- Genesis 30:11 So with Qr., Syr., Tg.; Kt., LXX, Vg. in fortune
- Genesis 30:11 Lit. Troop or Fortune
- Genesis 30:13 Lit. Happy
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.