Genesis 29:21-30

Contemporary English Version

²¹Jacob said to Laban, “The time is up, and I want to marry Rachel now!” ²²So Laban gave a big feast and invited all their neighbors. ²³But that evening he brought Leah to Jacob, who married her and spent the night with her. ²⁴Laban also gave Zilpah to Leah as her servant woman.

²⁵The next morning Jacob found out that he had married Leah, and he asked Laban, “Why did you do this to me? Didn't I work to get Rachel? Why did you trick me?”

²⁶Laban replied, “In our country the older daughter must get married first. ²⁷After you spend this week^[a] with Leah, you may also marry Rachel. But you will have to work for me another seven years.”

^28-30At the end of the week of celebration, Laban let Jacob marry Rachel, and he gave her his servant woman Bilhah. Jacob loved Rachel more than he did Leah, but he had to work another seven years for Laban.

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Footnotes

29.27 this week: The wedding feast lasted for seven days (see Judges 14.12,17).

Genesis 29:21-28

New International Version

²¹Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife. My time is completed, and I want to make love to her.^(A)”

²²So Laban brought together all the people of the place and gave a feast.^(B) ²³But when evening came, he took his daughter Leah^(C) and brought her to Jacob, and Jacob made love to her. ²⁴And Laban gave his servant Zilpah^(D) to his daughter as her attendant.^(E)

²⁵When morning came, there was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me?^(F) I served you for Rachel, didn’t I? Why have you deceived me?^(G)”

²⁶Laban replied, “It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older one.^(H) ²⁷Finish this daughter’s bridal week;^(I) then we will give you the younger one also, in return for another seven years of work.^(J)”

²⁸And Jacob did so. He finished the week with Leah, and then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife.^(K)

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