創世記 29
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)
雅各到達舅父家
29 雅各繼續前行，來到東方人住的地方， 2 看見田間有一口井，有三群羊臥在井邊，因為當地人用那口井的水飲羊。井口蓋著一塊大石頭。 3 羊群聚集在井旁的時候，牧人就把石頭挪開飲羊，隨後再把石頭挪回原處。
4 雅各問牧人：「弟兄們，你們是從哪裡來的？」他們說：「我們是從哈蘭來的。」 5 雅各問道：「你們認識拿鶴的孫子拉班嗎？」他們說：「我們認識。」 6 雅各又問：「他好嗎？」他們回答說：「很好。你看，他的女兒拉結帶著羊群來了。」 7 雅各對他們說：「太陽還高，不到把羊關起來的時候，你們飲了羊，再放牠們去吃草吧！」 8 他們說：「不行，要等所有的羊群到齊，有人挪開井口的石頭後，才能飲羊。」
9 他們還在說話的時候，拉結就帶著她父親的羊群來到井邊，她是個牧羊女。 10 雅各看見表妹拉結和舅父拉班的羊群來了，就上前把井口的石頭挪開，飲他舅父的羊。 11 他親吻拉結，並放聲大哭。 12 雅各告訴拉結自己是她父親的外甥，是利百加的兒子。拉結便跑去告訴她父親。
13 拉班聽見外甥雅各來了，就跑去迎接他，擁抱他，親吻他，然後把他接到自己家裡。雅各把事情的經過告訴他。 14 拉班高興地說：「你真是我的骨肉之親啊！」雅各在拉班家裡住了一個月。
雅各娶妻
15 一天，拉班對他說：「雖然我們是親戚，也不能讓你白白地替我工作。告訴我，你希望得到什麼報酬？」 16 拉班有兩個女兒，大的叫利亞，小的叫拉結。 17 利亞兩眼無神[a]，而拉結長得美麗出眾。 18 雅各愛上了拉結，於是對拉班說：「我願意為你工作七年，請你把拉結許配給我。」 19 拉班說：「把她嫁給你比嫁給外人好，你就留下來吧！」 20 雅各為了拉結給拉班工作了七年。因為他深愛拉結，所以這七年在他眼中就像短短的幾天。
21 一天，雅各對拉班說：「期限已經滿了，現在請把我妻子給我，我好和她同房。」 22 於是，拉班就擺設宴席款待當地的人。 23 到了晚上，拉班卻把女兒利亞送給雅各，雅各和她同房。 24 拉班又把自己的婢女悉帕送給女兒利亞做婢女。
25 第二天早上，雅各才發現娶的是利亞，就對拉班說：「你對我做的是什麼事啊！我服侍你不就是為了拉結嗎？你為什麼騙我？」 26 拉班說：「依照本地的習俗，妹妹不能比姐姐先出嫁。 27 等這七天的婚期過了，我就把拉結也許配給你，你再替我工作七年。」
28 雅各同意了。過了七天，拉班把女兒拉結嫁給雅各， 29 又把自己的婢女辟拉送給拉結。 30 雅各也和拉結同房，他深愛拉結，勝過愛利亞。他又替拉班工作了七年。
雅各的兒女
31 耶和華看見利亞失寵，就使利亞生育，但拉結卻不生育。 32 利亞懷孕生了一個兒子，給孩子取名叫呂便[b]。她說：「耶和華看見了我的痛苦，現在我丈夫一定會愛我。」 33 她又懷孕生了一個兒子，就說：「耶和華聽見了我丈夫不愛我，所以又給我這個兒子。」於是，她給孩子取名叫西緬[c]。 34 她又再度懷孕，生了一個兒子，就說：「這次我丈夫一定會依戀我，因為我給他生了三個兒子。」於是，他給孩子取名叫利未[d]。 35 後來，利亞再次懷孕，生了一個兒子，她說：「這次我要讚美耶和華！」於是，她給孩子取名叫猶大[e]。之後，利亞停止了生育。
Genesis 29
New Catholic Bible
Chapter 29
The Wedding for Which Jacob Slaved.[a] 1 Jacob set out on his journey and traveled to the lands of the east. 2 He saw a well in the countryside and three flocks of sheep lying beside it. The flocks would drink at this well, but the stone over the mouth of the well was very large. 3 When all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone from the mouth of the well and the sheep would drink there. They would then replace the stone over the mouth of the well.
4 Jacob said to them, “My brothers, 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 he well?”
They answered, “Yes, and here comes his daughter Rachel with his flock.”
7 He continued, “It is still early; it is not yet the time to gather the sheep together. Give the sheep something to drink and then go and pasture them.”
8 They said, “We cannot until all the flocks are gathered together. Then we will roll the stone away from the mouth of the well and have the flocks drink.”
9 He was still speaking with them when Rachel arrived with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherd. 10 When Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of his uncle Laban, together with the sheep of his uncle Laban, he got up and rolled the stone away from the mouth of the well and gave water to the sheep of his uncle Laban. 11 Jacob then kissed Rachel and wept aloud. 12 He revealed to Rachel that he was a relative of her father, for he was the son of Rebekah. So she ran to tell her father.
13 When Laban heard about Jacob, the son of his sister, he ran to meet him. He embraced him, kissed him, and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban all about what had happened to him. 14 Laban said to him, “You are my own flesh and blood.”
Jacob lived with him for a month. 15 Then Laban said to him, “Just because you are my relative, should you be working for me without a salary? Tell me what you want as your salary.”
16 Now Laban had two daughters. The older was named Leah and the younger was named Rachel. 17 Leah had sad[b] eyes, while Rachel was very beautiful and lovely. 18 Because of this, Jacob loved Rachel. He therefore said, “I will serve you for seven years for Rachel, your younger daughter.”
19 Laban answered, “I prefer to give her to you rather than to a stranger. Stay with me.” 20 So Jacob served him for seven years for Rachel. He was so in love with her that it seemed only a few days.
21 Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my time of service is completed and I wish to marry her.”
22 Laban gathered all the men of that place and threw a banquet. 23 When it was the evening, he took his daughter Leah and brought her to him and he married her. 24 Laban gave his own slave Zilpah to his daughter Leah as a slave.
25 When morning came, behold, it was Leah! Jacob said to Laban, “What have you done! Did I not serve you for Rachel? Why have you tricked me?”
26 Laban answered, “It is not the custom in our land to give the younger one before the older one. 27 Finish the bridal week with this one; then I will give you the other as well if you will serve me for another seven years.”
28 Jacob did this. He finished the bridal week with Leah, and then Laban gave him Rachel as his wife. 29 Laban gave his own slave Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as a slave. 30 Jacob slept with Rachel, and he loved Rachel more than Leah. So he served his uncle for another seven years.
31 The Children of Jacob.[c] Now the Lord, seeing that Leah was being overlooked, opened her womb while Rachel remained barren. 32 Leah conceived and bore a son whom she named Reuben, for she said, “The Lord has seen my humiliation; surely my husband will love me now.”
33 Then she conceived another son and said, “The Lord has heard that I was ignored and he has given me this one as well.” She named him Simeon.
34 She conceived again and bore a son and said, “This time my husband will show me affection, for I have borne three sons for him.” Because of this she named him Levi.
35 She conceived once again and bore a son and said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” For this she named him Judah. Then she stopped having children.
Footnotes
- Genesis 29:1 The bride was veiled throughout the entire wedding ceremony, which ended only in the darkness of the night—thus the possibility of deception. In this case, again, the substitution of one person for another is not to be judged by our standards, especially since the intentional presence of many people (v. 22) must have compelled Jacob to accept what had been done. Polygamy was not a difficulty for him, since he was following the practice of nomads, whereas Abraham had been monogamous in accord with the spirit of his native Babylonian environment. Marriage with two sisters would later be prohibited by Israelite law (Lev 18:18); this is an indication of the historicity of the story.
- Genesis 29:17 Sad: the word can also mean “delicate.”
- Genesis 29:31 Jacob had many sons, but Israelite tradition counts only twelve of them, including the last born, Benjamin (Gen 35:18), and regards them as the ancestors of the twelve tribes that make up the chosen people.
Genesis 29
New English Translation
The Marriages of Jacob
29 So Jacob moved on[a] and came to the land of the eastern people.[b] 2 He saw[c] in the field a well with[d] three flocks of sheep lying beside it, because the flocks were watered from that well. Now[e] a large stone covered the mouth of the well. 3 When all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds[f] would roll the stone off the mouth of the well and water the sheep. Then they would put the stone back in its place over the well’s mouth.
4 Jacob asked them, “My brothers, where are you from?” They replied, “We’re from Haran.” 5 So he said to them, “Do you know Laban, the grandson[g] of Nahor?” “We know him,”[h] they said. 6 “Is he well?”[i] Jacob asked. They replied, “He is well.[j] Now look, here comes his daughter Rachel with the sheep.” 7 Then Jacob[k] said, “Since it is still the middle of the day,[l] it is not time for the flocks to be gathered. You should water the sheep and then go and let them graze some more.”[m] 8 “We can’t,” they said, “until all the flocks are gathered and the stone is rolled off the mouth of the well. Then we water[n] the sheep.”
9 While he was still speaking with them, Rachel arrived with her father’s sheep, for she was tending them.[o] 10 When Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of his uncle Laban,[p] and the sheep of his uncle Laban, he[q] went over[r] and rolled the stone off the mouth of the well and watered the sheep of his uncle Laban.[s] 11 Then Jacob kissed Rachel and began to weep loudly.[t] 12 When Jacob explained[u] to Rachel that he was a relative of her father[v] and the son of Rebekah, she ran and told her father. 13 When Laban heard this news about Jacob, his sister’s son, he rushed out to meet him. He embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house. Jacob[w] told Laban how he was related to him.[x] 14 Then Laban said to him, “You are indeed my own flesh and blood.”[y] So Jacob[z] stayed with him for a month.[aa]
15 Then Laban said to Jacob, “Should you work[ab] for me for nothing because you are my relative?[ac] Tell me what your wages should be.” 16 (Now Laban had two daughters;[ad] the older one was named Leah, and the younger one Rachel. 17 Leah’s eyes were tender,[ae] but Rachel had a lovely figure and beautiful appearance.)[af] 18 Since Jacob had fallen in love with[ag] Rachel, he said, “I’ll serve you seven years in exchange for your younger daughter Rachel.” 19 Laban replied, “I’d rather give her to you than to another man.[ah] Stay with me.” 20 So Jacob worked for seven years to acquire Rachel.[ai] But they seemed like only a few days to him[aj] because his love for her was so great.[ak]
21 Finally Jacob said[al] to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my time of service is up.[am] And I want to sleep with her.”[an] 22 So Laban invited all the people[ao] of that place and prepared a feast. 23 In the evening he brought his daughter Leah[ap] to Jacob,[aq] and he slept with her.[ar] 24 (Laban gave his female servant Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her servant.)[as]
25 In the morning Jacob discovered it was Leah![at] So Jacob[au] said to Laban, “What in the world have you done to me?[av] Didn’t I work for you in exchange for Rachel? Why have you tricked[aw] me?” 26 “It is not our custom here,”[ax] Laban replied, “to give the younger daughter in marriage[ay] before the firstborn. 27 Complete my older daughter’s bridal week.[az] Then we will give you the younger one[ba] too, in exchange for seven more years of work.”[bb]
28 Jacob did as Laban said.[bc] When Jacob[bd] completed Leah’s bridal week,[be] Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife.[bf] 29 (Laban gave his female servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her servant.)[bg] 30 Jacob[bh] slept with[bi] Rachel as well. He also loved Rachel more than Leah. Then he worked for Laban[bj] for seven more years.
The Family of Jacob
31 When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved,[bk] he enabled her to become pregnant[bl] while Rachel remained childless. 32 So Leah became pregnant[bm] and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben,[bn] for she said, “The Lord has looked with pity on my oppressed condition.[bo] Surely my husband will love me now.”
33 She became pregnant again and had another son. She said, “Because the Lord heard that I was unloved,[bp] he gave me this one too.” So she named him Simeon.[bq]
34 She became pregnant again and had another son. She said, “Now this time my husband will show me affection,[br] because I have given birth to three sons for him.” That is why he was named Levi.[bs]
35 She became pregnant again and had another son. She said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” That is why she named him Judah.[bt] Then she stopped having children.
Footnotes
- Genesis 29:1 tn Heb “and Jacob lifted up his feet.” This unusual expression suggests that Jacob had a new lease on life now that God had promised him the blessing he had so desperately tried to gain by his own efforts. The text portrays him as having a new step in his walk.
- Genesis 29:1 tn Heb “the land of the sons of the east.”
- Genesis 29:2 tn Heb “and he saw, and look.” As in Gen 28:12-15, the narrator uses the particle הִנֵּה (hinneh, “look”) here and in the next clause to draw the reader into the story.
- Genesis 29:2 tn Heb “and look, there.”
- Genesis 29:2 tn The disjunctive clause (introduced by the noun with the prefixed conjunction) provides supplemental information that is important to the story.
- Genesis 29:3 tn Heb “they”; the referent (the shepherds) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Genesis 29:5 tn Heb “son.”
- Genesis 29:5 tn Heb “and they said, ‘We know.’” The word “him” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons. In the translation several introductory clauses throughout this section have been placed after the direct discourse they introduce for stylistic reasons as well.
- Genesis 29:6 tn Heb “and he said to them, ‘Is there peace to him?’”
- Genesis 29:6 tn Heb “peace.”
- Genesis 29:7 tn Heb “and he”; the referent (Jacob) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Genesis 29:7 tn Heb “the day is great.”
- Genesis 29:7 tn Heb “water the sheep and go and pasture [them].” The verbal forms are imperatives, but Jacob would hardly be giving direct orders to someone else’s shepherds. The nuance here is probably one of advice.
- Genesis 29:8 tn The perfect verbal forms with the vav (ו) consecutive carry on the sequence begun by the initial imperfect form.
- Genesis 29:9 tn Heb “was a shepherdess.”
- Genesis 29:10 tn Heb “Laban, the brother of his mother” (twice in this verse).
- Genesis 29:10 tn Heb “Jacob.” The proper name has been replaced by the pronoun (“he”) in the translation for stylistic reasons.
- Genesis 29:10 tn Heb “drew near, approached.”
- Genesis 29:10 tn Heb “Laban, the brother of his mother.” The text says nothing initially about the beauty of Rachel. But the reader is struck by the repetition of “Laban the brother of his mother.” G. J. Wenham is no doubt correct when he observes that Jacob’s primary motive at this stage is to ingratiate himself with Laban (Genesis [WBC], 2:231).
- Genesis 29:11 tn Heb “and he lifted up his voice and wept.” The idiom calls deliberate attention to the fact that Jacob wept out loud.
- Genesis 29:12 tn Heb “declared.”
- Genesis 29:12 tn Heb “that he [was] the brother of her father.”
- Genesis 29:13 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Jacob) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Genesis 29:13 tn Heb “and he told to Laban all these things.” This might mean Jacob told Laban how he happened to be there, but Laban’s response (see v. 14) suggests “all these things” refers to what Jacob had previously told Rachel (see v. 12).
- Genesis 29:14 tn Heb “indeed, my bone and my flesh are you.” The expression sounds warm enough, but the presence of “indeed” may suggest that Laban had to be convinced of Jacob’s identity before permitting him to stay. To be one’s “bone and flesh” is to be someone’s blood relative. For example, the phrase describes the relationship between Abimelech and the Shechemites (Judg 9:2; his mother was a Shechemite); David and the Israelites (2 Sam 5:1); David and the elders of Judah (2 Sam 19:12); and David and his nephew Amasa (2 Sam 19:13; see 2 Sam 17:2; 1 Chr 2:16-17).
- Genesis 29:14 tn Heb “and he”; the referent (Jacob) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Genesis 29:14 tn Heb “a month of days.”
- Genesis 29:15 tn The verb is the perfect with the vav (ו) consecutive; the nuance in the question is deliberative.
- Genesis 29:15 tn Heb “my brother.” The term “brother” is used in a loose sense; actually Jacob was Laban’s nephew.
- Genesis 29:16 tn Heb “and to Laban [there were] two daughters.” The disjunctive clause (introduced here by a conjunction and a prepositional phrase) provides supplemental material that is important to the story. Since this material is parenthetical in nature, vv. 16-17 have been set in parentheses in the translation.
- Genesis 29:17 tn Heb “and the eyes of Leah were tender.” The disjunctive clause (introduced here by a conjunction and a noun) continues the parenthesis begun in v. 16. It is not clear what is meant by “tender” (or “delicate”) eyes. The expression may mean she had appealing eyes (cf. NAB, NRSV, NLT), though some suggest that they were plain, not having the brightness normally expected. Either way, she did not measure up to her gorgeous sister.
- Genesis 29:17 tn Heb “and Rachel was beautiful of form and beautiful of appearance.”
- Genesis 29:18 tn Heb “Jacob loved.”
- Genesis 29:19 tn Heb “Better my giving her to you than my giving her to another man.”
- Genesis 29:20 tn Heb “in exchange for Rachel.”
- Genesis 29:20 sn But they seemed like only a few days to him. This need not mean that the time passed quickly. More likely it means that the price seemed insignificant when compared to what he was getting in the bargain.
- Genesis 29:20 tn Heb “because of his love for her.” The words “was so great” are supplied for stylistic reasons.
- Genesis 29:21 tn Heb “and Jacob said.”
- Genesis 29:21 tn Heb “my days are fulfilled.”
- Genesis 29:21 tn Heb “I want to approach.” The verb בּוֹא (boʾ) with the preposition אֶל (ʾel) means “come to” or “approach,” but is also used as a euphemism for sexual relations. The verb is a cohortative; it may be subordinated to the preceding request, “so that I may sleep with,” or it may be an independent clause expressing his desire.
- Genesis 29:22 tn Heb “men.”
- Genesis 29:23 tn Heb “and it happened in the evening that he took Leah his daughter and brought her.”sn His daughter Leah. Laban’s deception of Jacob by giving him the older daughter instead of the younger was God’s way of disciplining the deceiver who tricked his older brother. D. Kidner says this account is “the very embodiment of anti-climax, and this moment a miniature of man’s disillusion, experienced from Eden onwards” (Genesis [TOTC], 160). G. von Rad notes, “That Laban secretly gave the unloved Leah to the man in love was, to be sure, a monstrous blow, a masterpiece of shameless treachery…It was certainly a move by which he won for himself far and wide the coarsest laughter” (Genesis [OTL], 291).
- Genesis 29:23 tn Heb “to him”; the referent (Jacob) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Genesis 29:23 tn Heb “came to” or “approached,” a euphemism for sexual relations. See note at v. 21.
- Genesis 29:24 tn Heb “and Laban gave to her Zilpah his female servant, to Leah his daughter [for] a servant.” This clause gives information parenthetical to the narrative.
- Genesis 29:25 tn Heb “and it happened in the morning that look, it was Leah.” By the use of the particle הִנֵּה (hinneh, “look”), the narrator invites the reader to view the scene through Jacob’s eyes.
- Genesis 29:25 tn Heb “and he said”; the referent (Jacob) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Genesis 29:25 tn Heb What is this you have done to me?” The use of the pronoun “this” is enclitic, adding emphasis to the question: “What in the world have you done to me?”
- Genesis 29:25 sn The Hebrew verb translated tricked here (רָמָה, ramah) is cognate to the noun used in Gen 27:35 to describe Jacob’s deception of Esau. Jacob is discovering that what goes around, comes around. See J. A. Diamond, “The Deception of Jacob: A New Perspective on an Ancient Solution to the Problem,” VT 34 (1984): 211-13.
- Genesis 29:26 tn Heb “and Laban said, ‘It is not done so in our place.’” The order of the introductory clause and the direct discourse has been rearranged in the translation for stylistic reasons.
- Genesis 29:26 tn Heb “to give the younger.” The words “daughter” and “in marriage” are supplied in the translation for clarity and for stylistic reasons.
- Genesis 29:27 tn Heb “fulfill the period of seven of this one.” The referent of “this one” has been specified in the translation as “my older daughter” for clarity.sn Bridal week. An ancient Hebrew marriage ceremony included an entire week of festivities (cf. Judg 14:12).
- Genesis 29:27 tn Heb “this other one.”
- Genesis 29:27 tn Heb “and we will give to you also this one in exchange for labor which you will work with me, still seven other years.”sn In exchange for seven more years of work. See C. H. Gordon, “The Story of Jacob and Laban in the Light of the Nuzi Tablets,” BASOR 66 (1937): 25-27; and J. Van Seters, “Jacob’s Marriages and Ancient Near Eastern Customs: A Reassessment,” HTR 62 (1969): 377-95.
- Genesis 29:28 tn Heb “and Jacob did so.” The words “as Laban said” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
- Genesis 29:28 tn Heb “and he”; the referent (Jacob) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Genesis 29:28 tn Heb “the seven of this one.” The referent of “this one” has been specified in the translation as Leah to avoid confusion with Rachel, mentioned later in the verse.
- Genesis 29:28 tn Heb “and he gave to him Rachel his daughter for him for a wife.” The referent of the pronoun “he” (Laban) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Genesis 29:29 tn Heb “and Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his female servant, for her for a servant.”
- Genesis 29:30 tn Heb “and he”; the referent (Jacob) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Genesis 29:30 tn Heb “came to” or “approached,” a euphemism for sexual relations. See note at v. 21.
- Genesis 29:30 tn Heb “him”; the referent (Laban) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Genesis 29:31 tn Heb “hated.” The rhetorical device of overstatement is used (note v. 30, which says simply that Jacob loved Rachel more than he did Leah) to emphasize that Rachel, as Jacob’s true love and the primary object of his affections, had an advantage over Leah.
- Genesis 29:31 tn Heb “he opened up her womb.”
- Genesis 29:32 tn Or “Leah conceived” (also in vv. 33, 34, 35).
- Genesis 29:32 sn The name Reuben (רְאוּבֵן, reʾuven) means “look, a son.”
- Genesis 29:32 tn Heb “looked on my affliction.”sn Leah’s explanation of the name Reuben reflects a popular etymology, not an exact one. The name means literally “look, a son.” Playing on the Hebrew verb “look,” she observes that the Lord has “looked” with pity on her oppressed condition. See further S. R. Driver, Genesis, 273.
- Genesis 29:33 tn Heb “hated.” See the note on the word “unloved” in v. 31.
- Genesis 29:33 sn The name Simeon (שִׁמְעוֹן, shimʿon) is derived from the verbal root שָׁמַע (shamaʿ) and means “hearing.” The name is appropriate since it is reminder that the Lord “heard” about Leah’s unloved condition and responded with pity.
- Genesis 29:34 tn Heb “will be joined to me.”
- Genesis 29:34 sn The name Levi (לֵוִי, levi), the precise meaning of which is debated, was appropriate because it sounds like the verb לָוָה (lavah, “to join”), used in the statement recorded earlier in the verse.
- Genesis 29:35 sn The name Judah (יְהוּדָה, yehudah) means “he will be praised” and reflects the sentiment Leah expresses in the statement recorded earlier in the verse. For further discussion see W. F. Albright, “The Names ‘Israel’ and ‘Judah’ with an Excursus on the Etymology of Todah and Torah,” JBL 46 (1927): 151-85; and A. R. Millard, “The Meaning of the Name Judah,” ZAW 86 (1974): 216-18.
Genesis 29
King James Version
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.
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