Genesis 30:14-27

New International Version

¹⁴ During wheat harvest,^(A) Reuben went out into the fields and found some mandrake plants,^(B) which he brought to his mother Leah. Rachel said to Leah, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.”

¹⁵ But she said to her, “Wasn’t it enough^(C) that you took away my husband? Will you take my son’s mandrakes too?”

“Very well,” Rachel said, “he can sleep with you tonight in return for your son’s mandrakes.”^(D)

¹⁶ So when Jacob came in from the fields that evening, Leah went out to meet him. “You must sleep with me,” she said. “I have hired you with my son’s mandrakes.”^(E) So he slept with her that night.

¹⁷ God listened to Leah,^(F) and she became pregnant and bore Jacob a fifth son. ¹⁸ Then Leah said, “God has rewarded me for giving my servant to my husband.”^(G) So she named him Issachar.^[a](H)

¹⁹ Leah conceived again and bore Jacob a sixth son. ²⁰ Then Leah said, “God has presented me with a precious gift. This time my husband will treat me with honor,^(I) because I have borne him six sons.” So she named him Zebulun.^[b](J)

²¹ Some time later she gave birth to a daughter and named her Dinah.^(K)

²² Then God remembered Rachel;^(L) he listened to her^(M) and enabled her to conceive.^{(N) 23} She became pregnant and gave birth to a son^(O) and said, “God has taken away my disgrace.”^{(P) 24} She named him Joseph,^[c](Q) and said, “May the Lord add to me another son.”^(R)

Jacob’s Flocks Increase

²⁵ After Rachel gave birth to Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, “Send me on my way^(S) so I can go back to my own homeland.^{(T) 26} Give me my wives and children, for whom I have served you,^(U) and I will be on my way. You know how much work I’ve done for you.”

²⁷ But Laban said to him, “If I have found favor in your eyes,^(V) please stay. I have learned by divination^(W) that the Lord has blessed me because of you.”^(X)