Jacob Arrives in Paddan Aram

29 Then Jacob continued on his journey and came to the land of the eastern peoples.(A) 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.(B) The stone(C) over the mouth of the well was large. When all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone(D) away from the well’s mouth and water the sheep.(E) Then they would return the stone to its place over the mouth of the well.

Jacob asked the shepherds, “My brothers, where are you from?”(F)

“We’re from Harran,(G)” they replied.

He said to them, “Do you know Laban, Nahor’s grandson?”(H)

“Yes, we know him,” they answered.

Then Jacob asked them, “Is he well?”

“Yes, he is,” they said, “and here comes his daughter Rachel(I) with the sheep.(J)

“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.”

“We can’t,” they replied, “until all the flocks are gathered and the stone(K) has been rolled away from the mouth of the well. Then we will water(L) the sheep.”

While he was still talking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep,(M) for she was a shepherd. 10 When Jacob saw Rachel(N) daughter of his uncle Laban, and Laban’s sheep, he went over and rolled the stone(O) away from the mouth of the well and watered(P) his uncle’s sheep.(Q) 11 Then Jacob kissed(R) Rachel and began to weep aloud.(S) 12 He had told Rachel that he was a relative(T) of her father and a son of Rebekah.(U) So she ran and told her father.(V)

13 As soon as Laban(W) heard the news about Jacob, his sister’s son, he hurried to meet him. He embraced him(X) 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.”(Y)

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(Z) of mine, should you work for me for nothing? Tell me what your wages(AA) should be.”

16 Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the older was Leah,(AB) and the name of the younger was Rachel.(AC) 17 Leah had weak[a] eyes, but Rachel(AD) had a lovely figure and was beautiful.(AE) 18 Jacob was in love with Rachel(AF) and said, “I’ll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel.”(AG)

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,(AH) but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.(AI)

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

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

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

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

28 And Jacob did so. He finished the week with Leah, and then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife.(AT) 29 Laban gave his servant Bilhah(AU) to his daughter Rachel as her attendant.(AV) 30 Jacob made love to Rachel also, and his love for Rachel was greater than his love for Leah.(AW) And he worked for Laban another seven years.(AX)

Jacob’s Children

31 When the Lord saw that Leah was not loved,(AY) he enabled her to conceive,(AZ) but Rachel remained childless. 32 Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son.(BA) She named him Reuben,[b](BB) for she said, “It is because the Lord has seen my misery.(BC) 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,(BD) he gave me this one too.” So she named him Simeon.[c](BE)

34 Again she conceived, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Now at last my husband will become attached to me,(BF) because I have borne him three sons.” So he was named Levi.[d](BG)

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.[e](BH) Then she stopped having children.(BI)

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 29:17 Or delicate
  2. Genesis 29:32 Reuben sounds like the Hebrew for he has seen my misery; the name means see, a son.
  3. Genesis 29:33 Simeon probably means one who hears.
  4. Genesis 29:34 Levi sounds like and may be derived from the Hebrew for attached.
  5. Genesis 29:35 Judah sounds like and may be derived from the Hebrew for praise.

29 And Jacob lifteth up his feet, and goeth towards the land of the sons of the east;

and he looketh, and lo, a well in the field, and lo, there three droves of a flock crouching by it, for from that well they water the droves, and the great stone [is] on the mouth of the well.

(When thither have all the droves been gathered, and they have rolled the stone from off the mouth of the well, and have watered the flock, then they have turned back the stone on the mouth of the well to its place.)

And Jacob saith to them, `My brethren, from whence [are] ye?' and they say, `We [are] from Haran.'

And he saith to them, `Have ye known Laban, son of Nahor?' and they say, `We have known.'

And he saith to them, `Hath he peace?' and they say, `Peace; and lo, Rachel his daughter is coming with the flock.'

And he saith, `Lo, the day [is] still great, [it is] not time for the cattle to be gathered; water ye the flock, and go, delight yourselves.'

And they say, `We are not able, till that all the droves be gathered together, and they have rolled away the stone from the mouth of the well, and we have watered the flock.'

He is yet speaking with them, and Rachel hath come with the flock which her father hath, for she [is] shepherdess;

10 and it cometh to pass when Jacob hath seen Rachel, daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the flock of Laban his mother's brother, that Jacob cometh nigh and rolleth the stone from off the mouth of the well, and watereth the flock of Laban his mother's brother.

11 And Jacob kisseth Rachel, and lifteth up his voice, and weepeth,

12 and Jacob declareth to Rachel that he [is] her father's brother, and that he [is] Rebekah's son, and she runneth and declareth to her father.

13 And it cometh to pass, when Laban heareth the report of Jacob his sister's son, that he runneth to meet him, and embraceth him, and kisseth him, and bringeth him in unto his house; and he recounteth to Laban all these things,

14 and Laban saith to him, `Only my bone and my flesh [art] thou;' and he dwelleth with him a month of days.

15 And Laban saith to Jacob, `Is it because thou [art] my brother that thou hast served me for nought? declare to me what [is] thy hire.'

16 And Laban hath two daughters, the name of the elder [is] Leah, and the name of the younger Rachel,

17 and the eyes of Leah [are] tender, and Rachel hath been fair of form and fair of appearance.

18 And Jacob loveth Rachel, and saith, `I serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter:'

19 and Laban saith, `It is better for me to give her to thee than to give her to another man; dwell with me;'

20 and Jacob serveth for Rachel seven years; and they are in his eyes as some days, because of his loving her.

21 And Jacob saith unto Laban, `Give up my wife, for my days have been fulfilled, and I go in unto her;'

22 and Laban gathereth all the men of the place, and maketh a banquet.

23 And it cometh to pass in the evening, that he taketh Leah, his daughter, and bringeth her in unto him, and he goeth in unto her;

24 and Laban giveth to her Zilpah, his maid-servant, to Leah his daughter, a maid-servant.

25 And it cometh to pass in the morning, that lo, it [is] Leah; and he saith unto Laban, `What [is] this thou hast done to me? for Rachel have I not served with thee? and why hast thou deceived me?'

26 And Laban saith, `It is not done so in our place, to give the younger before the first-born;

27 fulfil the week of this one, and we give to thee also this one, for the service which thou dost serve with me yet seven other years.'

28 And Jacob doth so, and fulfilleth the week of this one, and he giveth to him Rachel his daughter, to him for a wife;

29 and Laban giveth to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his maid-servant, for a maid-servant to her.

30 And he goeth in also unto Rachel, and he also loveth Rachel more than Leah; and he serveth with him yet seven other years.

31 And Jehovah seeth that Leah [is] the hated one, and He openeth her womb, and Rachel [is] barren;

32 and Leah conceiveth, and beareth a son, and calleth his name Reuben, for she said, `Because Jehovah hath looked on mine affliction; because now doth my husband love me.'

33 And she conceiveth again, and beareth a son, and saith, `Because Jehovah hath heard that I [am] the hated one, He also giveth to me even this [one];' and she calleth his name Simeon.

34 And she conceiveth again, and beareth a son, and saith, `Now [is] the time, my husband is joined unto me, because I have born to him three sons,' therefore hath [one] called his name Levi.

35 And she conceiveth again, and beareth a son, and saith this time, `I praise Jehovah;' therefore hath she called his name Judah; and she ceaseth from bearing.

Jacob Meets Rachel

29 So Jacob went on his journey (A)and came to the land of the people of the East. And he looked, and saw a (B)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. 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.

And Jacob said to them, “My brethren, where are you from?”

And they said, “We are from (C)Haran.”

Then he said to them, “Do you know (D)Laban the son of Nahor?”

And they said, “We know him.”

So he said to them, (E)“Is he well?”

And they said, “He is well. And look, his daughter Rachel (F)is coming with the sheep.”

Then he said, “Look, it is still [a]high day; it is not time for the cattle to be gathered together. Water the sheep, and go and feed them.

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.”

Now while he was still speaking with them, (G)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 (H)rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother. 11 Then Jacob (I)kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice and wept. 12 And Jacob told Rachel that he was (J)her father’s relative and that he was Rebekah’s son. (K)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 (L)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, (M)“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, (N)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 [b]delicate, but Rachel was (O)beautiful of form and appearance.

18 Now Jacob loved Rachel; so he said, (P)“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 (Q)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 (R)go in to her.” 22 And Laban gathered together all the men of the place and (S)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 (T)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 (U)deceived me?”

26 And Laban said, “It must not be done so in our [c]country, to give the younger before the firstborn. 27 (V)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 (W)Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as a maid. 30 Then Jacob also went in to Rachel, and he also (X)loved Rachel more than Leah. And he served with Laban (Y)still another seven years.

The Children of Jacob

31 When the Lord (Z)saw that Leah was [d]unloved, He (AA)opened her womb; but Rachel was barren. 32 So Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name [e]Reuben; for she said, “The Lord has surely (AB)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 [f]unloved, He has therefore given me this son also.” And she called his name [g]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 [h]Levi. 35 And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Now I will praise the Lord.” Therefore she called his name (AC)Judah.[i] Then she stopped bearing.

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 29:7 early in the day
  2. Genesis 29:17 Or weak
  3. Genesis 29:26 Lit. place
  4. Genesis 29:31 Lit. hated
  5. Genesis 29:32 Lit. See, a Son
  6. Genesis 29:33 Lit. hated
  7. Genesis 29:33 Lit. Heard
  8. Genesis 29:34 Lit. Attached
  9. Genesis 29:35 Lit. Praise

Jacob llega a Padán Aram

29 Jacob continuó su viaje y llegó a la tierra de los orientales. Al llegar vio un pozo en medio del campo, donde descansaban tres rebaños de ovejas, ya que estas bebían agua de allí. Sobre la boca del pozo había una piedra muy grande. Por eso los pastores corrían la piedra solo cuando estaban juntos todos los rebaños, y después de abrevar a las ovejas volvían a colocarla en su lugar, sobre la boca del pozo.

Jacob les preguntó a los pastores:

―¿De dónde sois?

―Somos de Jarán —respondieron.

―¿Conocéis a Labán, el hijo de Najor? —volvió a preguntar Jacob.

―Claro que sí —respondieron.

Jacob siguió preguntando:

―¿Se encuentra bien de salud?

―Sí, está bien —le contestaron—. A propósito, ahí viene su hija Raquel con las ovejas.

Entonces Jacob les dijo:

―Todavía estamos en pleno día, y es muy temprano para encerrar el rebaño. ¿Por qué no les dais de beber a las ovejas y las lleváis a pastar?

Y ellos respondieron:

―No podemos hacerlo hasta que se junten todos los rebaños y los pastores quiten la piedra que está sobre la boca del pozo. Solo entonces podremos dar de beber a las ovejas.

Todavía estaba Jacob hablando con ellos, cuando Raquel llegó con las ovejas de su padre, pues era ella quien las cuidaba. 10 En cuanto Jacob vio a Raquel, hija de su tío Labán, con las ovejas de este, se acercó y quitó la piedra que estaba sobre la boca del pozo y dio de beber a las ovejas. 11 Luego besó a Raquel, rompió en llanto 12 y le contó que era pariente de Labán, por ser hijo de su hermana Rebeca. Raquel salió entonces corriendo a contárselo a su padre.

13 Al oír Labán las noticias acerca de su sobrino Jacob, salió a recibirlo y, entre abrazos y besos, lo llevó a su casa. Allí Jacob le contó todo lo que había sucedido, 14 y Labán le dijo: «Realmente, tú eres de mi propia sangre».

Jacob se casa con Lea y Raquel

Jacob había estado ya un mes con Labán 15 cuando este le dijo:

―Por más que seas mi pariente, no vas a trabajar para mí gratis. Dime cuánto quieres ganar.

16 Labán tenía dos hijas. La mayor se llamaba Lea, y la menor, Raquel. 17 Lea tenía ojos apagados,[a] mientras que Raquel era una mujer muy hermosa. 18 Como Jacob se había enamorado de Raquel, le dijo a su tío:

―Me ofrezco a trabajar para ti siete años, a cambio de Raquel, tu hija menor.

19 Labán le contestó:

―Es mejor que te la entregue a ti, y no a un extraño. Quédate conmigo.

20 Así que Jacob trabajó siete años para poder casarse con Raquel, pero como estaba muy enamorado de ella le pareció poco tiempo. 21 Entonces Jacob le dijo a Labán:

―Ya he cumplido con el tiempo pactado. Dame mi mujer para que me case con ella.

22 Labán reunió a toda la gente del lugar y ofreció una gran fiesta. 23 Pero, cuando llegó la noche, tomó a su hija Lea y se la entregó a Jacob, y Jacob se acostó con ella. 24 Además, como Lea tenía una criada que se llamaba Zilpá, Labán se la dio, para que la atendiera.

25 A la mañana siguiente, Jacob se dio cuenta de que había estado con Lea, y le preguntó a Labán:

―¿Qué me has hecho? ¿Acaso no trabajé contigo para casarme con Raquel? ¿Por qué me has engañado?

26 Labán le contestó:

―La costumbre en nuestro país es casar primero a la mayor y luego a la menor. 27 Por eso, cumple ahora con la semana nupcial de esta, y por siete años más de trabajo te daré la otra.

28 Así lo hizo Jacob y, cuando terminó la semana nupcial de la primera, Labán le entregó a Raquel por esposa. 29 También Raquel tenía una criada, llamada Bilhá, y Labán se la dio para que la atendiera. 30 Jacob entonces se acostó con Raquel, y la amó mucho más que a Lea, aunque tuvo que trabajar para Labán siete años más.

Los hijos de Jacob

31 Cuando el Señor vio que Lea no era amada, le concedió hijos. Mientras tanto, Raquel permaneció estéril. 32 Lea quedó embarazada y dio a luz un hijo, al que llamó Rubén,[b] diciendo: «El Señor ha visto mi aflicción; ahora sí me amará mi esposo». 33 Lea volvió a quedar embarazada y dio a luz otro hijo, al que llamó Simeón,[c] diciendo: «Llegó a oídos del Señor que no soy amada, y por eso me dio también este hijo».

34 Luego quedó embarazada de nuevo y dio a luz un tercer hijo, al que llamó Leví,[d] diciendo: «Ahora sí me amará mi esposo, porque le he dado tres hijos».

35 Lea volvió a quedar embarazada, y dio a luz un cuarto hijo, al que llamó Judá[e] diciendo: «Esta vez alabaré al Señor». Después de esto, dejó de dar a luz.

Footnotes

  1. 29:17 apagados. Alt. tiernos.
  2. 29:32 En hebreo, Rubén suena como las palabras que significan miren, un hijo, y también él vio mi aflicción.
  3. 29:33 En hebreo, Simeón probablemente significa el que oye.
  4. 29:34 En hebreo, Leví suena parecido al verbo que significa unir, amar.
  5. 29:35 En hebreo, Judá tiene un sonido parecido al verbo que significa alabar.