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.

Jacob’s Children

30 Now when Rachel saw that (AD)she bore Jacob no children, Rachel (AE)envied her sister, and said to Jacob, “Give me children, (AF)or else I die!”

And Jacob’s anger was aroused against Rachel, and he said, (AG)Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?”

So she said, “Here is (AH)my maid Bilhah; go in to her, (AI)and she will bear a child on my knees, (AJ)that I also may [j]have children by her.” Then she gave him Bilhah her maid (AK)as wife, and Jacob went in to her. And Bilhah conceived and bore Jacob a son. Then Rachel said, “God has (AL)judged my case; and He has also heard my voice and given me a son.” Therefore she called his name [k]Dan. And Rachel’s maid Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son. Then Rachel said, “With [l]great wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister, and indeed I have prevailed.” So she called his name [m]Naphtali.

When Leah saw that she had stopped bearing, she took Zilpah her maid and (AM)gave her to Jacob as wife. 10 And Leah’s maid Zilpah bore Jacob a son. 11 Then Leah said, [n]“A troop comes!” So she called his name [o]Gad. 12 And Leah’s maid Zilpah bore Jacob a second son. 13 Then Leah said, “I am happy, for the daughters (AN)will call me blessed.” So she called his name [p]Asher.

14 Now Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them to his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, (AO)“Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.”

15 But she said to her, (AP)Is it a small matter that you have taken away my husband? Would you take away my son’s mandrakes also?”

And Rachel said, “Therefore he will lie with you tonight for your son’s mandrakes.”

16 When Jacob came out of the field in the evening, Leah went out to meet him and said, “You must come in to me, for I have surely hired you with my son’s mandrakes.” And he lay with her that night.

17 And God listened to Leah, and she conceived and bore Jacob a fifth son. 18 Leah said, “God has given me my wages, because I have given my maid to my husband.” So she called his name [q]Issachar. 19 Then Leah conceived again and bore Jacob a sixth son. 20 And Leah said, “God has endowed me with a good endowment; now my husband will dwell with me, because I have borne him six sons.” So she called his name [r]Zebulun. 21 Afterward she bore a (AQ)daughter, and called her name [s]Dinah.

22 Then God (AR)remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and (AS)opened her womb. 23 And she conceived and bore a son, and said, “God has taken away (AT)my reproach.” 24 So she called his name [t]Joseph, and said, (AU)“The Lord shall add to me another son.”

Jacob’s Agreement with Laban

25 And it came to pass, when Rachel had borne Joseph, that Jacob said to Laban, (AV)“Send me away, that I may go to (AW)my own place and to my country. 26 Give me my wives and my children (AX)for whom I have served you, and let me go; for you know my service which I have done for you.”

27 And Laban said to him, “Please stay, if I have found favor in your eyes, for (AY)I have learned by experience that the Lord has blessed me for your sake.” 28 Then he said, (AZ)“Name me your wages, and I will give it.

29 So Jacob said to him, (BA)“You know how I have served you and how your livestock has been with me. 30 For what you had before I came was little, and it has increased to a great amount; the Lord has blessed you [u]since my coming. And now, when shall I also (BB)provide for my own house?”

31 So he said, “What shall I give you?”

And Jacob said, “You shall not give me anything. If you will do this thing for me, I will again feed and keep your flocks: 32 Let me pass through all your flock today, removing from there all the speckled and spotted sheep, and all the brown ones among the lambs, and the spotted and speckled among the goats; and (BC)these shall be my wages. 33 So my (BD)righteousness will answer for me in time to come, when the subject of my wages comes before you: every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and brown among the lambs, will be considered stolen, if it is with me.”

34 And Laban said, “Oh, that it were according to your word!” 35 So he removed that day the male goats that were (BE)speckled and spotted, all the female goats that were speckled and spotted, every one that had some white in it, and all the brown ones among the lambs, and gave them into the hand of his sons. 36 Then he put three days’ journey between himself and Jacob, and Jacob fed the rest of Laban’s flocks.

37 Now (BF)Jacob took for himself rods of green poplar and of the almond and chestnut trees, peeled white strips in them, and exposed the white which was in the rods. 38 And the rods which he had peeled, he set before the flocks in the gutters, in the watering troughs where the flocks came to drink, so that they should conceive when they came to drink. 39 So the flocks conceived before the rods, and the flocks brought forth streaked, speckled, and spotted. 40 Then Jacob separated the lambs, and made the flocks face toward the streaked and all the brown in the flock of Laban; but he put his own flocks by themselves and did not put them with Laban’s flock.

41 And it came to pass, whenever the stronger livestock conceived, that Jacob placed the rods before the eyes of the livestock in the gutters, that they might conceive among the rods. 42 But when the flocks were feeble, he did not put them in; so the feebler were Laban’s and the stronger Jacob’s. 43 Thus the man (BG)became exceedingly prosperous, and (BH)had large flocks, female and male servants, and camels and donkeys.

Jacob Flees from Laban

31 Now Jacob heard the words of Laban’s sons, saying, “Jacob has taken away all that was our father’s, and from what was our father’s he has acquired all this (BI)wealth.” And Jacob saw the (BJ)countenance of Laban, and indeed it was not (BK)favorable toward him as before. Then the Lord said to Jacob, (BL)“Return to the land of your fathers and to your family, and I will (BM)be with you.”

So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field, to his flock, and said to them, (BN)“I see your father’s [v]countenance, that it is not favorable toward me as before; but the God of my father (BO)has been with me. And (BP)you know that with all my might I have served your father. Yet your father has deceived me and (BQ)changed my wages (BR)ten times, but God (BS)did not allow him to hurt me. If he said thus: (BT)‘The speckled shall be your wages,’ then all the flocks bore speckled. And if he said thus: ‘The streaked shall be your wages,’ then all the flocks bore streaked. So God has (BU)taken away the livestock of your father and given them to me.

10 “And it happened, at the time when the flocks conceived, that I lifted my eyes and saw in a dream, and behold, the rams which leaped upon the flocks were streaked, speckled, and gray-spotted. 11 Then (BV)the Angel of God spoke to me in a dream, saying, ‘Jacob.’ And I said, ‘Here I am.’ 12 And He said, ‘Lift your eyes now and see, all the rams which leap on the flocks are streaked, speckled, and gray-spotted; for (BW)I have seen all that Laban is doing to you. 13 I am the God of Bethel, (BX)where you anointed the pillar and where you made a vow to Me. Now (BY)arise, get out of this land, and return to the land of your family.’ ”

14 Then Rachel and Leah answered and said to him, (BZ)“Is there still any portion or inheritance for us in our father’s house? 15 Are we not considered strangers by him? For (CA)he has sold us, and also completely consumed our money. 16 For all these riches which God has taken from our father are really ours and our children’s; now then, whatever God has said to you, do it.”

17 Then Jacob rose and set his sons and his wives on camels. 18 And he carried away all his livestock and all his possessions which he had gained, his acquired livestock which he had gained in Padan Aram, to go to his father Isaac in the land of (CB)Canaan. 19 Now Laban had gone to shear his sheep, and Rachel had stolen the (CC)household[w] idols that were her father’s. 20 And Jacob stole away, unknown to Laban the Syrian, in that he did not tell him that he intended to flee. 21 So he fled with all that he had. He arose and crossed the river, and (CD)headed[x] toward the mountains of Gilead.

Laban Pursues Jacob

22 And Laban was told on the third day that Jacob had fled. 23 Then he took (CE)his brethren with him and pursued him for seven days’ journey, and he overtook him in the mountains of Gilead. 24 But God (CF)had come to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said to him, “Be careful that you (CG)speak to Jacob neither good nor bad.”

25 So Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mountains, and Laban with his brethren pitched in the mountains of Gilead.

26 And Laban said to Jacob: “What have you done, that you have stolen away unknown to me, and (CH)carried away my daughters like captives taken with the sword? 27 Why did you flee away secretly, and steal away from me, and not tell me; for I might have sent you away with joy and songs, with timbrel and harp? 28 And you did not allow me (CI)to kiss my sons and my daughters. Now (CJ)you have done foolishly in so doing. 29 It is in my power to do you harm, but the (CK)God of your father spoke to me (CL)last night, saying, ‘Be careful that you speak to Jacob neither good nor bad.’ 30 And now you have surely gone because you greatly long for your father’s house, but why did you (CM)steal my gods?”

31 Then Jacob answered and said to Laban, “Because I was (CN)afraid, for I said, ‘Perhaps you would take your daughters from me by force.’ 32 With whomever you find your gods, (CO)do not let him live. In the presence of our brethren, identify what I have of yours and take it with you.” For Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them.

33 And Laban went into Jacob’s tent, into Leah’s tent, and into the two maids’ tents, but he did not find them. Then he went out of Leah’s tent and entered Rachel’s tent. 34 Now Rachel had taken the [y]household idols, put them in the camel’s saddle, and sat on them. And Laban [z]searched all about the tent but did not find them. 35 And she said to her father, “Let it not displease my lord that I cannot (CP)rise before you, for the manner of women is with me.” And he searched but did not find the [aa]household idols.

36 Then Jacob was angry and rebuked Laban, and Jacob answered and said to Laban: “What is my [ab]trespass? What is my sin, that you have so hotly pursued me? 37 Although you have searched all my things, what part of your household things have you found? Set it here before my brethren and your brethren, that they may judge between us both! 38 These twenty years I have been with you; your ewes and your female goats have not miscarried their young, and I have not eaten the rams of your flock. 39 (CQ)That which was torn by beasts I did not bring to you; I bore the loss of it. (CR)You required it from my hand, whether stolen by day or stolen by night. 40 There I was! In the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night, and my sleep departed from my eyes. 41 Thus I have been in your house twenty years; I (CS)served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your flock, and (CT)you have changed my wages ten times. 42 (CU)Unless the God of my father, the God of Abraham and (CV)the Fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. (CW)God has seen my affliction and the labor of my hands, and (CX)rebuked you last night.”

Laban’s Covenant with Jacob

43 And Laban answered and said to Jacob, “These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and this flock is my flock; all that you see is mine. But what can I do this day to these my daughters or to their children whom they have borne? 44 Now therefore, come, (CY)let us make a [ac]covenant, (CZ)you and I, and let it be a witness between you and me.”

45 So Jacob (DA)took a stone and set it up as a pillar. 46 Then Jacob said to his brethren, “Gather stones.” And they took stones and made a heap, and they ate there on the heap. 47 Laban called it [ad]Jegar Sahadutha, but Jacob called it [ae]Galeed. 48 And Laban said, (DB)“This heap is a witness between you and me this day.” Therefore its name was called Galeed, 49 also (DC)Mizpah,[af] because he said, “May the Lord watch between you and me when we are absent one from another. 50 If you afflict my daughters, or if you take other wives besides my daughters, although no man is with us—see, God is witness between you and me!”

51 Then Laban said to Jacob, “Here is this heap and here is this pillar, which I have placed between you and me. 52 This heap is a witness, and this pillar is a witness, that I will not pass beyond this heap to you, and you will not pass beyond this heap and this pillar to me, for harm. 53 The God of Abraham, the God of Nahor, and the God of their father (DD)judge between us.” And Jacob (DE)swore by (DF)the [ag]Fear of his father Isaac. 54 Then Jacob offered a sacrifice on the mountain, and called his brethren to eat bread. And they ate bread and stayed all night on the mountain. 55 And early in the morning Laban arose, and (DG)kissed his sons and daughters and (DH)blessed them. Then Laban departed and (DI)returned to his place.

Esau Comes to Meet Jacob

32 So Jacob went on his way, and (DJ)the angels of God met him. When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is God’s (DK)camp.” And he called the name of that place [ah]Mahanaim.

Then Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother (DL)in the land of Seir, (DM)the [ai]country of Edom. And he commanded them, saying, (DN)“Speak thus to my lord Esau, ‘Thus your servant Jacob says: “I have dwelt with Laban and stayed there until now. (DO)I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, and male and female servants; and I have sent to tell my lord, that (DP)I may find favor in your sight.” ’ ”

Then the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, “We came to your brother Esau, and (DQ)he also is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him.” So Jacob was greatly afraid and (DR)distressed; and he divided the people that were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two companies. And he said, “If Esau comes to the one company and [aj]attacks it, then the other company which is left will escape.”

(DS)Then Jacob said, (DT)“O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, the Lord (DU)who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your family, and I will deal well with you’: 10 I am not worthy of the least of all the (DV)mercies and of all the truth which You have shown Your servant; for I crossed over this Jordan with (DW)my staff, and now I have become two companies. 11 (DX)Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, lest he come and [ak]attack me and (DY)the mother with the children. 12 For (DZ)You said, ‘I will surely treat you well, and make your descendants as the (EA)sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’ ”

13 So he lodged there that same night, and took what [al]came to his hand as (EB)a present for Esau his brother: 14 two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, 15 thirty milk camels with their colts, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten foals. 16 Then he delivered them to the hand of his servants, every drove by itself, and said to his servants, “Pass over before me, and put some distance between successive droves.” 17 And he commanded the first one, saying, “When Esau my brother meets you and asks you, saying, ‘To whom do you belong, and where are you going? Whose are these in front of you?’ 18 then you shall say, ‘They are your servant Jacob’s. It is a present sent to my lord Esau; and behold, he also is behind us.’ ” 19 So he commanded the second, the third, and all who followed the droves, saying, “In this manner you shall speak to Esau when you find him; 20 and also say, ‘Behold, your servant Jacob is behind us.’ ” For he said, “I will (EC)appease him with the present that goes before me, and afterward I will see his face; perhaps he will accept me.” 21 So the present went on over before him, but he himself lodged that night in the camp.

Wrestling with God

22 And he arose that night and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven sons, (ED)and crossed over the ford of Jabbok. 23 He took them, sent them [am]over the brook, and sent over what he had. 24 Then Jacob was left alone; and (EE)a Man wrestled with him until the [an]breaking of day. 25 Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He [ao]touched the socket of his hip; and (EF)the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. 26 And (EG)He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.”

But he said, (EH)“I will not let You go unless You bless me!”

27 So He said to him, “What is your name?”

He said, “Jacob.”

28 And He said, (EI)“Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but [ap]Israel; for you have (EJ)struggled with God and (EK)with men, and have prevailed.”

29 Then Jacob asked, saying, “Tell me Your name, I pray.”

And He said, (EL)“Why is it that you ask about My name?” And He (EM)blessed him there.

30 So Jacob called the name of the place [aq]Peniel: “For (EN)I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” 31 Just as he crossed over [ar]Penuel the sun rose on him, and he limped on his hip. 32 Therefore to this day the children of Israel do not eat the muscle that shrank, which is on the hip socket, because He [as]touched the socket of Jacob’s hip in the muscle that shrank.

Jacob and Esau Meet

33 Now Jacob lifted his eyes and looked, and there, (EO)Esau was coming, and with him were four hundred men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two maidservants. And he put the maidservants and their children in front, Leah and her children behind, and Rachel and Joseph last. Then he crossed over before them and (EP)bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.

(EQ)But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, (ER)and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. And he lifted his eyes and saw the women and children, and said, “Who are these with you?”

So he said, “The children (ES)whom God has graciously given your servant.” Then the maidservants came near, they and their children, and bowed down. And Leah also came near with her children, and they bowed down. Afterward Joseph and Rachel came near, and they bowed down.

Then Esau said, “What do you mean by (ET)all this company which I met?”

And he said, “These are (EU)to find favor in the sight of my lord.”

But Esau said, “I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself.”

10 And Jacob said, “No, please, if I have now found favor in your sight, then receive my present from my hand, inasmuch as I (EV)have seen your face as though I had seen the face of God, and you were pleased with me. 11 Please, take (EW)my blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt (EX)graciously with me, and because I have [at]enough.” (EY)So he urged him, and he took it.

12 Then Esau said, “Let us take our journey; let us go, and I will go before you.”

13 But Jacob said to him, “My lord knows that the children are weak, and the flocks and herds which are nursing are with me. And if the men should drive them hard one day, all the flock will die. 14 Please let my lord go on ahead before his servant. I will lead on slowly at a pace which the livestock that go before me, and the children, [au]are able to endure, until I come to my lord (EZ)in Seir.”

15 And Esau said, “Now let me leave with you some of the people who are with me.”

But he said, “What need is there? (FA)Let me find favor in the sight of my lord.” 16 So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir. 17 And Jacob journeyed to (FB)Succoth, built himself a house, and made [av]booths for his livestock. Therefore the name of the place is called [aw]Succoth.

Jacob Comes to Canaan

18 Then Jacob came [ax]safely to (FC)the city of (FD)Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padan Aram; and he pitched his tent before the city. 19 And (FE)he bought the parcel of [ay]land, where he had pitched his tent, from the children of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for one hundred pieces of money. 20 Then he erected an altar there and called it (FF)El[az] Elohe Israel.

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
  10. Genesis 30:3 Lit. be built up by her
  11. Genesis 30:6 Lit. Judge
  12. Genesis 30:8 Lit. wrestlings of God
  13. Genesis 30:8 Lit. My Wrestling
  14. Genesis 30:11 So with Qr., Syr., Tg.; Kt., LXX, Vg. in fortune
  15. Genesis 30:11 Lit. Troop or Fortune
  16. Genesis 30:13 Lit. Happy
  17. Genesis 30:18 Lit. Wages
  18. Genesis 30:20 Lit. Dwelling
  19. Genesis 30:21 Lit. Judgment
  20. Genesis 30:24 Lit. He Will Add
  21. Genesis 30:30 Lit. at my foot
  22. Genesis 31:5 Lit. face
  23. Genesis 31:19 Heb. teraphim
  24. Genesis 31:21 Lit. set his face toward
  25. Genesis 31:34 Heb. teraphim
  26. Genesis 31:34 Lit. felt
  27. Genesis 31:35 Heb. teraphim
  28. Genesis 31:36 transgression
  29. Genesis 31:44 treaty
  30. Genesis 31:47 Lit., in Aram., Heap of Witness
  31. Genesis 31:47 Lit., in Heb., Heap of Witness
  32. Genesis 31:49 Lit. Watch
  33. Genesis 31:53 A reference to God
  34. Genesis 32:2 Lit. Double Camp
  35. Genesis 32:3 Lit. field
  36. Genesis 32:8 Lit. strikes
  37. Genesis 32:11 Lit. strike
  38. Genesis 32:13 he had received
  39. Genesis 32:23 across
  40. Genesis 32:24 dawn
  41. Genesis 32:25 struck
  42. Genesis 32:28 Lit. Prince with God
  43. Genesis 32:30 Lit. Face of God
  44. Genesis 32:31 Lit. Face of God; same as Peniel, v. 30
  45. Genesis 32:32 struck
  46. Genesis 33:11 Lit. all
  47. Genesis 33:14 can stand
  48. Genesis 33:17 shelters
  49. Genesis 33:17 Lit. Booths
  50. Genesis 33:18 Or to Shalem, a city of
  51. Genesis 33:19 Lit. the field
  52. Genesis 33:20 Lit. God, the God of Israel

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)

30 When Rachel saw that she was not bearing Jacob any children,(BJ) she became jealous of her sister.(BK) So she said to Jacob, “Give me children, or I’ll die!”

Jacob became angry with her and said, “Am I in the place of God,(BL) who has kept you from having children?”(BM)

Then she said, “Here is Bilhah,(BN) my servant.(BO) Sleep with her so that she can bear children for me and I too can build a family through her.”(BP)

So she gave him her servant Bilhah as a wife.(BQ) Jacob slept with her,(BR) and she became pregnant and bore him a son. Then Rachel said, “God has vindicated me;(BS) he has listened to my plea and given me a son.”(BT) Because of this she named him Dan.[f](BU)

Rachel’s servant Bilhah(BV) conceived again and bore Jacob a second son. Then Rachel said, “I have had a great struggle with my sister, and I have won.”(BW) So she named him Naphtali.[g](BX)

When Leah(BY) saw that she had stopped having children,(BZ) she took her servant Zilpah(CA) and gave her to Jacob as a wife.(CB) 10 Leah’s servant Zilpah(CC) bore Jacob a son. 11 Then Leah said, “What good fortune!”[h] So she named him Gad.[i](CD)

12 Leah’s servant Zilpah bore Jacob a second son. 13 Then Leah said, “How happy I am! The women will call me(CE) happy.”(CF) So she named him Asher.[j](CG)

14 During wheat harvest,(CH) Reuben went out into the fields and found some mandrake plants,(CI) 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(CJ) 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.”(CK)

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.”(CL) So he slept with her that night.

17 God listened to Leah,(CM) 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.”(CN) So she named him Issachar.[k](CO)

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,(CP) because I have borne him six sons.” So she named him Zebulun.[l](CQ)

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

22 Then God remembered Rachel;(CS) he listened to her(CT) and enabled her to conceive.(CU) 23 She became pregnant and gave birth to a son(CV) and said, “God has taken away my disgrace.”(CW) 24 She named him Joseph,[m](CX) and said, “May the Lord add to me another son.”(CY)

Jacob’s Flocks Increase

25 After Rachel gave birth to Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, “Send me on my way(CZ) so I can go back to my own homeland.(DA) 26 Give me my wives and children, for whom I have served you,(DB) 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,(DC) please stay. I have learned by divination(DD) that the Lord has blessed me because of you.”(DE) 28 He added, “Name your wages,(DF) and I will pay them.”

29 Jacob said to him, “You know how I have worked for you(DG) and how your livestock has fared under my care.(DH) 30 The little you had before I came has increased greatly, and the Lord has blessed you wherever I have been.(DI) But now, when may I do something for my own household?(DJ)

31 “What shall I give you?” he asked.

“Don’t give me anything,” Jacob replied. “But if you will do this one thing for me, I will go on tending your flocks and watching over them: 32 Let me go through all your flocks today and remove from them every speckled or spotted sheep, every dark-colored lamb and every spotted or speckled goat.(DK) They will be my wages.(DL) 33 And my honesty will testify for me in the future, whenever you check on the wages you have paid me. Any goat in my possession that is not speckled or spotted, or any lamb that is not dark-colored,(DM) will be considered stolen.(DN)

34 “Agreed,” said Laban. “Let it be as you have said.” 35 That same day he removed all the male goats that were streaked or spotted, and all the speckled or spotted female goats (all that had white on them) and all the dark-colored lambs,(DO) and he placed them in the care of his sons.(DP) 36 Then he put a three-day journey(DQ) between himself and Jacob, while Jacob continued to tend the rest of Laban’s flocks.

37 Jacob, however, took fresh-cut branches from poplar, almond(DR) and plane trees(DS) and made white stripes on them by peeling the bark and exposing the white inner wood of the branches.(DT) 38 Then he placed the peeled branches(DU) in all the watering troughs,(DV) so that they would be directly in front of the flocks when they came to drink. When the flocks were in heat(DW) and came to drink, 39 they mated in front of the branches.(DX) And they bore young that were streaked or speckled or spotted.(DY) 40 Jacob set apart the young of the flock by themselves, but made the rest face the streaked and dark-colored animals(DZ) that belonged to Laban. Thus he made separate flocks for himself and did not put them with Laban’s animals. 41 Whenever the stronger females were in heat,(EA) Jacob would place the branches in the troughs in front of the animals so they would mate near the branches,(EB) 42 but if the animals were weak, he would not place them there. So the weak animals went to Laban and the strong ones to Jacob.(EC) 43 In this way the man grew exceedingly prosperous and came to own large flocks, and female and male servants, and camels and donkeys.(ED)

Jacob Flees From Laban

31 Jacob heard that Laban’s sons(EE) were saying, “Jacob has taken everything our father owned and has gained all this wealth from what belonged to our father.”(EF) And Jacob noticed that Laban’s attitude toward him was not what it had been.(EG)

Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Go back(EH) to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you.”(EI)

So Jacob sent word to Rachel and Leah to come out to the fields where his flocks were. He said to them, “I see that your father’s(EJ) attitude toward me is not what it was before,(EK) but the God of my father has been with me.(EL) You know that I’ve worked for your father with all my strength,(EM) yet your father has cheated(EN) me by changing my wages(EO) ten times.(EP) However, God has not allowed him to harm me.(EQ) If he said, ‘The speckled ones will be your wages,’ then all the flocks gave birth to speckled young; and if he said, ‘The streaked ones will be your wages,’(ER) then all the flocks bore streaked young. So God has taken away your father’s livestock(ES) and has given them to me.(ET)

10 “In breeding season I once had a dream(EU) in which I looked up and saw that the male goats mating with the flock were streaked, speckled or spotted. 11 The angel of God(EV) said to me in the dream,(EW) ‘Jacob.’ I answered, ‘Here I am.’(EX) 12 And he said, ‘Look up and see that all the male goats mating with the flock are streaked, speckled or spotted,(EY) for I have seen all that Laban has been doing to you.(EZ) 13 I am the God of Bethel,(FA) where you anointed a pillar(FB) and where you made a vow(FC) to me. Now leave this land at once and go back to your native land.(FD)’”

14 Then Rachel and Leah replied, “Do we still have any share(FE) in the inheritance of our father’s estate? 15 Does he not regard us as foreigners?(FF) Not only has he sold us, but he has used up what was paid for us.(FG) 16 Surely all the wealth that God took away from our father belongs to us and our children.(FH) So do whatever God has told you.”

17 Then Jacob put his children and his wives(FI) on camels,(FJ) 18 and he drove all his livestock ahead of him, along with all the goods he had accumulated(FK) in Paddan Aram,[n](FL) to go to his father Isaac(FM) in the land of Canaan.(FN)

19 When Laban had gone to shear his sheep,(FO) Rachel stole her father’s household gods.(FP) 20 Moreover, Jacob deceived(FQ) Laban the Aramean(FR) by not telling him he was running away.(FS) 21 So he fled(FT) with all he had, crossed the Euphrates River,(FU) and headed for the hill country of Gilead.(FV)

Laban Pursues Jacob

22 On the third day(FW) Laban was told that Jacob had fled.(FX) 23 Taking his relatives(FY) with him(FZ), he pursued Jacob for seven days and caught up with him in the hill country of Gilead.(GA) 24 Then God came to Laban the Aramean(GB) in a dream at night and said to him,(GC) “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.”(GD)

25 Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country of Gilead(GE) when Laban overtook him, and Laban and his relatives camped there too. 26 Then Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done?(GF) You’ve deceived me,(GG) and you’ve carried off my daughters like captives in war.(GH) 27 Why did you run off secretly and deceive me? Why didn’t you tell me,(GI) so I could send you away with joy and singing to the music of timbrels(GJ) and harps?(GK) 28 You didn’t even let me kiss my grandchildren and my daughters goodbye.(GL) You have done a foolish thing. 29 I have the power to harm you;(GM) but last night the God of your father(GN) said to me, ‘Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.’(GO) 30 Now you have gone off because you longed to return to your father’s household.(GP) But why did you steal(GQ) my gods?(GR)

31 Jacob answered Laban, “I was afraid, because I thought you would take your daughters away from me by force.(GS) 32 But if you find anyone who has your gods, that person shall not live.(GT) In the presence of our relatives, see for yourself whether there is anything of yours here with me; and if so, take it.” Now Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen the gods.(GU)

33 So Laban went into Jacob’s tent and into Leah’s tent(GV) and into the tent of the two female servants,(GW) but he found nothing.(GX) After he came out of Leah’s tent, he entered Rachel’s tent. 34 Now Rachel had taken the household gods(GY) and put them inside her camel’s saddle(GZ) and was sitting on them. Laban searched(HA) through everything in the tent but found nothing.

35 Rachel said to her father, “Don’t be angry, my lord, that I cannot stand up in your presence;(HB) I’m having my period.(HC)” So he searched but could not find the household gods.(HD)

36 Jacob was angry and took Laban to task. “What is my crime?” he asked Laban. “How have I wronged(HE) you that you hunt me down?(HF) 37 Now that you have searched through all my goods, what have you found that belongs to your household?(HG) Put it here in front of your relatives(HH) and mine, and let them judge between the two of us.(HI)

38 “I have been with you for twenty years now.(HJ) Your sheep and goats have not miscarried,(HK) nor have I eaten rams from your flocks. 39 I did not bring you animals torn by wild beasts; I bore the loss myself. And you demanded payment from me for whatever was stolen(HL) by day or night.(HM) 40 This was my situation: The heat consumed me in the daytime and the cold at night, and sleep fled from my eyes.(HN) 41 It was like this for the twenty years(HO) I was in your household. I worked for you fourteen years for your two daughters(HP) and six years for your flocks,(HQ) and you changed my wages(HR) ten times.(HS) 42 If the God of my father,(HT) the God of Abraham(HU) and the Fear of Isaac,(HV) had not been with me,(HW) you would surely have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen my hardship and the toil of my hands,(HX) and last night he rebuked you.(HY)

43 Laban answered Jacob, “The women are my daughters, the children are my children, and the flocks are my flocks.(HZ) All you see is mine. Yet what can I do today about these daughters of mine, or about the children they have borne? 44 Come now, let’s make a covenant,(IA) you and I, and let it serve as a witness between us.”(IB)

45 So Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar.(IC) 46 He said to his relatives, “Gather some stones.” So they took stones and piled them in a heap,(ID) and they ate there by the heap. 47 Laban called it Jegar Sahadutha, and Jacob called it Galeed.[o](IE)

48 Laban said, “This heap(IF) is a witness between you and me today.”(IG) That is why it was called Galeed. 49 It was also called Mizpah,[p](IH) because he said, “May the Lord keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other. 50 If you mistreat(II) my daughters or if you take any wives besides my daughters, even though no one is with us, remember that God is a witness(IJ) between you and me.”(IK)

51 Laban also said to Jacob, “Here is this heap,(IL) and here is this pillar(IM) I have set up between you and me. 52 This heap is a witness, and this pillar is a witness,(IN) that I will not go past this heap to your side to harm you and that you will not go past this heap(IO) and pillar to my side to harm me.(IP) 53 May the God of Abraham(IQ) and the God of Nahor,(IR) the God of their father, judge between us.”(IS)

So Jacob took an oath(IT) in the name of the Fear of his father Isaac.(IU) 54 He offered a sacrifice(IV) there in the hill country and invited his relatives to a meal.(IW) After they had eaten, they spent the night there.

55 Early the next morning Laban kissed his grandchildren and his daughters(IX) and blessed(IY) them. Then he left and returned home.[q](IZ)

Jacob Prepares to Meet Esau

32 [r]Jacob also went on his way, and the angels of God(JA) met him. When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is the camp of God!”(JB) So he named that place Mahanaim.[s](JC)

Jacob sent messengers(JD) ahead of him to his brother Esau(JE) in the land of Seir,(JF) the country of Edom.(JG) He instructed them: “This is what you are to say to my lord(JH) Esau: ‘Your servant(JI) Jacob says, I have been staying with Laban(JJ) and have remained there till now. I have cattle and donkeys, sheep and goats, male and female servants.(JK) Now I am sending this message to my lord,(JL) that I may find favor in your eyes.(JM)’”

When the messengers returned to Jacob, they said, “We went to your brother Esau, and now he is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him.”(JN)

In great fear(JO) and distress(JP) Jacob divided the people who were with him into two groups,[t](JQ) and the flocks and herds and camels as well. He thought, “If Esau comes and attacks one group,[u] the group[v] that is left may escape.”

Then Jacob prayed, “O God of my father Abraham,(JR) God of my father Isaac,(JS) Lord, you who said to me, ‘Go back to your country and your relatives, and I will make you prosper,’(JT) 10 I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness(JU) you have shown your servant. I had only my staff(JV) when I crossed this Jordan, but now I have become two camps.(JW) 11 Save me, I pray, from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid(JX) he will come and attack me,(JY) and also the mothers with their children.(JZ) 12 But you have said, ‘I will surely make you prosper and will make your descendants like the sand(KA) of the sea, which cannot be counted.(KB)’”

13 He spent the night there, and from what he had with him he selected a gift(KC) for his brother Esau: 14 two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams,(KD) 15 thirty female camels with their young, forty cows and ten bulls, and twenty female donkeys and ten male donkeys.(KE) 16 He put them in the care of his servants, each herd by itself, and said to his servants, “Go ahead of me, and keep some space between the herds.”(KF)

17 He instructed the one in the lead: “When my brother Esau meets you and asks, ‘Who do you belong to, and where are you going, and who owns all these animals in front of you?’ 18 then you are to say, ‘They belong to your servant(KG) Jacob. They are a gift(KH) sent to my lord Esau, and he is coming behind us.’”

19 He also instructed the second, the third and all the others who followed the herds: “You are to say the same thing to Esau when you meet him. 20 And be sure to say, ‘Your servant(KI) Jacob is coming behind us.’” For he thought, “I will pacify him with these gifts(KJ) I am sending on ahead;(KK) later, when I see him, perhaps he will receive me.”(KL) 21 So Jacob’s gifts(KM) went on ahead of him, but he himself spent the night in the camp.

Jacob Wrestles With God

22 That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons(KN) and crossed the ford of the Jabbok.(KO) 23 After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions.(KP) 24 So Jacob was left alone,(KQ) and a man(KR) wrestled with him till daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip(KS) so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. 26 Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.”

But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”(KT)

27 The man asked him, “What is your name?”

“Jacob,”(KU) he answered.

28 Then the man said, “Your name(KV) will no longer be Jacob, but Israel,[w](KW) because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.”(KX)

29 Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.”(KY)

But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?”(KZ) Then he blessed(LA) him there.

30 So Jacob called the place Peniel,[x] saying, “It is because I saw God face to face,(LB) and yet my life was spared.”

31 The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel,[y](LC) and he was limping because of his hip. 32 Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the tendon attached to the socket of the hip,(LD) because the socket of Jacob’s hip was touched near the tendon.

Jacob Meets Esau

33 Jacob looked up and there was Esau, coming with his four hundred men;(LE) so he divided the children among Leah, Rachel and the two female servants.(LF) He put the female servants and their children(LG) in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph(LH) in the rear. He himself went on ahead and bowed down to the ground(LI) seven times(LJ) as he approached his brother.

But Esau(LK) ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him.(LL) And they wept.(LM) Then Esau looked up and saw the women and children. “Who are these with you?” he asked.

Jacob answered, “They are the children God has graciously given your servant.(LN)

Then the female servants and their children(LO) approached and bowed down.(LP) Next, Leah and her children(LQ) came and bowed down.(LR) Last of all came Joseph and Rachel,(LS) and they too bowed down.

Esau asked, “What’s the meaning of all these flocks and herds I met?”(LT)

“To find favor in your eyes, my lord,”(LU) he said.

But Esau said, “I already have plenty,(LV) my brother. Keep what you have for yourself.”

10 “No, please!” said Jacob. “If I have found favor in your eyes,(LW) accept this gift(LX) from me. For to see your face is like seeing the face of God,(LY) now that you have received me favorably.(LZ) 11 Please accept the present(MA) that was brought to you, for God has been gracious to me(MB) and I have all I need.”(MC) And because Jacob insisted,(MD) Esau accepted it.

12 Then Esau said, “Let us be on our way; I’ll accompany you.”

13 But Jacob said to him, “My lord(ME) knows that the children are tender and that I must care for the ewes and cows that are nursing their young.(MF) If they are driven hard just one day, all the animals will die. 14 So let my lord go on ahead of his servant, while I move along slowly at the pace of the flocks and herds(MG) before me and the pace of the children, until I come to my lord in Seir.(MH)

15 Esau said, “Then let me leave some of my men with you.”

“But why do that?” Jacob asked. “Just let me find favor in the eyes of my lord.”(MI)

16 So that day Esau started on his way back to Seir.(MJ) 17 Jacob, however, went to Sukkoth,(MK) where he built a place for himself and made shelters for his livestock. That is why the place is called Sukkoth.[z]

18 After Jacob came from Paddan Aram,[aa](ML) he arrived safely at the city of Shechem(MM) in Canaan and camped within sight of the city. 19 For a hundred pieces of silver,[ab] he bought from the sons of Hamor,(MN) the father of Shechem,(MO) the plot of ground(MP) where he pitched his tent.(MQ) 20 There he set up an altar(MR) and called it El Elohe Israel.[ac]

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.
  6. Genesis 30:6 Dan here means he has vindicated.
  7. Genesis 30:8 Naphtali means my struggle.
  8. Genesis 30:11 Or “A troop is coming!”
  9. Genesis 30:11 Gad can mean good fortune or a troop.
  10. Genesis 30:13 Asher means happy.
  11. Genesis 30:18 Issachar sounds like the Hebrew for reward.
  12. Genesis 30:20 Zebulun probably means honor.
  13. Genesis 30:24 Joseph means may he add.
  14. Genesis 31:18 That is, Northwest Mesopotamia
  15. Genesis 31:47 The Aramaic Jegar Sahadutha and the Hebrew Galeed both mean witness heap.
  16. Genesis 31:49 Mizpah means watchtower.
  17. Genesis 31:55 In Hebrew texts this verse (31:55) is numbered 32:1.
  18. Genesis 32:1 In Hebrew texts 32:1-32 is numbered 32:2-33.
  19. Genesis 32:2 Mahanaim means two camps.
  20. Genesis 32:7 Or camps
  21. Genesis 32:8 Or camp
  22. Genesis 32:8 Or camp
  23. Genesis 32:28 Israel probably means he struggles with God.
  24. Genesis 32:30 Peniel means face of God.
  25. Genesis 32:31 Hebrew Penuel, a variant of Peniel
  26. Genesis 33:17 Sukkoth means shelters.
  27. Genesis 33:18 That is, Northwest Mesopotamia
  28. Genesis 33:19 Hebrew hundred kesitahs; a kesitah was a unit of money of unknown weight and value.
  29. Genesis 33:20 El Elohe Israel can mean El is the God of Israel or mighty is the God of Israel.