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Genesis 29:15-35
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Genesis 29:15-35
Holman Christian Standard Bible
15 Laban said to him, “Just because you’re my relative, should you work for me for nothing? Tell me what your wages should be.”
16 Now Laban had two daughters: the older was named Leah, and the younger was named Rachel. 17 Leah had ordinary[a] eyes, but Rachel was shapely and beautiful. 18 Jacob loved Rachel, so he answered Laban, “I’ll work for you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.”(A)
19 Laban replied, “Better that I give her to you than to some other man. Stay with me.” 20 So Jacob worked seven years for Rachel, and they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.
21 Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my time is completed. I want to sleep with[b] her.” 22 So Laban invited all the men of the place to a feast. 23 That evening, Laban took his daughter Leah and gave her to Jacob, and he slept with her. 24 And Laban gave his slave Zilpah to his daughter Leah as her slave.
25 When morning came, there was Leah! So he said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Wasn’t it for Rachel that I worked for you? Why have you deceived me?”
26 Laban answered, “It is not the custom in this place to give the younger daughter in marriage before the firstborn. 27 Complete this week of wedding celebration, and we will also give you this younger one in return for working yet another seven years for me.”
28 And Jacob did just that. He finished the week of celebration, and Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife. 29 And Laban gave his slave Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her slave. 30 Jacob slept with Rachel also, and indeed, he loved Rachel more than Leah. And he worked for Laban another seven years.(B)
Jacob’s Sons
31 When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved,(C) He opened her womb;(D) but Rachel was unable to conceive.(E) 32 Leah conceived, gave birth to a son, and named him Reuben,[c] for she said, “The Lord has seen my affliction;(F) surely my husband will love me now.”
33 She conceived again, gave birth to a son, and said, “The Lord heard that I am unloved and has given me this son also.” So she named him Simeon.[d]
34 She conceived again, gave birth to a son, and said, “At last, my husband will become attached to me because I have borne three sons for him.” Therefore he was named Levi.[e]
35 And she conceived again, gave birth to a son, and said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” Therefore she named him Judah.[f](G) Then Leah stopped having children.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Genesis 29:17 Lit tender
- Genesis 29:21 Lit to go to
- Genesis 29:32 = See, a Son; in Hb, the name Reuben sounds like “has seen my affliction.”
- Genesis 29:33 In Hb, the name Simeon sounds like “has heard.”
- Genesis 29:34 In Hb, the name Levi sounds like “attached to.”
- Genesis 29:35 In Hb, the name Judah sounds like “praise.”
Genesis 29:15-35
New International Version
Genesis 29:15-35
New International Version
15 Laban said to him, “Just because you are a relative(A) of mine, should you work for me for nothing? Tell me what your wages(B) should be.”
16 Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the older was Leah,(C) and the name of the younger was Rachel.(D) 17 Leah had weak[a] eyes, but Rachel(E) had a lovely figure and was beautiful.(F) 18 Jacob was in love with Rachel(G) and said, “I’ll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel.”(H)
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,(I) but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.(J)
21 Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife. My time is completed, and I want to make love to her.(K)”
22 So Laban brought together all the people of the place and gave a feast.(L) 23 But when evening came, he took his daughter Leah(M) and brought her to Jacob, and Jacob made love to her. 24 And Laban gave his servant Zilpah(N) to his daughter as her attendant.(O)
25 When morning came, there was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me?(P) I served you for Rachel, didn’t I? Why have you deceived me?(Q)”
26 Laban replied, “It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older one.(R) 27 Finish this daughter’s bridal week;(S) then we will give you the younger one also, in return for another seven years of work.(T)”
28 And Jacob did so. He finished the week with Leah, and then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife.(U) 29 Laban gave his servant Bilhah(V) to his daughter Rachel as her attendant.(W) 30 Jacob made love to Rachel also, and his love for Rachel was greater than his love for Leah.(X) And he worked for Laban another seven years.(Y)
Jacob’s Children
31 When the Lord saw that Leah was not loved,(Z) he enabled her to conceive,(AA) but Rachel remained childless. 32 Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son.(AB) She named him Reuben,[b](AC) for she said, “It is because the Lord has seen my misery.(AD) 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,(AE) he gave me this one too.” So she named him Simeon.[c](AF)
34 Again she conceived, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Now at last my husband will become attached to me,(AG) because I have borne him three sons.” So he was named Levi.[d](AH)
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](AI) Then she stopped having children.(AJ)
Footnotes
- Genesis 29:17 Or delicate
- Genesis 29:32 Reuben sounds like the Hebrew for he has seen my misery; the name means see, a son.
- Genesis 29:33 Simeon probably means one who hears.
- Genesis 29:34 Levi sounds like and may be derived from the Hebrew for attached.
- Genesis 29:35 Judah sounds like and may be derived from the Hebrew for praise.
Genesis 29:15-35
King James Version
Genesis 29:15-35
King James Version
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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