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Genesis 29:21-35
New Living Translation
Genesis 29:21-35
New Living Translation
21 Finally, the time came for him to marry her. “I have fulfilled my agreement,” Jacob said to Laban. “Now give me my wife so I can sleep with her.”
22 So Laban invited everyone in the neighborhood and prepared a wedding feast. 23 But that night, when it was dark, Laban took Leah to Jacob, and he slept with her. 24 (Laban had given Leah a servant, Zilpah, to be her maid.)
25 But when Jacob woke up in the morning—it was Leah! “What have you done to me?” Jacob raged at Laban. “I worked seven years for Rachel! Why have you tricked me?”
26 “It’s not our custom here to marry off a younger daughter ahead of the firstborn,” Laban replied. 27 “But wait until the bridal week is over; then we’ll give you Rachel, too—provided you promise to work another seven years for me.”
28 So Jacob agreed to work seven more years. A week after Jacob had married Leah, Laban gave him Rachel, too. 29 (Laban gave Rachel a servant, Bilhah, to be her maid.) 30 So Jacob slept with Rachel, too, and he loved her much more than Leah. He then stayed and worked for Laban the additional seven years.
Jacob’s Many Children
31 When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, he enabled her to have children, but Rachel could not conceive. 32 So Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben,[a] for she said, “The Lord has noticed my misery, and now my husband will love me.”
33 She soon became pregnant again and gave birth to another son. She named him Simeon,[b] for she said, “The Lord heard that I was unloved and has given me another son.”
34 Then she became pregnant a third time and gave birth to another son. He was named Levi,[c] for she said, “Surely this time my husband will feel affection for me, since I have given him three sons!”
35 Once again Leah became pregnant and gave birth to another son. She named him Judah,[d] for she said, “Now I will praise the Lord!” And then she stopped having children.
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Genesis 29:21-35
New International Version
Genesis 29:21-35
New International Version
21 Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife. My time is completed, and I want to make love to her.(A)”
22 So Laban brought together all the people of the place and gave a feast.(B) 23 But when evening came, he took his daughter Leah(C) and brought her to Jacob, and Jacob made love to her. 24 And Laban gave his servant Zilpah(D) to his daughter as her attendant.(E)
25 When morning came, there was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me?(F) I served you for Rachel, didn’t I? Why have you deceived me?(G)”
26 Laban replied, “It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older one.(H) 27 Finish this daughter’s bridal week;(I) then we will give you the younger one also, in return for another seven years of work.(J)”
28 And Jacob did so. He finished the week with Leah, and then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife.(K) 29 Laban gave his servant Bilhah(L) to his daughter Rachel as her attendant.(M) 30 Jacob made love to Rachel also, and his love for Rachel was greater than his love for Leah.(N) And he worked for Laban another seven years.(O)
Jacob’s Children
31 When the Lord saw that Leah was not loved,(P) he enabled her to conceive,(Q) but Rachel remained childless. 32 Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son.(R) She named him Reuben,[a](S) for she said, “It is because the Lord has seen my misery.(T) 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,(U) he gave me this one too.” So she named him Simeon.[b](V)
34 Again she conceived, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Now at last my husband will become attached to me,(W) because I have borne him three sons.” So he was named Levi.[c](X)
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.[d](Y) Then she stopped having children.(Z)
Footnotes
- 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.
New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.