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)