Genesis 29
Names of God Bible
Jacob’s Arrival in Haran
29 Jacob continued on his trip and came to the land in the east. 2 He looked around, and out in a field he saw a well with a large stone over the opening. Three flocks of sheep were lying down near it, because the flocks were watered from that well. 3 When all the flocks were gathered there, the stone would be rolled off the opening of the well so that the sheep could be watered. Then the stone would be put back in place over the opening of the well.
4 Jacob asked some people, “My friends, where are you from?”
“We’re from Haran,” they replied.
5 He asked them, “Do you know Laban, Nahor’s grandson?”
They answered, “We do.”
6 “How is he doing?” Jacob asked them.
“He’s fine,” they answered. “Here comes his daughter Rachel with the sheep.”
7 “It’s still the middle of the day,” he said. “It isn’t time yet to gather the livestock. Water the sheep. Then let them graze.”
8 They replied, “We can’t until all the flocks are gathered. When the stone is rolled off the opening of the well, we can water the sheep.”
9 While he was still talking to them, Rachel arrived with her father’s sheep, because she was a shepherd. 10 Jacob saw Rachel, daughter of his uncle Laban, with his uncle Laban’s sheep. He came forward and rolled the stone off the opening of the well and watered his uncle Laban’s sheep. 11 Then Jacob kissed Rachel and sobbed loudly. 12 When Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s nephew and that he was Rebekah’s son, she ran and told her father.
13 As soon as Laban heard the news about his sister’s son Jacob, he ran to meet him. He hugged and kissed him and brought him into his home. Then Jacob told Laban all that had happened. 14 Laban said to him, “You are my own flesh and blood.”
Jacob Obtains Wives
Jacob stayed with him for a whole month. 15 Then Laban said to him, “Just because you’re my relative doesn’t mean that you should work for nothing. Tell me what your wages should be.”
16 Laban had two daughters. The name of the older one was Leah, and the name of the younger one was Rachel. 17 Leah had attractive eyes,[a] but Rachel had a beautiful figure and beautiful features. 18 Jacob loved Rachel. So he offered, “I’ll work seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel.”
19 Laban responded, “It’s better that I give her to you than to any other man. Stay with me.” 20 Jacob worked seven years in return for Rachel, but the years seemed like only a few days to him because he loved her.
21 At the end of the seven years Jacob said to Laban, “The time is up; give me my wife! I want to sleep with her.” 22 So Laban invited all the people of that place and gave a wedding feast. 23 In the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob. Jacob slept with her. When morning came, he realized it was Leah.[b] 24 (Laban had given his slave Zilpah to his daughter Leah as her slave.)
25 “What have you done to me?” Jacob asked Laban. “Didn’t I work for you in return for Rachel? Why did you cheat me?”
26 Laban answered, “It’s not our custom to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older one. 27 Finish the week of wedding festivities with this daughter. Then we will give you the other one too. But you’ll have to work for me another seven years.”
28 That’s what Jacob did. He finished the week with Leah. Then Laban gave his daughter Rachel to him as his wife. 29 (Laban had given his slave Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her slave.) 30 Jacob slept with Rachel too. He loved Rachel more than Leah. So he worked for Laban another seven years.
Leah and Rachel Compete for Jacob’s Love
31 When Yahweh saw Leah was unloved, he made it possible for her to have children, but Rachel had none. 32 Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben [Here’s My Son], because she said, “Certainly, Yahweh has seen my misery; now my husband will love me!” 33 She became pregnant again and gave birth to another son. She said, “Certainly, Yahweh has heard that I’m unloved, and he also has given me this son.” So she named him Simeon [Hearing]. 34 She became pregnant again and gave birth to another son. She said, “Now at last my husband will become attached to me because I’ve given him three sons.” So she named him Levi [Attached]. 35 She became pregnant again and gave birth to another son. She said, “This time I will praise Yahweh.” So she named him Judah [Praise]. Then she stopped having children.
Footnotes
- Genesis 29:17 Or “had no sparkle in her eyes.”
- Genesis 29:23 The first part of verse 25 (in Hebrew) has been placed in verse 23 to express the complex Hebrew paragraph structure more clearly in English.
Genesis 29
English Standard Version
Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel
29 Then Jacob went on his journey and came to (A)the land of the people of the east. 2 As he looked, he saw a well in the field, and behold, three flocks of sheep lying beside it, for out of that well the flocks were watered. The stone on the well's mouth was large, 3 and when all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone from the mouth of the well and water the sheep, and put the stone back in its place over the mouth of the well.
4 Jacob said to them, “My brothers, where do you come from?” They said, (B)“We are from Haran.” 5 He said to them, “Do you know Laban the son of Nahor?” They said, “We know him.” 6 He said to them, “Is it well with him?” They said, “It is well; and see, Rachel his daughter is coming with the sheep!” 7 He said, “Behold, it is still high day; it is not time for the livestock to be gathered together. Water the sheep and go, pasture them.” 8 But they said, “We cannot until all the flocks are gathered together and the stone is rolled from the mouth of the well; then we water the sheep.”
9 While he was still speaking with them, (C)Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she was a shepherdess. 10 Now as soon as Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, Jacob came near and rolled the stone from the well's mouth and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother. 11 Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept aloud. 12 And Jacob told Rachel that he was (D)her father's kinsman, and that he was Rebekah's son, (E)and she ran and told her father.
13 As soon as Laban heard the news about Jacob, his sister's son, (F)he ran to meet him and embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban all these things, 14 and Laban said to him, (G)“Surely you are my bone and my flesh!” And he stayed with him a month.
15 Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my kinsman, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?” 16 Now Laban had two daughters. The name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17 Leah's eyes were weak,[a] but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance. 18 Jacob loved Rachel. And he said, (H)“I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.” 19 Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to any other man; stay with me.” 20 So Jacob (I)served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her.
21 Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife that I may go in to her, for my time is completed.” 22 So Laban gathered together all the people of the place and (J)made a feast. 23 But in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and he went in to her. 24 (Laban gave[b] (K)his female servant Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her servant.) 25 And in the morning, behold, it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?” 26 Laban said, “It is not so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. 27 (L)Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also in return for serving me another seven years.” 28 Jacob did so, and completed her week. Then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife. 29 (Laban gave (M)his female servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her servant.) 30 So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah, and served Laban (N)for another seven years.
Jacob's Children
31 When the Lord saw that Leah was (O)hated, (P)he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. 32 And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben,[c] for she said, “Because the Lord (Q)has looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me.” 33 She conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Because the Lord has heard that I am hated, he has given me this son also.” And she called his name Simeon.[d] 34 Again she conceived and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will be (R)attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi.[e] 35 And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” Therefore she called his name (S)Judah.[f] Then she ceased bearing.
Footnotes
- Genesis 29:17 Or soft
- Genesis 29:24 Or had given; also verse 29
- Genesis 29:32 Reuben means See, a son
- Genesis 29:33 Simeon sounds like the Hebrew for heard
- Genesis 29:34 Levi sounds like the Hebrew for attached
- Genesis 29:35 Judah sounds like the Hebrew for praise
Genesis 29
King James Version
29 Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east.
2 And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks: and a great stone was upon the well's mouth.
3 And thither were all the flocks gathered: and they rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon the well's mouth in his place.
4 And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, Of Haran are we.
5 And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him.
6 And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.
7 And he said, Lo, it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together: water ye the sheep, and go and feed them.
8 And they said, We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and till they roll the stone from the well's mouth; then we water the sheep.
9 And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep; for she kept them.
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 rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother.
11 And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.
12 And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's brother, and that he was Rebekah's son: and she ran and told her father.
13 And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister's son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. And he told Laban all these things.
14 And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month.
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.
Génesis 29
Nueva Biblia de las Américas
Encuentro de Jacob y Raquel
29 Entonces Jacob siguió su camino[a], y fue a la tierra de los hijos del oriente(A). 2 Y miró, y vio[b] un pozo(B) en el campo donde tres rebaños de ovejas estaban echados allí junto a él, porque de aquel pozo daban de beber a los rebaños, y la piedra sobre la boca del pozo era grande. 3 Cuando todos los rebaños se juntaban allí, entonces rodaban la piedra de la boca del pozo y daban de beber a las ovejas, y volvían a poner la piedra en su lugar sobre la boca del pozo.
4 Y Jacob dijo a los pastores: «Hermanos míos, ¿de dónde son?». «Somos de Harán(C)», le contestaron. 5 Entonces les dijo: «¿Conocen a Labán, hijo de Nacor(D)?». «Lo conocemos», le respondieron. 6 «¿Se encuentra bien?», les preguntó Jacob. «Está bien. Mira, su hija Raquel viene con las ovejas(E)», le contestaron. 7 Entonces Jacob dijo: «Aún es pleno día, no es tiempo de recoger el ganado. Den de beber a las ovejas, y vayan a apacentarlas».
8 Pero ellos dijeron: «No podemos, hasta que se junten todos los rebaños y quiten[c] la piedra de la boca del pozo. Entonces daremos de beber a las ovejas». 9 Todavía estaba él hablando con ellos, cuando llegó Raquel con las ovejas de su padre, pues ella era pastora. 10 Cuando Jacob vio a Raquel, hija de Labán, hermano de su madre, y las ovejas de Labán, hermano de su madre, Jacob subió y quitó[d] la piedra de la boca del pozo, y dio de beber al rebaño de Labán, hermano de su madre.
11 Entonces Jacob besó a Raquel, y alzó su voz y lloró(F). 12 Jacob hizo saber a Raquel que él era pariente[e] de su padre, y que era hijo de Rebeca(G). Y ella corrió y se lo hizo saber a su padre(H).
Labán engaña a Jacob
13 Cuando Labán oyó las noticias de Jacob, hijo de su hermana, corrió a su encuentro(I), lo abrazó, lo besó(J) y lo trajo a su casa. Entonces él contó a Labán todas estas cosas. 14 Y Labán le dijo: «Ciertamente tú eres hueso mío y carne mía(K)». Y Jacob se quedó con él todo un mes. 15 Y Labán dijo a Jacob: «¿Acaso porque eres mi pariente[f] has de servirme de balde? Hazme saber cuál será tu salario(L)».
16 Labán tenía dos hijas. El nombre de la mayor era Lea, y el nombre de la menor, Raquel. 17 Los ojos de Lea eran delicados, pero Raquel era de bella figura y de hermoso parecer(M).
18 Jacob se había enamorado de Raquel(N), y dijo: «Te serviré siete años por Raquel, tu hija menor(O)». 19 Labán le respondió: «Mejor es dártela a ti que dársela a otro hombre. Quédate conmigo». 20 Jacob, pues, sirvió siete años por Raquel, y le parecieron unos pocos días, por el amor que le tenía(P).
21 Entonces Jacob dijo a Labán: «Dame mi mujer, porque mi tiempo se ha[g] cumplido para unirme[h] a ella(Q)». 22 Labán reunió a todos los hombres del lugar, e hizo un banquete. 23 Y al anochecer tomó a su hija Lea y se la trajo, y Jacob se llegó a ella. 24 Y Labán dio su sierva Zilpa a su hija Lea como sierva.
25 Cuando fue de mañana, sucedió que era Lea. Y Jacob dijo a Labán: «¿Qué es esto que me has hecho(R)? ¿No fue por Raquel que te serví[i]? ¿Por qué, pues, me has engañado(S)?». 26 Y Labán respondió: «No se acostumbra[j] en nuestro lugar dar a la menor antes que a la mayor[k].
27 »Cumple la semana nupcial de esta, y te daremos también la otra por el servicio que habrás de rendirme[l] aún otros siete años(T)». 28 Así lo hizo Jacob, y cumplió la semana de ella. Y él le dio a su hija Raquel por mujer. 29 Y Labán dio su sierva Bilha a su hija Raquel como sierva. 30 Jacob se llegó también a Raquel, y amó más a Raquel que a Lea(U); y sirvió a Labán[m] durante otros siete años(V).
Hijos de Jacob
31 Vio el Señor que Lea era aborrecida, y le concedió hijos[n]. Pero Raquel era estéril. 32 Y concibió Lea y dio a luz un hijo, y le puso por nombre Rubén[o], pues dijo: «Por cuanto el Señor ha visto[p] mi aflicción(W), sin duda ahora mi marido me amará».
33 Concibió de nuevo y dio a luz un hijo, y dijo: «Por cuanto el Señor ha oído que soy aborrecida(X), me ha dado también este hijo». Así que le puso por nombre Simeón[q]. 34 Concibió otra vez y dio a luz un hijo, y dijo: «Ahora esta vez mi marido se apegará a mí, porque le he dado tres hijos». Así que le puso por nombre Leví[r](Y). 35 Concibió una vez más y dio a luz un hijo, y dijo: «Esta vez alabaré al Señor». Así que le puso por nombre Judá[s](Z). Y dejó de dar a luz.
Footnotes
- 29:1 Lit. levantó sus pies.
- 29:2 Lit. he aquí.
- 29:8 Lit. rueden.
- 29:10 Lit. rodó.
- 29:12 Lit. hermano.
- 29:15 Lit. hermano.
- 29:21 Lit. mis días se han.
- 29:21 Lit. para llegarme.
- 29:25 Lit. serví contigo.
- 29:26 Lit. No se hace así.
- 29:26 Lit. primogénita.
- 29:27 Lit. que has de servir conmigo.
- 29:30 Lit. con él.
- 29:31 Lit. abrió su matriz.
- 29:32 I.e. Vean, un hijo.
- 29:32 Lit. reparado en.
- 29:33 I.e. El que oye.
- 29:34 I.e. Apegado.
- 29:35 I.e. Alabado.
The Names of God Bible (without notes) © 2011 by Baker Publishing Group.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
Nueva Biblia de las Américas™ NBLA™ Copyright © 2005 por The Lockman Foundation
