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.
Genesis 29
Good News Translation
Jacob Arrives at Laban's Home
29 Jacob continued on his way and went toward the land of the East. 2 Suddenly he came upon a well out in the fields with three flocks of sheep lying around it. The flocks were watered from this well, which had a large stone over the opening. 3 Whenever all the flocks came together there, the shepherds would roll the stone back and water them. Then they would put the stone back in place.
4 Jacob asked the shepherds, “My friends, where are you from?”
“From Haran,” they answered.
5 He asked, “Do you know Laban, grandson of Nahor?”
“Yes, we do,” they answered.
6 “Is he well?” he asked.
“He is well,” they answered. “Look, here comes his daughter Rachel with his flock.”
7 Jacob said, “Since it is still broad daylight and not yet time to bring the flocks in, why don't you water them and take them back to pasture?”
8 They answered, “We can't do that until all the flocks are here and the stone has been rolled back; then we will water the flocks.”
9 While Jacob was still talking with them, Rachel arrived with the flock. 10 When Jacob saw Rachel with his uncle Laban's flock, he went to the well, rolled the stone back, and watered the sheep. 11 Then he kissed her and began to cry for joy. 12 He told her, “I am your father's relative, the son of Rebecca.”
She ran to tell her father; 13 and when he heard the news about his nephew Jacob, he ran to meet him, hugged him and kissed him, and brought him into the house. When Jacob told Laban everything that had happened, 14 Laban said, “Yes, indeed, you are my own flesh and blood.” Jacob stayed there a whole month.
Jacob Serves Laban for Rachel and Leah
15 Laban said to Jacob, “You shouldn't work for me for nothing just because you are my relative. How much pay do you want?” 16 Laban had two daughters; the older was named Leah, and the younger Rachel. 17 Leah had lovely[a] eyes, but Rachel was shapely and beautiful.
18 Jacob was in love with Rachel, so he said, “I will work seven years for you, if you will let me marry Rachel.”
19 Laban answered, “I would rather give her to you than to anyone else; stay here with me.” 20 Jacob worked seven years so that he could have Rachel, and the time seemed like only a few days to him, because he loved her.
21 Then Jacob said to Laban, “The time is up; let me marry your daughter.” 22 So Laban gave a wedding feast and invited everyone. 23 But that night, instead of Rachel, he took Leah to Jacob, and Jacob had intercourse with her. (24 Laban gave his slave woman Zilpah to his daughter Leah as her maid.) 25 Not until the next morning did Jacob discover that it was Leah. He went to Laban and said, “Why did you do this to me? I worked to get Rachel. Why have you tricked me?”
26 Laban answered, “It is not the custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older. 27 Wait until the week's marriage celebrations are over, and I will give you Rachel, if you will work for me another seven years.”
28 Jacob agreed, and when the week of marriage celebrations was over, Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife. (29 Laban gave his slave woman Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maid.) 30 Jacob had intercourse with Rachel also, and he loved her more than Leah. Then he worked for Laban another seven years.
The Children Born to Jacob
31 When the Lord saw that Leah was loved less than Rachel, he made it possible for her to have children, but Rachel remained childless. 32 Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She said, “The Lord has seen my trouble, and now my husband will love me”; so she named him Reuben.[b] 33 She became pregnant again and gave birth to another son. She said, “The Lord has given me this son also, because he heard that I was not loved”; so she named him Simeon.[c] 34 Once again she became pregnant and gave birth to another son. She said, “Now my husband will be bound more tightly to me, because I have borne him three sons”; so she named him Levi.[d] 35 Then she became pregnant again and gave birth to another son. She said, “This time I will praise the Lord”; so she named him Judah.[e] Then she stopped having children.
Footnotes
- Genesis 29:17 lovely; or weak.
- Genesis 29:32 This name sounds like the Hebrew for “see, a son” and “has seen my trouble.”
- Genesis 29:33 This name sounds like the Hebrew for “hear.”
- Genesis 29:34 This name sounds like the Hebrew for “bound.”
- Genesis 29:35 This name sounds like the Hebrew for “praise.”
1 Mose 29
Schlachter 1951
Jakob bei Laban
29 Da machte sich Jakob wieder auf den Weg und ging ins Morgenland. 2 Und er sah sich um und siehe, da war ein Brunnen auf dem Feld, und siehe, drei Herden Schafe lagen dabei; denn von dem Brunnen mußten die Herden trinken. Und ein großer Stein lag über dem Loch des Brunnens. 3 Und sie pflegten alle Herden dort zu versammeln und den Stein von dem Loch des Brunnens zu wälzen und die Schafe zu tränken, und taten alsdann den Stein wieder an seinen Ort, über das Loch.
4 Und Jakob sprach zu ihnen: Meine Brüder, woher seid ihr? Sie antworteten: Wir sind von Haran.
5 Er sprach zu ihnen: Kennt ihr auch Laban, den Sohn Nahors? Sie antworteten: Wir kennen ihn wohl.
6 Er sprach zu ihnen: Geht es ihm gut? Sie antworteten: Es geht ihm gut; und siehe, da kommt seine Tochter Rahel mit den Schafen!
7 Er sprach: Siehe, es ist noch hoch am Tag und noch nicht Zeit, das Vieh einzutreiben; tränkt die Schafe und geht hin, weidet sie!
8 Sie antworteten: Wir können es nicht, ehe alle Herden zusammengebracht sind und sie den Stein von dem Loch des Brunnens wälzen; dann können wir die Schafe tränken.
9 Als er noch mit ihnen redete, kam Rahel mit ihres Vaters Schafen; denn sie hütete die Schafe. 10 Als aber Jakob Rahel sah, die Tochter Labans, des Bruders seiner Mutter, trat er hinzu und wälzte den Stein von dem Loch des Brunnens und tränkte die Schafe Labans, des Bruders seiner Mutter. 11 Und Jakob küßte Rahel und erhob seine Stimme und weinte. 12 Da sagte Jakob der Rahel, daß er ihres Vaters Bruder und der Rebekka Sohn wäre. Da lief sie und sagte es ihrem Vater.
13 Als nun Laban die Nachricht von Jakob, seiner Schwester Sohn, hörte, lief er ihm entgegen, umarmte und küßte ihn und führte ihn in sein Haus. Da erzählte Jakob dem Laban diese ganze Geschichte. 14 Da sprach Laban zu ihm: Wohlan, du bist mein Gebein und mein Fleisch! Und er blieb bei ihm einen Monat lang.
Lea und Rahel
15 Darnach sprach Laban zu Jakob: Solltest du mir darum umsonst dienen, weil du mein Neffe bist? Sage an, was soll dein Lohn sein?
16 Laban aber hatte zwei Töchter; die ältere hieß Lea und die jüngere Rahel. 17 Und Lea hatte matte[a] Augen, Rahel aber war schön von Gestalt und schön von Angesicht. 18 Und Jakob gewann Rahel lieb und sprach: Ich will dir sieben Jahre lang um Rahel, deine jüngere Tochter, dienen.
19 Laban antwortete: Es ist besser, ich gebe sie dir, als einem andern Mann; bleibe bei mir! 20 So diente Jakob um Rahel sieben Jahre lang, und sie kamen ihm vor wie einzelne Tage, so lieb hatte er sie.
21 Und Jakob sprach zu Laban: Gib mir meine Frau, daß ich zu ihr komme, denn meine Zeit ist abgelaufen!
22 Da lud Laban alle Leute des Ortes und machte ein Mahl. 23 Aber am Abend nahm er seine Tochter Lea und brachte sie zu ihm hinein; und er kam zu ihr. 24 Und Laban gab seine Magd Silpa seiner Tochter Lea zur Magd.
25 Am Morgen aber, siehe, da war es Lea! Und Jakob sprach zu Laban: Warum hast du mir das getan? Habe ich dir nicht um Rahel gedient? Warum hast du mich denn betrogen?
26 Laban antwortete: Es ist nicht Sitte in unserm Land, daß man die Jüngere vor der Älteren weggibt. 27 Halte die Woche aus mit dieser, so wird dir jene auch gegeben, um den Dienst, den du mir noch andere sieben Jahre lang leisten sollst.
28 Jakob tat so und hielt die Woche aus. Da gab er ihm Rahel, seine Tochter, zur Frau. 29 Und Laban gab seine Magd Bilha seiner Tochter Rahel zur Magd. 30 Also kam Jakob auch zu Rahel und hatte Rahel lieber als Lea, und diente Laban noch andere sieben Jahre lang.
Jakobs Kinder
31 Als aber der Herr sah, daß Lea ungeliebt war, machte er sie fruchtbar und Rahel unfruchtbar. 32 Und Lea empfing und gebar einen Sohn, den hieß sie Ruben[b]. Denn sie sprach: Weil der Herr mein Elend angesehen hat, so wird mich nun mein Mann lieben!
33 Und sie empfing abermal und gebar einen Sohn und sprach: Weil der Herr gehört hat, daß ich verhaßt bin, so hat er mir auch diesen gegeben, und sie hieß ihn Simeon[c].
34 Sie empfing abermal und gebar einen Sohn und sprach: Nunmehr wird mein Mann mir anhänglich sein, denn ich habe ihm drei Söhne geboren; darum nannte sie ihn Levi[d].
35 Sie empfing wieder und gebar einen Sohn und sprach: Nun will ich den Herrn preisen! Darum hieß sie ihn Juda[e]; und sie hielt inne mit Gebären.
Footnotes
- 1 Mose 29:17 matte od. schwache, empfindliche
- 1 Mose 29:32 Ruben, w. Siehe, einen Sohn!
- 1 Mose 29:33 Simeon, bed. Erhörung
- 1 Mose 29:34 Levi, bed. Anhänglichkeit
- 1 Mose 29:35 Juda, bed. Gepriesener
Good News Translation® (Today’s English Version, Second Edition) © 1992 American Bible Society. All rights reserved. For more information about GNT, visit www.bibles.com and www.gnt.bible.
Copyright © 1951 by Geneva Bible Society