29 13 Jacob cometh to Laban and serveth seven years for Rachel. 23 Leah brought to his bed instead of Rachel. 27 He serveth seven years more for Rachel. 31 Leah conceiveth and beareth four sons.

Then Jacob [a]lift up his feet and came into the [b]East country.

And as he looked about, behold, there was a well in the field, [c]and lo, three flocks of sheep lay thereby (for at that well were the flocks watered) and there was a great stone upon the well’s mouth.

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.

And Jacob said unto them, My [d]brethren, whence be ye? And they answered, We are of Haran.

Then he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? Who said, We know him.

Again he said unto them, [e]Is he in good health? And they answered, He is in good health, and behold, his daughter Rachel cometh with the sheep.

Then 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 feed them.

But they said, We may not, until all the flocks be brought together, and till men roll the stone from the well’s mouth, that we may water the sheep.

¶ While he talked with them, Rachel also came with her father’s sheep, for she kept them.

10 And as soon as Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother, then came Jacob 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 (For Jacob told Rachel, that he was her father’s [f]brother, and that he was Rebekah’s son) then she ran and told her father.

13 And when Laban heard tell of Jacob his sister’s son, he ran to meet him, and embraced him and kissed him, and brought him to his house: and he told Laban [g]all these things.

14 To whom Laban said, Well, thou art my [h]bone and my flesh, and he abode with him the space of a month.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 29:1 That is, he went forth on his journey.
  2. Genesis 29:1 Hebrew, to the land of the children of the East.
  3. Genesis 29:2 Thus he was directed by the only providence of God, who brought him also to Laban’s house.
  4. Genesis 29:4 It seemeth that in those days the custom was to call even strangers, brethren.
  5. Genesis 29:6 Or, he is in peace? by the which word the Hebrews signify all prosperity.
  6. Genesis 29:12 Or, nephew.
  7. Genesis 29:13 That is, the cause why he departed from his father’s house, and what he saw in the way.
  8. Genesis 29:14 That is, of my blood and kindred.

Bible Gateway Recommends