14 Then Laban said to him, “You are my own flesh and blood.”(A)

Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel

After Jacob had stayed with him for a whole month, 15 Laban said to him, “Just because you are a relative(B) of mine, should you work for me for nothing? Tell me what your wages(C) should be.”

16 Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the older was Leah,(D) and the name of the younger was Rachel.(E) 17 Leah had weak[a] eyes, but Rachel(F) had a lovely figure and was beautiful.(G) 18 Jacob was in love with Rachel(H) and said, “I’ll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel.”(I)

19 Laban said, “It’s better that I give her to you than to some other man. Stay here with me.” 20 So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel,(J) but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.(K)

21 Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife. My time is completed, and I want to make love to her.(L)

22 So Laban brought together all the people of the place and gave a feast.(M) 23 But when evening came, he took his daughter Leah(N) and brought her to Jacob, and Jacob made love to her. 24 And Laban gave his servant Zilpah(O) to his daughter as her attendant.(P)

25 When morning came, there was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me?(Q) I served you for Rachel, didn’t I? Why have you deceived me?(R)

26 Laban replied, “It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older one.(S) 27 Finish this daughter’s bridal week;(T) then we will give you the younger one also, in return for another seven years of work.(U)

28 And Jacob did so. He finished the week with Leah, and then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife.(V) 29 Laban gave his servant Bilhah(W) to his daughter Rachel as her attendant.(X) 30 Jacob made love to Rachel also, and his love for Rachel was greater than his love for Leah.(Y) And he worked for Laban another seven years.(Z)

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 29:17 Or delicate

14 And Laban said to him, “Surely you are my flesh and my bone!” And he stayed with him a month.

Jacob’s Marriages

15 Then Laban said to Jacob, “Just because you are my brother should you work for me for nothing? Tell me what your wage should be.” 16 Now Laban had two daughters. The name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17 Now the eyes of Leah were dull, but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance. 18 And Jacob loved Rachel and said, “I will serve you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter.” 19 Then Laban said, “Better that I give her to you than I give her to another man. Stay with me.” 20 And Jacob worked for Rachel seven years, but they were as a few days in his eyes because he loved her. 21 And Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, that I may go in to her, for my time[a] is completed.” 22 So Laban gathered all the men of the place and prepared a feast. 23 And it happened that in the evening he took Leah his daughter and brought her to him, and he went in to her. 24 And Laban gave Zilpah his female servant to her, to Leah his daughter as a female servant. 25 And it happened that in the morning, behold, it was Leah! And he said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Now why did you deceive me?” 26 Then Laban said, “It is not the custom[b] in our country to give the younger before the firstborn. 27 Complete the week of this one,[c] then I will also give you the other, on the condition that you will work for me[d] another seven years.” 28 And Jacob did so. So he completed the week of this one,[e] then he gave Rachel his daughter to him as a wife. 29 And Laban gave Bilhah his female servant to Rachel his daughter as a female servant. 30 Then he also went in to Rachel, and he loved Rachel more than Leah. And he served with him yet another seven years.

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 29:21 Literally “my days”
  2. Genesis 29:26 Literally “it is not thus done”
  3. Genesis 29:27 Leah; the wedding feast would last one week
  4. Genesis 29:27 Literally “with respect to the work that you will work with me yet”
  5. Genesis 29:28 That is, Leah