Genesis 29:1-14

International Children’s Bible

Jacob Arrives in Northwest Mesopotamia

29 Then Jacob continued his journey. He came to the land of the people of the East. ² He looked and saw a well in the field. Three flocks of sheep were lying nearby, because they drank water from this well. A large stone covered the mouth of the well. ³ All the flocks would gather there. The shepherds would roll the stone away from the well and water the sheep. Then they would put the stone back in its place.

⁴ Jacob said to the shepherds there, “My brothers, where are you from?”

They answered, “We are from Haran.”

⁵ Then Jacob asked, “Do you know Laban grandson of Nahor?”

They answered, “We know him.”

⁶ Then Jacob asked, “How is he?”

They answered, “He is well. Look, his daughter Rachel is coming now with his sheep.”

⁷ Jacob said, “But look, it is still the middle part of the day. It is not time for the sheep to be gathered for the night. So give them water and let them go back into the pasture.”

⁸ But they said, “We cannot do that until all the flocks are gathered. Then we will roll away the stone from the mouth of the well and water the sheep.”

⁹ While Jacob was talking with the shepherds, Rachel came with her father’s sheep. It was her job to take care of the sheep. ¹⁰ Then Jacob saw Laban’s daughter Rachel and Laban’s sheep. So he went to the well and rolled the stone from its mouth. Then he watered Laban’s sheep. Now Laban was the brother of Rebekah, Jacob’s mother. ¹¹ Then Jacob kissed Rachel and cried. ¹² He told her that he was from her father’s family. He said that he was the son of Rebekah. So Rachel ran home and told her father.

¹³ When Laban heard the news about his sister’s son Jacob, Laban ran to meet him. Laban hugged him and kissed him and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban everything that had happened.

¹⁴ Then Laban said, “You are my own flesh and blood.”

Jacob Is Tricked

So Jacob stayed there a month.