Genesis 29

1Then Jacob ^awent on his journey, and came to the land of the children of the east. 2And he looked, and found a well in the field, and found three flocks of sheep lying there by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks; and saw there was a massive stone upon the mouth of the well. 3And there were all the flocks gathered; so they rolled the stone from the well-mouth, and watered the sheep, and returned the stone again to it’s place upon the mouth of the well. 4And Jacob said to them, “My brethren, where do you come from?” And they said, “We come from Haran.” 5And he said to them, “Do you know Laban, the son of Nahor?” And they said, “We know him.” 6And he said to them, “Is it well with him?” And they said, “It is well; and behold, Rachel his daughter comes with the sheep.” 7And he said, “Soon it will be mid-day, not yet time for the cattle to be gathered together; go now and water the sheep, and feed them.” 8And they said, “We cannot, until all the flocks are gathered together, and they roll the stone from the well’s mouth; then we water the sheep.” 9While he was speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep; for she kept them. 10And 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. 11And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept. 12And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s brother, and that he was Rebekah’s son; and she ran and told her father.

Jacob cometh to Laban and serveth seven years for Rachel.

13And 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. 14And Laban said to him, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh.” And he stayed with him for a month. 15And Laban said unto Jacob, “Because you are my brother, you shouldn’t serve me for nothing. Tell me, what shall your wages be?” 16And Laban had two daughters; the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17And Leah’s eyes were tender; but Rachel was beautiful and well-favored. 18And Jacob loved Rachel; and he said, “I will serve you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter.” 19And Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you, than that I should give her to another man; abide with me.” 20And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed to him but a few days, for the love he had for her. 21And Jacob said unto Laban, “Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.” 22And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.

Leah brought to his bed instead of Rachel.

23And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her. 24And Laban gave Zilpah his handmaid unto his daughter Leah for a handmaid. 25And it came to pass in the morning that, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Did not I serve you for Rachel? Why then have you beguiled me?” 26And Laban said, “It is not so done in our place, to give the younger before the first-born.

He serveth seven years more for Rachel.

27Fulfil the week of this one, and we will give you the other also for the service which you shall serve with me yet another seven years.” 28And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife. 29And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her handmaid. 30And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven more years.

Leah conceiveth and beareth four sons.

31And the LORD saw that Leah was hated, and he opened her womb; but Rachel was barren. 32And Leah conceived, and bore a son, and she called his name ^bReuben: for she said, “Because the LORD has seen my suffering; for now my husband will love me.” 33And she conceived again, and bore a son, and said, “Because the LORD ^chas heard that I am hated, he has given me another son also.” and she called his name ^dSimeon. 34And she conceived again, and bore a son; and said, “Now this time will my husband be ^ejoined unto me, because I have borne him three sons; therefore was his name called Levi.” 35And she conceived again, and bore a son, and she said, “This time will I ^fpraise the LORD!” therefore she called his name ^gJudah; and she left off bearing.