English Standard Version

New American Standard Bible 1995

1Then Jacob went on his journey and came to the land of the people of the east.

1Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the sons of the east.

2As he looked, he saw a well in the field, and behold, three flocks of sheep lying beside it, for out of that well the flocks were watered. The stone on the well’s mouth was large,

2He looked, and saw a well in the field, and behold, three flocks of sheep were lying there beside it, for from that well they watered the flocks. Now the stone on the mouth of the well was large.

3and when all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone from the mouth of the well and water the sheep, and put the stone back in its place over the mouth of the well.

3When all the flocks were gathered there, they would then roll the stone from the mouth of the well and water the sheep, and put the stone back in its place on the mouth of the well.

4Jacob said to them, “My brothers, where do you come from?” They said, “We are from Haran.”

4Jacob said to them, "My brothers, where are you from?" And they said, "We are from Haran."

5He said to them, “Do you know Laban the son of Nahor?” They said, “We know him.”

5He said to them, "Do you know Laban the son of Nahor?" And they said, "We know him."

6He said to them, “Is it well with him?” They said, “It is well; and see, Rachel his daughter is coming with the sheep!”

6And he said to them, "Is it well with him?" And they said, "It is well, and here is Rachel his daughter coming with the sheep."

7He said, “Behold, it is still high day; it is not time for the livestock to be gathered together. Water the sheep and go, pasture them.”

7He said, "Behold, it is still high day; it is not time for the livestock to be gathered. Water the sheep, and go, pasture them."

8But they said, “We cannot until all the flocks are gathered together and the stone is rolled from the mouth of the well; then we water the sheep.”

8But they said, "We cannot, until all the flocks are gathered, and they roll the stone from the mouth of the well; then we water the sheep."

9While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess.

9While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she was a shepherdess.

10Now as soon as Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother, Jacob came near and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother.

10When Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, Jacob went up and rolled the stone from the mouth of the well and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother.

11Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept aloud.

11Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted his voice and wept.

12And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s kinsman, and that he was Rebekah’s son, and she ran and told her father.

12Jacob told Rachel that he was a relative of her father and that he was Rebekah's son, and she ran and told her father.

13As soon as Laban heard the news about Jacob, his sister’s son, he ran to meet him and embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban all these things,

13So when Laban heard the news of Jacob his sister's son, he ran to meet him, and embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house. Then he related to Laban all these things.

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

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

15Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my kinsman, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?”

15Then Laban said to Jacob, "Because you are my relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?"

16Now Laban had two daughters. The name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.

16Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.

17Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance.

17And Leah's eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful of form and face.

18Jacob loved Rachel. And he said, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.”

18Now Jacob loved Rachel, so he said, "I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel."

19Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to any other man; stay with me.”

19Laban said, "It is better that I give her to you than to give her to another man; stay with me."

20So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her.

20So Jacob served seven years for Rachel and they seemed to him but a few days because of his love for her.

21Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife that I may go in to her, for my time is completed.”

21Then Jacob said to Laban, "Give me my wife, for my time is completed, that I may go in to her."

22So Laban gathered together all the people of the place and made a feast.

22Laban gathered all the men of the place and made a feast.

23But in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and he went in to her.

23Now in the evening he took his daughter Leah, and brought her to him; and Jacob went in to her.

24(Laban gave his female servant Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her servant.)

24Laban also gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah as a maid.

25And in the morning, behold, it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?”

25So it came about in the morning that, behold, it was Leah! And he said to Laban, "What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served with you? Why then have you deceived me?"

26Laban said, “It is not so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.

26But Laban said, "It is not the practice in our place to marry off the younger before the firstborn.

27Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also in return for serving me another seven years.”

27"Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also for the service which you shall serve with me for another seven years."

28Jacob did so, and completed her week. Then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife.

28Jacob did so and completed her week, and he gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife.

29(Laban gave his female servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her servant.)

29Laban also gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maid.

30So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah, and served Laban for another seven years.

30So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and indeed he loved Rachel more than Leah, and he served with Laban for another seven years.

31When the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.

31Now the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, and He opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.

32And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben, for she said, “Because the LORD has looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me.”

32Leah conceived and bore a son and named him Reuben, for she said, "Because the LORD has seen my affliction; surely now my husband will love me."

33She conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Because the LORD has heard that I am hated, he has given me this son also.” And she called his name Simeon.

33Then she conceived again and bore a son and said, "Because the LORD has heard that I am unloved, He has therefore given me this son also." So she named him Simeon.

34Again she conceived and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will be attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi.

34She conceived again and bore a son and said, "Now this time my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons." Therefore he was named Levi.

35And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “This time I will praise the LORD.” Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she ceased bearing.

35And she conceived again and bore a son and said, "This time I will praise the LORD." Therefore she named him Judah. Then she stopped bearing.

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