International Standard Version

King James Bible

1Jacob journeyed on and reached the territory that belonged to the people who lived in the east.

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

2As he was observing a well that had been dug out on the open range, all of a sudden he noticed three flocks of sheep lying there, because shepherds watered their flocks from that well. There was a very large stone that covered the opening of the well,

2And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks: and a great stone was upon the well's mouth.

3and when all the flocks had been gathered there, they would roll away the stone from the opening of the well, water their flocks, and then return the stone to its place covering the opening of the well.

3And 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.

4Jacob asked them, "My brothers, where are you from?" "We're from Haran," they answered.

4And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, Of Haran are we.

5"Do you happen to know Nahor's son Laban?" he inquired. "We do," they replied.

5And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him.

6So he asked them, "How's he doing?" "Very well," they answered. "As a matter of fact, look over there! That's his daughter Rachel, coming here with his sheep."

6And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.

7"Look!" Jacob replied. "The sun is still high. It's not yet time for the flocks to be gathered. Let's water the sheep, then let them graze."

7And 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 and feed them.

8But they responded, "We can't do that until all the sheep have been gathered and the stone has been rolled away from the opening of the well. Only then can we water the flock."

8And they said, We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and till they roll the stone from the well's mouth; then we water the sheep.

9While he was still talking with them, Rachel arrived with her father's sheep, since she was a shepherdess.

9And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep: for she kept them.

10When Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of Laban, his mother's brother, accompanied by Laban's sheep, Jacob approached the well, rolled the stone from the opening of the well, and then watered his mother's brother Laban's flock.

10And it came to pass, 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.

11Then Jacob kissed Rachel and began to cry out loud.

11And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.

12Jacob told Rachel that he was related to her father, since he was Rebekah's son, so she ran and told her father.

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.

13When Laban heard the news about his sister's son Jacob, he ran out to meet him. He embraced him, kissed him, and brought him back to his house. Then Jacob told Laban about everything that had happened.

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.

14Laban responded, "You certainly are my flesh and blood!" So Jacob stayed with him for about a month.

14And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month.

15Later, Laban asked Jacob, "Should you serve me for free, just because you're my nephew? Let's talk about what your wages should be."

15And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be?

16Now Laban happened to have two daughters. The older one was named Leah and the younger was named Rachel.

16And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.

17Leah looked rather plain, but Rachel was lovely in form and appearance.

17Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.

18Jacob loved Rachel, so he made this offer to Laban: "I'll serve you for seven years for Rachel, your younger daughter."

18And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.

19"It's better that I give her to you than to another man," Laban replied, "so stay with me."

19And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me.

20Jacob served seven years for Rachel, but it seemed like only a few days because of his love for her.

20And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.

21Eventually, Jacob told Laban, "Bring me my wife, now that my time of service has been completed, so I can go be with her."

21And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.

22So Laban gathered all the men who lived in that place and held a wedding festival.

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

23That night Laban took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob. He had marital relations with her.

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.

24Laban also gave his servant woman Zilpah to Leah to be her maidservant.

24And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid.

25The next morning, Jacob realized that it was Leah! "What have you done to me?" he demanded of Laban. "Didn't I serve you for seven years in order to marry Rachel? Why did you deceive me?"

25And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?

26But Laban responded, "It's not the practice of our place to give the younger one in marriage before the firstborn.

26And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.

27Fulfill the week for this daughter, then we'll give you the other one in exchange for serving me another seven years."

27Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.

28So Jacob completed another seven years' work, and then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife.

28And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.

29Laban also gave his woman servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her maidservant.

29And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.

30Jacob also married Rachel, since he loved her. He served Laban another full seven years' work for Rachel.

30And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.

31Later, the LORD noticed that Leah was being neglected, so he made her fertile, while Rachel remained childless.

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

32Leah conceived, bore a son, and named him Reuben, because she was saying, "The LORD had looked on my torture, so now my husband will love me."

32And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.

33Later, she conceived again, bore a son, and declared, "Because the LORD heard that I'm neglected, he gave me this one, too." So she named him Simeon.

33And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the LORD hath heard that I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon.

34Later, she conceived again and said, "This time my husband will become attached to me, now that I've borne him three sons." So he named him Levi.

34And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi.

35Then she conceived yet again, bore a son, and said, "This time I'll praise the LORD." So she named him Judah. Then she stopped bearing children.

35And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.