New King James Version

Christian Standard Bible

1So Jacob went on his journey and came to the land of the people of the East.

1Jacob resumed his journey and went to the eastern country.

2And he looked, and saw a well in the field; and behold, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks. A large stone was on the well’s mouth.

2He looked and saw a well in a field. Three flocks of sheep were lying there beside it because the sheep were watered from this well. But a large stone covered the opening of the well.

3Now all the flocks would be gathered there; and they would roll the stone from the well’s mouth, water the sheep, and put the stone back in its place on the well’s mouth.

3The shepherds would roll the stone from the opening of the well and water the sheep when all the flocks were gathered there. Then they would return the stone to its place over the well's opening.

4And Jacob said to them, “My brethren, where are you from?” And they said, “We are from Haran.”

4Jacob asked the men at the well, "My brothers! Where are you from?" "We're from Haran," they answered.

5Then he said to them, “Do you know Laban the son of Nahor?” And they said, “We know him.”

5"Do you know Laban grandson of Nahor?" Jacob asked them. They answered, "We know him."

6So he said to them, “Is he well?” And they said, “He is well. And look, his daughter Rachel is coming with the sheep.”

6"Is he well?" Jacob asked. "Yes," they said, "and here is his daughter Rachel, coming with his sheep."

7Then he said, “Look, it is still high day; it is not time for the cattle to be gathered together. Water the sheep, and go and feed them.”

7Then Jacob said, "Look, it is still broad daylight. It's not time for the animals to be gathered. Water the flock, then go out and let them graze."

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

8But they replied, "We can't until all the flocks have been gathered and the stone is rolled from the well's opening. Then we will water the sheep."

9Now while 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.

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.

10As soon as Jacob saw his uncle Laban's daughter Rachel with his sheep, he went up and rolled the stone from the opening and watered his uncle Laban's sheep.

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

11Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept loudly.

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

12He told Rachel that he was her father's relative, Rebekah's son. She ran and told her father.

13Then it came to pass, when Laban heard the report about Jacob his sister’s son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him and kissed him, and brought him to his house. So he told Laban all these things.

13When Laban heard the news about his sister's son Jacob, he ran to meet him, hugged him, and kissed him. Then he took him to his house, and Jacob told him all that had happened.

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

14Laban said to him, "Yes, you are my own flesh and blood." After Jacob had stayed with him a month,

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

15Laban said to him, "Just because you're my relative, should you work for me for nothing? Tell me what your wages should be."

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

16Now Laban had two daughters: the older was named Leah, and the younger was named Rachel.

17Leah’s eyes were delicate, but Rachel was beautiful of form and appearance.

17Leah had tender eyes, but Rachel was shapely and beautiful.

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

18Jacob loved Rachel, so he answered Laban, "I'll work for you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel."

19And Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to another man. Stay with me.”

19Laban replied, "Better that I give her to you than to some other man. Stay with me."

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

20So Jacob worked seven years for Rachel, and they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.

21Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her.”

21Then Jacob said to Laban, "Since my time is complete, give me my wife, so I can sleep with her."

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

22So Laban invited all the men of the place and sponsored a feast.

23Now it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter and brought her to Jacob; and he went in to her.

23That evening, Laban took his daughter Leah and gave her to Jacob, and he slept with her.

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

24And Laban gave his slave Zilpah to his daughter Leah as her slave.

25So 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? Was it not for Rachel that I served you? Why then have you deceived me?”

25When morning came, there was Leah! So he said to Laban, "What is this you have done to me? Wasn't it for Rachel that I worked for you? Why have you deceived me?"

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

26Laban answered, "It is not the custom in this place to give the younger daughter in marriage before the firstborn.

27Fulfill her week, and we will give you this one also for the service which you will serve with me still another seven years.”

27Complete this week of wedding celebration, and we will also give you this younger one in return for working yet another seven years for me."

28Then Jacob did so and fulfilled her week. So he gave him his daughter Rachel as wife also.

28And Jacob did just that. He finished the week of celebration, and Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife.

29And Laban gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as a maid.

29And Laban gave his slave Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her slave.

30Then Jacob also went in to Rachel, and he also loved Rachel more than Leah. And he served with Laban still another seven years.

30Jacob slept with Rachel also, and indeed, he loved Rachel more than Leah. And he worked for Laban another seven years.

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

31When the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, he opened her womb; but Rachel was unable to conceive.

32So Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben; for she said, “The LORD has surely looked on my affliction. Now therefore, my husband will love me.”

32Leah conceived, gave birth to a son, and named him Reuben, for she said, "The LORD has seen my affliction; surely my husband will love me now."

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.” And she called his name Simeon.

33She conceived again, gave birth to a son, and said, "The LORD heard that I am unloved and has given me this son also." So she named him Simeon.

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 his name was called Levi.

34She conceived again, gave birth to a son, and said, "At last, my husband will become attached to me because I have borne three sons for him." Therefore he was named Levi.

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

35And she conceived again, gave birth to a son, and said, "This time I will praise the LORD." Therefore she named him Judah. Then Leah stopped having children.

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.