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Genesis 29 :: Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

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Jacob Meets Rachel
Unchecked Copy BoxGen 29:1 -

Jacob resumed his journey[fn] and went to the eastern country.[fn]

Unchecked Copy BoxGen 29:2 -

He 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.

Unchecked Copy BoxGen 29:3 -

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

Unchecked Copy BoxGen 29:4 -

Jacob asked the men at the well, “My brothers! Where are you from? ”

“We’re from Haran,” they answered.

Unchecked Copy BoxGen 29:5 -

“Do you know Laban, Nahor’s grandson? ” Jacob asked them.

They answered, “We know him.”

Unchecked Copy BoxGen 29:6 -

“Is he well? ” Jacob asked.

“Yes,” they said, “and here is his daughter Rachel, coming with his sheep.”

Unchecked Copy BoxGen 29:7 -

Then 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.”

Unchecked Copy BoxGen 29:8 -

But 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.”

Unchecked Copy BoxGen 29:9 -

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

Unchecked Copy BoxGen 29:10 -

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

Unchecked Copy BoxGen 29:11 -

Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept loudly.[fn]

Unchecked Copy BoxGen 29:12 -

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

Jacob Deceived
Unchecked Copy BoxGen 29:13 -

When 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.

Unchecked Copy BoxGen 29:14 -

Laban said to him, “Yes, you are my own flesh and blood.”[fn]

After Jacob had stayed with him a month,

Unchecked Copy BoxGen 29:15 -

Laban said to him, “Just because you’re my relative, should you work for me for nothing? Tell me what your wages should be.”

Unchecked Copy BoxGen 29:16 -

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

Unchecked Copy BoxGen 29:17 -

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

Unchecked Copy BoxGen 29:18 -

Jacob loved Rachel, so he answered Laban, “I’ll work for you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.”

Unchecked Copy BoxGen 29:19 -

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

Unchecked Copy BoxGen 29:20 -

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

Unchecked Copy BoxGen 29:21 -

Then Jacob said to Laban, “Since my time is complete, give me my wife, so I can sleep with[fn] her.”

Unchecked Copy BoxGen 29:22 -

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

Unchecked Copy BoxGen 29:23 -

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

Unchecked Copy BoxGen 29:24 -

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

Unchecked Copy BoxGen 29:25 -

When morning came, there was Leah! So he said to Laban, “What have you done to me? Wasn’t it for Rachel that I worked for you? Why have you deceived me? ”

Unchecked Copy BoxGen 29:26 -

Laban answered, “It is not the custom in our country to give the younger daughter in marriage before the firstborn.

Unchecked Copy BoxGen 29:27 -

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

Unchecked Copy BoxGen 29:28 -

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

Unchecked Copy BoxGen 29:29 -

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

Unchecked Copy BoxGen 29:30 -

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

Jacob’s Sons
Unchecked Copy BoxGen 29:31 -

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

Unchecked Copy BoxGen 29:32 -

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

Unchecked Copy BoxGen 29:33 -

She conceived again, gave birth to a son, and said, “The LORD heard that I am neglected and has given me this son also.” So she named him Simeon.[fn]

Unchecked Copy BoxGen 29:34 -

She 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.[fn]

Unchecked Copy BoxGen 29:35 -

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

CSB Footnotes
Lit Jacob picked up his feet
Lit the land of the children of the east
Sam, some LXX mss read flocks and the shepherds
Lit with the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother
Lit and he lifted his voice and wept
Lit my bone and my flesh
Lit can go to
= See, a Son; in Hb, the name Reuben sounds like “has seen my affliction.”
In Hb, the name Simeon sounds like “has heard.”
In Hb, the name Levi sounds like “attached to.”
In Hb, the name Judah sounds like “praise.”
CSB

Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017, 2020 by Holman Bible Publishers.

Additional information is provided here.

For more information on this translation, see the CSB Preface.

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