Jacob Meets Rachel

1 וַיִּשָּׂ֥א (And lifted) יַעֲקֹ֖ב (Jacob) רַגְלָ֑יו (his feet), וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ (and he went) אַ֥רְצָה (to the land) בְנֵי־ (of the sons) קֶֽדֶם׃ (of the East).

2 וַיַּ֞רְא (And he looked) וְהִנֵּ֧ה (and behold) בְאֵ֣ר (a well) בַּשָּׂדֶ֗ה (in the field), וְהִנֵּה־ (and behold), שָׁ֞ם (there were) שְׁלֹשָׁ֤ה (three) עֶדְרֵי־ (flocks) צֹאן֙ (of sheep) רֹבְצִ֣ים (lying) עָלֶ֔יהָ (by it), כִּ֚י (for) מִן־ (from) הַבְּאֵ֣ר (of the well) הַהִ֔וא (that) יַשְׁק֖וּ (they watered) הָעֲדָרִ֑ים (the flocks). וְהָאֶ֥בֶן (And the stone) גְּדֹלָ֖ה (was great) עַל־ (on) פִּ֥י (the mouth) הַבְּאֵֽר׃ (of the well).

3 וְנֶאֶסְפוּ־ (And would be gathered) שָׁ֣מָּה (there) כָל־ (all) הָעֲדָרִ֗ים (the flocks), וְגָלֲל֤וּ (and they would roll) אֶת־ (-) הָאֶ֙בֶן֙ (the stone) מֵעַל֙ (from) פִּ֣י (the mouth) הַבְּאֵ֔ר (of the well), וְהִשְׁק֖וּ (and they would water) אֶת־ (-) הַצֹּ֑אן (the sheep), וְהֵשִׁ֧יבוּ (and they would return) אֶת־ (-) הָאֶ֛בֶן (the stone) עַל־ (on) פִּ֥י (the mouth) הַבְּאֵ֖ר (of the well) לִמְקֹמָֽהּ׃ (to its place).

4 וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) לָהֶם֙ (to them) יַעֲקֹ֔ב (Jacob), אַחַ֖י (My brothers), מֵאַ֣יִן (from where are) אַתֶּ֑ם (you⁺)? וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ (And they said), מֵחָרָ֖ן (From Haran) אֲנָֽחְנוּ׃ (we are).

5 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And he said) לָהֶ֔ם (to them), הַיְדַעְתֶּ֖ם (Do you⁺ know) אֶת־ (-) לָבָ֣ן (Laban) בֶּן־ (son) נָח֑וֹר (of Nahor)? וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ (And they said), יָדָֽעְנוּ׃ (We know him).

6 וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (And he said) לָהֶ֖ם (to them), הֲשָׁל֣וֹם (Is it well) ל֑וֹ (with him)? וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ (And they said), שָׁל֔וֹם (It is well), וְהִנֵּה֙ (and behold), רָחֵ֣ל (Rachel) בִּתּ֔וֹ (his daughter) בָּאָ֖ה (is coming) עִם־ (with) הַצֹּֽאן׃ (the sheep).

7 וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (And he said), הֵ֥ן (Behold), עוֹד֙ (yet) הַיּ֣וֹם (it is still daylight) גָּד֔וֹל (broad); לֹא־ (not) עֵ֖ת (it is time for) הֵאָסֵ֣ף (to be gathered together) הַמִּקְנֶ֑ה (the livestock). הַשְׁק֥וּ (Water) הַצֹּ֖אן (the sheep) וּלְכ֥וּ (and go) רְעֽוּ׃ (pasture them).

8 וַיֹּאמְרוּ֮ (And they said), לֹ֣א (Not) נוּכַל֒ (are we able) עַ֣ד (until) אֲשֶׁ֤ר (that) יֵאָֽסְפוּ֙ (are gathered together) כָּל־ (all) הָ֣עֲדָרִ֔ים (the flocks), וְגָֽלֲלוּ֙ (and they have rolled) אֶת־ (-) הָאֶ֔בֶן (the stone) מֵעַ֖ל (from) פִּ֣י (mouth) הַבְּאֵ֑ר (of the well); וְהִשְׁקִ֖ינוּ (and we will water) הַצֹּֽאן׃ (the sheep).

9 עוֹדֶ֖נּוּ (He still) מְדַבֵּ֣ר (was speaking) עִמָּ֑ם (with them), וְרָחֵ֣ל׀ (and Rachel) בָּ֗אָה (came) עִם־ (with) הַצֹּאן֙ (the sheep) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) לְאָבִ֔יהָ (belonged to her father), כִּ֥י (for) רֹעָ֖ה (was a shepherdess) הִֽוא׃ (she).

10 וַיְהִ֡י (And it came to pass), כַּאֲשֶׁר֩ (when) רָאָ֨ה (saw) יַעֲקֹ֜ב (Jacob) אֶת־ (-) רָחֵ֗ל (Rachel) בַּת־ (the daughter) לָבָן֙ (of Laban) אֲחִ֣י (the brother) אִמּ֔וֹ (of his mother), וְאֶת־ (and) צֹ֥אן (the sheep) לָבָ֖ן (of Laban) אֲחִ֣י (the brother) אִמּ֑וֹ (of his mother), וַיִּגַּ֣שׁ (and drew near) יַעֲקֹ֗ב (Jacob) וַיָּ֤גֶל (and rolled) אֶת־ (-) הָאֶ֙בֶן֙ (the stone) מֵעַל֙ (from) פִּ֣י (mouth) הַבְּאֵ֔ר (of the well), וַיַּ֕שְׁקְ (and he watered) אֶת־ (-) צֹ֥אן (the sheep) לָבָ֖ן (of Laban) אֲחִ֥י (the brother) אִמּֽוֹ׃ (of his mother).

11 וַיִּשַּׁ֥ק (And kissed) יַעֲקֹ֖ב (Jacob) לְרָחֵ֑ל (Rachel), וַיִּשָּׂ֥א (and he lifted up) אֶת־ (-) קֹל֖וֹ (his voice) וַיֵּֽבְךְּ׃ (and wept).

12 וַיַּגֵּ֨ד (And told) יַעֲקֹ֜ב (Jacob) לְרָחֵ֗ל (to Rachel) כִּ֣י (that) אֲחִ֤י (a brother) אָבִ֙יהָ֙ (of her father) ה֔וּא (he was), וְכִ֥י (and that) בֶן־ (a son) רִבְקָ֖ה (of Rebekah) ה֑וּא (he was), וַתָּ֖רָץ (and she ran) וַתַּגֵּ֥ד (and told it) לְאָבִֽיהָ׃ (to her father).

13 וַיְהִי֩ (And it came to pass), כִשְׁמֹ֨עַ (when heard) לָבָ֜ן (Laban) אֶת־ (-) שֵׁ֣מַע׀ (the report about) יַעֲקֹ֣ב (Jacob) בֶּן־ (the son) אֲחֹת֗וֹ (of his sister), וַיָּ֤רָץ (that he ran) לִקְרָאתוֹ֙ (to meet him), וַיְחַבֶּק־ (and he embraced him) לוֹ֙ (him) וַיְנַשֶּׁק־ (and he kissed) ל֔וֹ (him), וַיְבִיאֵ֖הוּ (and he brought him) אֶל־ (to) בֵּית֑וֹ (his house). וַיְסַפֵּ֣ר (And he told) לְלָבָ֔ן (to Laban) אֵ֥ת (-) כָּל־ (all) הַדְּבָרִ֖ים (the things) הָאֵֽלֶּה׃ (these).

Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel

14 וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) לוֹ֙ (to him) לָבָ֔ן (Laban), אַ֛ךְ (Surely) עַצְמִ֥י (my bone) וּבְשָׂרִ֖י (and my flesh) אָ֑תָּה (you are). וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב (And he dwelt) עִמּ֖וֹ (with him) חֹ֥דֶשׁ (a month) יָמִֽים׃ (of days).

15 וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) לָבָן֙ (Laban) לְיַעֲקֹ֔ב (to Jacob), הֲכִי־ (Because) אָחִ֣י (my brother) אַ֔תָּה (you are), וַעֲבַדְתַּ֖נִי (and should you serve me) חִנָּ֑ם (for nothing)? הַגִּ֥ידָה (Tell) לִּ֖י (me) מַה־ (what) מַּשְׂכֻּרְתֶּֽךָ׃ (is your wage)?

16 וּלְלָבָ֖ן (And Laban had) שְׁתֵּ֣י (two) בָנ֑וֹת (daughters); שֵׁ֤ם (the name) הַגְּדֹלָה֙ (of the older was) לֵאָ֔ה (Leah), וְשֵׁ֥ם (and the name) הַקְּטַנָּ֖ה (of the younger was) רָחֵֽל׃ (Rachel).

17 וְעֵינֵ֥י (And eyes were) לֵאָ֖ה (Leah’s) רַכּ֑וֹת (tender), וְרָחֵל֙ (and Rachel) הָֽיְתָ֔ה (was) יְפַת־ (beautiful) תֹּ֖אַר (of form) וִיפַ֥ת (and beautful) מַרְאֶֽה׃ (of appearance).

18 וַיֶּאֱהַ֥ב (And loved) יַעֲקֹ֖ב (Jacob) אֶת־ (-) רָחֵ֑ל (Rachel); וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (and he said), אֶֽעֱבָדְךָ֙ (I will serve you) שֶׁ֣בַע (seven) שָׁנִ֔ים (years) בְּרָחֵ֥ל (for Rachel), בִּתְּךָ֖ (your daughter) הַקְּטַנָּֽה׃ (younger).

19 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said), לָבָ֗ן (Laban) ט֚וֹב (It is better) תִּתִּ֣י (that I give) אֹתָ֣הּ (her) לָ֔ךְ (to you) מִתִּתִּ֥י (than that I should give) אֹתָ֖הּ (her) לְאִ֣ישׁ (to man) אַחֵ֑ר (another). שְׁבָ֖ה (Dwell) עִמָּדִֽי׃ (with me).

20 וַיַּעֲבֹ֧ד (And served) יַעֲקֹ֛ב (Jacob) בְּרָחֵ֖ל (for Rachel) שֶׁ֣בַע (seven) שָׁנִ֑ים (years); וַיִּהְי֤וּ (and they were) בְעֵינָיו֙ (to him) כְּיָמִ֣ים (days) אֲחָדִ֔ים (a few), בְּאַהֲבָת֖וֹ (because of his love) אֹתָֽהּ׃ (for her).

21 וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) יַעֲקֹ֤ב (Jacob) אֶל־ (to) לָבָן֙ (Laban), הָבָ֣ה (Give me) אֶת־ (-) אִשְׁתִּ֔י (my wife), כִּ֥י (for) מָלְא֖וּ (are fulfilled) יָמָ֑י (my days), וְאָב֖וֹאָה (that I may go in) אֵלֶֽיהָ׃ (to her).

22 וַיֶּאֱסֹ֥ף (And gathered together) לָבָ֛ן (Laban) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) אַנְשֵׁ֥י (the men) הַמָּק֖וֹם (of the place), וַיַּ֥עַשׂ (and he made) מִשְׁתֶּֽה׃ (a feast).

23 וַיְהִ֣י (And it came to pass) בָעֶ֔רֶב (in the evening) וַיִּקַּח֙ (that he took) אֶת־ (-) לֵאָ֣ה (Leah) בִתּ֔וֹ (his daughter) וַיָּבֵ֥א (and brought) אֹתָ֖הּ (her) אֵלָ֑יו (to him), וַיָּבֹ֖א (and he went in) אֵלֶֽיהָ׃ (to her).

24 וַיִּתֵּ֤ן (And gave to her) לָבָן֙ (Laban) לָ֔הּ (-) אֶת־ (-) זִלְפָּ֖ה (Zilpah) שִׁפְחָת֑וֹ (his maidservant) לְלֵאָ֥ה (to Leah) בִתּ֖וֹ (his daughter) שִׁפְחָֽה׃ (as a maidservant).

25 וַיְהִ֣י (And it came to pass) בַבֹּ֔קֶר (in the morning) וְהִנֵּה־ (that behold), הִ֖וא (it was) לֵאָ֑ה (Leah)! וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And he said) אֶל־ (to) לָבָ֗ן (Laban), מַה־ (What is) זֹּאת֙ (this) עָשִׂ֣יתָ (you have done) לִּ֔י (to me)? הֲלֹ֤א (Was it not) בְרָחֵל֙ (for Rachel) עָבַ֣דְתִּי (that I served) עִמָּ֔ךְ (with you)? וְלָ֖מָּה (And why) רִמִּיתָֽנִי׃ (have you deceived me)?

26 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) לָבָ֔ן (Laban), לֹא־ (Not) יֵעָשֶׂ֥ה (is it done) כֵ֖ן (so) בִּמְקוֹמֵ֑נוּ (in our place), לָתֵ֥ת (to give) הַצְּעִירָ֖ה (the younger) לִפְנֵ֥י (before) הַבְּכִירָֽה׃ (the firstborn).

27 מַלֵּ֖א (Fulfill) שְׁבֻ֣עַ (week) זֹ֑את (of this one), וְנִתְּנָ֨ה (and we will give) לְךָ֜ (to you) גַּם־ (also) אֶת־ (-) זֹ֗את (this one) בַּעֲבֹדָה֙ (for the service) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) תַּעֲבֹ֣ד (you will serve) עִמָּדִ֔י (with me) ע֖וֹד (yet) שֶֽׁבַע־ (seven) שָׁנִ֥ים (years) אֲחֵרֽוֹת׃ (another).

28 וַיַּ֤עַשׂ (And did) יַעֲקֹב֙ (Jacob) כֵּ֔ן (so), וַיְמַלֵּ֖א (and he fulfilled) שְׁבֻ֣עַ (the week) זֹ֑את (of this one); וַיִּתֶּן־ (and he gave) ל֛וֹ (to him) אֶת־ (-) רָחֵ֥ל (Rachel) בִּתּ֖וֹ (his daughter) ל֥וֹ (to him) לְאִשָּֽׁה׃ (for a wife).

29 וַיִּתֵּ֤ן (And gave) לָבָן֙ (Laban) לְרָחֵ֣ל (to Rachel) בִּתּ֔וֹ (his daughter) אֶת־ (-) בִּלְהָ֖ה (Bilhah) שִׁפְחָת֑וֹ (his maidservant) לָ֖הּ (to her) לְשִׁפְחָֽה׃ (as a maidservant).

30 וַיָּבֹא֙ (And he went in) גַּ֣ם (also) אֶל־ (to) רָחֵ֔ל (Rachel), וַיֶּאֱהַ֥ב (and he loved) גַּֽם־ (also) אֶת־ (-) רָחֵ֖ל (Rachel) מִלֵּאָ֑ה (more than Leah), וַיַּעֲבֹ֣ד (and he served) עִמּ֔וֹ (with him) ע֖וֹד (yet) שֶֽׁבַע־ (seven) שָׁנִ֥ים (years) אֲחֵרֽוֹת׃ (another).

Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah

31 וַיַּ֤רְא (And saw) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) כִּֽי־ (that) שְׂנוּאָ֣ה (was hated) לֵאָ֔ה (Leah), וַיִּפְתַּ֖ח (and He opened) אֶת־ (-) רַחְמָ֑הּ (her womb); וְרָחֵ֖ל (and Rachel) עֲקָרָֽה׃ (was barren).

32 וַתַּ֤הַר (And conceived) לֵאָה֙ (Leah) וַתֵּ֣לֶד (and bore) בֵּ֔ן (a son), וַתִּקְרָ֥א (and she called) שְׁמ֖וֹ (his name) רְאוּבֵ֑ן (Reuben), כִּ֣י (for) אָֽמְרָ֗ה (she said), כִּֽי־ (Surely) רָאָ֤ה (has looked) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) בְּעָנְיִ֔י (on my affliction), כִּ֥י (for) עַתָּ֖ה (now) יֶאֱהָבַ֥נִי (will love me) אִישִֽׁי׃ (my husband).

33 וַתַּ֣הַר (And she conceived) עוֹד֮ (again) וַתֵּ֣לֶד (and bore) בֵּן֒ (a son) וַתֹּ֗אמֶר (and she said), כִּֽי־ (Surely) שָׁמַ֤ע (has heard) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) כִּֽי־ (that) שְׂנוּאָ֣ה (hated) אָנֹ֔כִי (I am), וַיִּתֶּן־ (and He has given) לִ֖י (to me) גַּם־ (also) אֶת־ (-) זֶ֑ה (this one). וַתִּקְרָ֥א (And she called) שְׁמ֖וֹ (his name) שִׁמְעֽוֹן׃ (Simeon).

34 וַתַּ֣הַר (And she conceived) עוֹד֮ (again) וַתֵּ֣לֶד (and bore) בֵּן֒ (a son) וַתֹּ֗אמֶר (and she said), עַתָּ֤ה (Now) הַפַּ֙עַם֙ (this time) יִלָּוֶ֤ה (will join himself) אִישִׁי֙ (my husband) אֵלַ֔י (to me), כִּֽי־ (because) יָלַ֥דְתִּי (I have borne) ל֖וֹ (to him) שְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה (three) בָנִ֑ים (sons). עַל־ (Upon) כֵּ֥ן (thus) קָרָֽא־ (was called) שְׁמ֖וֹ (his name) לֵוִֽי׃ (Levi).

35 וַתַּ֨הַר (And she conceived) ע֜וֹד (again) וַתֵּ֣לֶד (and bore) בֵּ֗ן (a son) וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (and she said), הַפַּ֙עַם֙ (This time) אוֹדֶ֣ה (I will praise) אֶת־ (-) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH). עַל־ (Upon) כֵּ֛ן (thus) קָרְאָ֥ה (she called) שְׁמ֖וֹ (his name) יְהוּדָ֑ה (Judah); וַֽתַּעֲמֹ֖ד (and she stopped) מִלֶּֽדֶת׃ (bearing).