Christian Standard Bible

English Standard Version

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

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

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.

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,

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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."

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.”

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."

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.”

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.

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.

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.

11Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept loudly.

11Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept aloud.

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

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.

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.

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,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?"

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?”

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

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

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."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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."

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.