Christian Standard Bible

Hebrew Study Bible

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

1וַיִּשָּׂ֥א יַעֲקֹ֖ב רַגְלָ֑יו וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ אַ֥רְצָה בְנֵי־ קֶֽדֶם׃

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.

2וַיַּ֞רְא וְהִנֵּ֧ה בְאֵ֣ר בַּשָּׂדֶ֗ה וְהִנֵּה־ שָׁ֞ם שְׁלֹשָׁ֤ה עֶדְרֵי־ צֹאן֙ רֹבְצִ֣ים עָלֶ֔יהָ כִּ֚י מִן־ הַבְּאֵ֣ר הַהִ֔וא יַשְׁק֖וּ הָעֲדָרִ֑ים וְהָאֶ֥בֶן גְּדֹלָ֖ה עַל־ פִּ֥י הַבְּאֵֽר׃

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.

3וְנֶאֶסְפוּ־ שָׁ֣מָּה כָל־ הָעֲדָרִ֗ים וְגָלֲל֤וּ אֶת־ הָאֶ֙בֶן֙ מֵעַל֙ פִּ֣י הַבְּאֵ֔ר וְהִשְׁק֖וּ אֶת־ הַצֹּ֑אן וְהֵשִׁ֧יבוּ אֶת־ הָאֶ֛בֶן עַל־ פִּ֥י הַבְּאֵ֖ר לִמְקֹמָֽהּ׃

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

4וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לָהֶם֙ יַעֲקֹ֔ב אַחַ֖י מֵאַ֣יִן אַתֶּ֑ם וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ מֵחָרָ֖ן אֲנָֽחְנוּ׃

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

5וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָהֶ֔ם הַיְדַעְתֶּ֖ם אֶת־ לָבָ֣ן בֶּן־ נָח֑וֹר וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ יָדָֽעְנוּ׃

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

6וַיֹּ֥אמֶר לָהֶ֖ם הֲשָׁל֣וֹם ל֑וֹ וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ שָׁל֔וֹם וְהִנֵּה֙ רָחֵ֣ל בִּתּ֔וֹ בָּאָ֖ה עִם־ הַצֹּֽאן׃

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."

7וַיֹּ֗אמֶר הֵ֥ן עוֹד֙ הַיּ֣וֹם גָּד֔וֹל לֹא־ עֵ֖ת הֵאָסֵ֣ף הַמִּקְנֶ֑ה הַשְׁק֥וּ הַצֹּ֖אן וּלְכ֥וּ רְעֽוּ׃

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."

8וַיֹּאמְרוּ֮ לֹ֣א נוּכַל֒ עַ֣ד אֲשֶׁ֤ר יֵאָֽסְפוּ֙ כָּל־ הָ֣עֲדָרִ֔ים וְגָֽלֲלוּ֙ אֶת־ הָאֶ֔בֶן מֵעַ֖ל פִּ֣י הַבְּאֵ֑ר וְהִשְׁקִ֖ינוּ הַצֹּֽאן׃

9While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she was a shepherdess.

9עוֹדֶ֖נּוּ מְדַבֵּ֣ר עִמָּ֑ם וְרָחֵ֣ל ׀ בָּ֗אָה עִם־ הַצֹּאן֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לְאָבִ֔יהָ כִּ֥י רֹעָ֖ה הִֽוא׃

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.

10וַיְהִ֡י כַּאֲשֶׁר֩ רָאָ֨ה יַעֲקֹ֜ב אֶת־ רָחֵ֗ל בַּת־ לָבָן֙ אֲחִ֣י אִמּ֔וֹ וְאֶת־ צֹ֥אן לָבָ֖ן אֲחִ֣י אִמּ֑וֹ וַיִּגַּ֣שׁ יַעֲקֹ֗ב וַיָּ֤גֶל אֶת־ הָאֶ֙בֶן֙ מֵעַל֙ פִּ֣י הַבְּאֵ֔ר וַיַּ֕שְׁקְ אֶת־ צֹ֥אן לָבָ֖ן אֲחִ֥י אִמּֽוֹ׃

11Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept loudly.

11וַיִּשַּׁ֥ק יַעֲקֹ֖ב לְרָחֵ֑ל וַיִּשָּׂ֥א אֶת־ קֹל֖וֹ וַיֵּֽבְךְּ׃

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

12וַיַּגֵּ֨ד יַעֲקֹ֜ב לְרָחֵ֗ל כִּ֣י אֲחִ֤י אָבִ֙יהָ֙ ה֔וּא וְכִ֥י בֶן־ רִבְקָ֖ה ה֑וּא וַתָּ֖רָץ וַתַּגֵּ֥ד לְאָבִֽיהָ׃

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.

13וַיְהִי֩ כִשְׁמֹ֨עַ לָבָ֜ן אֶת־ שֵׁ֣מַע ׀ יַעֲקֹ֣ב בֶּן־ אֲחֹת֗וֹ וַיָּ֤רָץ לִקְרָאתוֹ֙ וַיְחַבֶּק־ לוֹ֙ וַיְנַשֶּׁק־ ל֔וֹ וַיְבִיאֵ֖הוּ אֶל־ בֵּית֑וֹ וַיְסַפֵּ֣ר לְלָבָ֔ן אֵ֥ת כָּל־ הַדְּבָרִ֖ים הָאֵֽלֶּה׃

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

14וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לוֹ֙ לָבָ֔ן אַ֛ךְ עַצְמִ֥י וּבְשָׂרִ֖י אָ֑תָּה וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב עִמּ֖וֹ חֹ֥דֶשׁ יָמִֽים׃

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

15וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לָבָן֙ לְיַעֲקֹ֔ב הֲכִי־ אָחִ֣י אַ֔תָּה וַעֲבַדְתַּ֖נִי חִנָּ֑ם הַגִּ֥ידָה לִּ֖י מַה־ מַּשְׂכֻּרְתֶּֽךָ׃

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

16וּלְלָבָ֖ן שְׁתֵּ֣י בָנ֑וֹת שֵׁ֤ם הַגְּדֹלָה֙ לֵאָ֔ה וְשֵׁ֥ם הַקְּטַנָּ֖ה רָחֵֽל׃

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

17וְעֵינֵ֥י לֵאָ֖ה רַכּ֑וֹת וְרָחֵל֙ הָֽיְתָ֔ה יְפַת־ תֹּ֖אַר וִיפַ֥ת מַרְאֶֽה׃

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

18וַיֶּאֱהַ֥ב יַעֲקֹ֖ב אֶת־ רָחֵ֑ל וַיֹּ֗אמֶר אֶֽעֱבָדְךָ֙ שֶׁ֣בַע שָׁנִ֔ים בְּרָחֵ֥ל בִּתְּךָ֖ הַקְּטַנָּֽה׃

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

19וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָבָ֗ן ט֚וֹב תִּתִּ֣י אֹתָ֣הּ לָ֔ךְ מִתִּתִּ֥י אֹתָ֖הּ לְאִ֣ישׁ אַחֵ֑ר שְׁבָ֖ה עִמָּדִֽי׃

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

20וַיַּעֲבֹ֧ד יַעֲקֹ֛ב בְּרָחֵ֖ל שֶׁ֣בַע שָׁנִ֑ים וַיִּהְי֤וּ בְעֵינָיו֙ כְּיָמִ֣ים אֲחָדִ֔ים בְּאַהֲבָת֖וֹ אֹתָֽהּ׃

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

21וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יַעֲקֹ֤ב אֶל־ לָבָן֙ הָבָ֣ה אֶת־ אִשְׁתִּ֔י כִּ֥י מָלְא֖וּ יָמָ֑י וְאָב֖וֹאָה אֵלֶֽיהָ׃

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

22וַיֶּאֱסֹ֥ף לָבָ֛ן אֶת־ כָּל־ אַנְשֵׁ֥י הַמָּק֖וֹם וַיַּ֥עַשׂ מִשְׁתֶּֽה׃

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

23וַיְהִ֣י בָעֶ֔רֶב וַיִּקַּח֙ אֶת־ לֵאָ֣ה בִתּ֔וֹ וַיָּבֵ֥א אֹתָ֖הּ אֵלָ֑יו וַיָּבֹ֖א אֵלֶֽיהָ׃

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

24וַיִּתֵּ֤ן לָבָן֙ לָ֔הּ אֶת־ זִלְפָּ֖ה שִׁפְחָת֑וֹ לְלֵאָ֥ה בִתּ֖וֹ שִׁפְחָֽה׃

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?"

25וַיְהִ֣י בַבֹּ֔קֶר וְהִנֵּה־ הִ֖וא לֵאָ֑ה וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֶל־ לָבָ֗ן מַה־ זֹּאת֙ עָשִׂ֣יתָ לִּ֔י הֲלֹ֤א בְרָחֵל֙ עָבַ֣דְתִּי עִמָּ֔ךְ וְלָ֖מָּה רִמִּיתָֽנִי׃

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

26וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָבָ֔ן לֹא־ יֵעָשֶׂ֥ה כֵ֖ן בִּמְקוֹמֵ֑נוּ לָתֵ֥ת הַצְּעִירָ֖ה לִפְנֵ֥י הַבְּכִירָֽה׃

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."

27מַלֵּ֖א שְׁבֻ֣עַ זֹ֑את וְנִתְּנָ֨ה לְךָ֜ גַּם־ אֶת־ זֹ֗את בַּעֲבֹדָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תַּעֲבֹ֣ד עִמָּדִ֔י ע֖וֹד שֶֽׁבַע־ שָׁנִ֥ים אֲחֵרֽוֹת׃

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

28וַיַּ֤עַשׂ יַעֲקֹב֙ כֵּ֔ן וַיְמַלֵּ֖א שְׁבֻ֣עַ זֹ֑את וַיִּתֶּן־ ל֛וֹ אֶת־ רָחֵ֥ל בִּתּ֖וֹ ל֥וֹ לְאִשָּֽׁה׃

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

29וַיִּתֵּ֤ן לָבָן֙ לְרָחֵ֣ל בִּתּ֔וֹ אֶת־ בִּלְהָ֖ה שִׁפְחָת֑וֹ לָ֖הּ לְשִׁפְחָֽה׃

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

30וַיָּבֹא֙ גַּ֣ם אֶל־ רָחֵ֔ל וַיֶּאֱהַ֥ב גַּֽם־ אֶת־ רָחֵ֖ל מִלֵּאָ֑ה וַיַּעֲבֹ֣ד עִמּ֔וֹ ע֖וֹד שֶֽׁבַע־ שָׁנִ֥ים אֲחֵרֽוֹת׃

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

31וַיַּ֤רְא יְהוָה֙ כִּֽי־ שְׂנוּאָ֣ה לֵאָ֔ה וַיִּפְתַּ֖ח אֶת־ רַחְמָ֑הּ וְרָחֵ֖ל עֲקָרָֽה׃

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."

32וַתַּ֤הַר לֵאָה֙ וַתֵּ֣לֶד בֵּ֔ן וַתִּקְרָ֥א שְׁמ֖וֹ רְאוּבֵ֑ן כִּ֣י אָֽמְרָ֗ה כִּֽי־ רָאָ֤ה יְהוָה֙ בְּעָנְיִ֔י כִּ֥י עַתָּ֖ה יֶאֱהָבַ֥נִי אִישִֽׁי׃

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.

33וַתַּ֣הַר עוֹד֮ וַתֵּ֣לֶד בֵּן֒ וַתֹּ֗אמֶר כִּֽי־ שָׁמַ֤ע יְהוָה֙ כִּֽי־ שְׂנוּאָ֣ה אָנֹ֔כִי וַיִּתֶּן־ לִ֖י גַּם־ אֶת־ זֶ֑ה וַתִּקְרָ֥א שְׁמ֖וֹ שִׁמְעֽוֹן׃

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.

34וַתַּ֣הַר עוֹד֮ וַתֵּ֣לֶד בֵּן֒ וַתֹּ֗אמֶר עַתָּ֤ה הַפַּ֙עַם֙ יִלָּוֶ֤ה אִישִׁי֙ אֵלַ֔י כִּֽי־ יָלַ֥דְתִּי ל֖וֹ שְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה בָנִ֑ים עַל־ כֵּ֥ן קָרָֽא־ שְׁמ֖וֹ לֵוִֽי׃

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.

35וַתַּ֨הַר ע֜וֹד וַתֵּ֣לֶד בֵּ֗ן וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ הַפַּ֙עַם֙ אוֹדֶ֣ה אֶת־ יְהוָ֔ה עַל־ כֵּ֛ן קָרְאָ֥ה שְׁמ֖וֹ יְהוּדָ֑ה וַֽתַּעֲמֹ֖ד מִלֶּֽדֶת׃

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

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