Genesis 29:1-20 ▼

1 THEN Jacob hastened on his journey, and came to the land of the people of the east.

2 And he looked, and beheld a well in the field, and, lo, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks and a large stone was upon the well's mouth.

3 And all the flocks were gathered there; and the shepherds rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the sheep, and then put the stone back in its place upon the well's mouth.

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

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

6 And he said to them, Is he well? And they said, He is well; and, behold, Rachel his daughter is coming with the sheep.

7 And Jacob said, Lo, the sun is still high, it is not yet time that the cattle should be gathered together; water the sheep, and go and feed them.

8 And they said, We cannot until all the flocks are gathered together and the shepherds roll the stone from the well's mouth; then we water the sheep.

9 gland while he was still conversing with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep; for she was a shepherdess.

10 And 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 drew near and rolled the stone from the well's mouth and watered the sheep of Laban his mother's brother.

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

12 And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's kinsman and that he was Rebekah's son; and she ran and told her father.

13 And it came to pass when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister's son, he ran to meet him and embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house. And Jacob related to Laban all these things.

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

15 And Laban said to Jacob, Because you are my kinsman, should you therefore work for me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?

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

17 And Leah had attractive eyes; but Rachel was beautiful and well favored.

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

19 And Laban said to him, It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to another man; abide with me.

20 Thus Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed to him but a few days because he was in love with her.