Genesis 29:21-35 ▼

21 Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her.”

22 And Laban gathered all the men of the place and made a feast.

23 Now it happened in the evening that he took his daughter Leah and brought her to him; and Jacob went in to her.

24 Laban also gave his servant-woman Zilpah to his daughter Leah as a servant-woman.

25 Now it happened in the morning that, behold, it was Leah! And he said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served with you? Why then have you deceived me?”

26 But Laban said, “It is not the practice in our place to give the younger before the firstborn.

27 Fulfill the week of this one, and we will give you the other also for the service which you shall serve with me for another seven years.”

28 And Jacob did so and fulfilled her week, and he gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife.

29 Laban also gave his servant-woman Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her servant-woman.

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

31 And Yahweh saw that Leah was unloved, and He opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.

32 So Leah conceived and bore a son and named him Reuben, for she said, “Because Yahweh has seen my affliction; surely now my husband will love me.”

33 Then she conceived again and bore a son and said, “Because Yahweh has heard that I am unloved, He has therefore given me this son also.” So she named him Simeon.

34 And she conceived again and bore a son and said, “Now this time my husband will be joined to me because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore he was named Levi.

35 And she conceived again and bore a son and said, “This time I will praise Yahweh.” Therefore she named him Judah. Then she stopped bearing.