Genesis · Catholic Public Domain Version
Genesis 29 Catholic Public Domain Version
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Notes on this text (3)
- Esther and Daniel are the Vulgate books (Esther 1–16 with the Greek additions as chapters 10:4–16; Daniel 1–14 with the Song of the Three, Susanna and Bel). Baruch 6 is the Letter of Jeremiah.
- The translator's footnotes, cross-references, chapter summaries and book introductions in the CrossWire module are not shown.
- No imprimatur; single translator.
1 And so Jacob, setting out, arrived in the eastern land.
1 Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the children of the east.
2 And he saw a well in a field, and also three flocks of sheep reclining near it. For the animals were watered from it, and its mouth was closed with a great stone.
2 He looked, and saw a well in the field, and saw three flocks of sheep lying there by it. For out of that well they watered the flocks. The stone on the well’s mouth was large.
3 And the custom was, when all the sheep were gathered together, to roll away the stone. And when the flocks had been refreshed, they placed it over the mouth of the well again.
3 There all the flocks were gathered. They rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone back on the well’s mouth in its place.
4 And he said to the shepherds, “Brothers, where are you from?” And they answered. “From Haran.”
4 Jacob said to them, “My relatives, where are you from?” They said, “We are from Haran.”
5 And questioning them, he said, “Do you know Laban, the son of Nahor?” They said, “We know him.”
5 He said to them, “Do you know Laban, the son of Nahor?” They said, “We know him.”
6 He said, “Is he well?” “He is very well,” they said. “And behold, his daughter Rachel approaches with his flock.”
6 He said to them, “Is it well with him?” They said, “It is well. See, Rachel, his daughter, is coming with the sheep.”
7 And Jacob said, “There is still much daylight remaining, and it is not time to return the flocks to the sheepfold. Give the sheep to drink first, and then lead them back to pasture.”
7 He said, “Behold, it is still the middle of the day, not time to gather the livestock together. Water the sheep, and go and feed them.”
8 They responded, “We cannot, until all the animals are gathered together and we remove the stone from the mouth of the well, so that we may water the flocks.”
8 They said, “We can’t, until all the flocks are gathered together, and they roll the stone from the well’s mouth. Then we will water the sheep.”
9 They were still speaking, and behold, Rachel arrived with her father’s sheep; for she pastured the flock.
9 While he was yet speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she kept them.
10 When Jacob had seen her, and he realized that she was his maternal first cousin, and that these were the sheep of his uncle Laban, he removed the stone which closed the well.
10 When Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban, his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban, his mother’s brother, Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother.
11 And having watered the flock, he kissed her. And lifting up his voice, he wept.
11 Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.
12 And he revealed to her that he was a brother of her father, and the son of Rebekah. And so, hurrying, she announced it to her father.
12 Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s relative, and that he was Rebekah’s son. She ran and told her father.
13 And when he had heard that Jacob, his sister’s son, had arrived, he ran to meet him. And embracing him, and kissing him heartily, he brought him into his house. But when he had heard the reasons for his journey,
13 When Laban heard the news of Jacob, his sister’s son, he ran to meet Jacob, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban all these things.
14 he responded, “You are my bone and my flesh.” And after the days of one month were completed,
14 Laban said to him, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh.” Jacob stayed with him for a month.
15 he said to him: “Though you are my brother, will you serve me for nothing? Tell me what wages you would accept.”
15 Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what will your wages be?”
16 In truth, he had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah; and truly the younger was called Rachel.
16 Laban had two daughters. The name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
17 But while Leah was bleary-eyed, Rachel had an elegant appearance and was attractive to behold.
17 Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and attractive.
18 And Jacob, loving her, said, “I will serve you for seven years, for your younger daughter Rachel.”
18 Jacob loved Rachel. He said, “I will serve you seven years for Rachel, your younger daughter.”
19 Laban responded, “It is better that I give her to you than to another man; remain with me.”
19 Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you, than that I should give her to another man. Stay with me.”
20 Therefore, Jacob served for seven years for Rachel. And these seemed like only a few days, because of the greatness of love.
20 Jacob served seven years for Rachel. They seemed to him but a few days, for the love he had for her.
21 And he said to Laban, “Give my wife to me. For now the time has been fulfilled, so that I may go in to her.”
21 Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her.”
22 And he, having called a great crowd of his friends to the feast, agreed to the marriage.
22 Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.
23 And at night, he brought in his daughter Leah to him,
23 In the evening, he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to Jacob. He went in to her.
24 giving his daughter a handmaid named Zilpah. After Jacob had gone in to her, according to custom, when morning had arrived, he saw Leah.
24 Laban gave Zilpah his servant to his daughter Leah for a servant.
25 And he said to his father-in-law, “What is it that you intended to do? Did I not serve you for Rachel? Why have you deceived me?”
25 In the morning, behold, it was Leah! He said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Didn’t I serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?”
26 Laban responded, “It is not the practice in this place to give the younger in marriage first.
26 Laban said, “It is not done so in our place, to give the younger before the firstborn.
27 Complete a week of days with this mating. And then I will give this one to you also, for the service that you will provide to me for another seven years.”
27 Fulfill the week of this one, and we will give you the other also for the service which you will serve with me for seven more years.”
28 He agreed to his pleading. And after the week had passed, he took Rachel as a wife.
28 Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week. He gave him Rachel his daughter as wife.
29 To her, the father had given Bilhah as her servant.
29 Laban gave Bilhah, his servant, to his daughter Rachel to be her servant.
30 And, having at last obtained the marriage he desired, he preferred the love of the latter before the former, and he served with him another seven years.
30 He went in also to Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him seven more years.
31 But the Lord, seeing that he despised Leah, opened her womb, but her sister remained barren.
31 Yahweh saw that Leah was hated, and he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.
32 Having conceived, she gave birth to a son, and she called his name Reuben, saying: “The Lord saw my humiliation; now my husband will love me.”
32 Leah conceived, and bore a son, and she named him Reuben. For she said, “Because Yahweh has looked at my affliction; for now my husband will love me.”
33 And again she conceived and bore a son, and she said, “Because the Lord heard that I was treated with contempt, he has also given this one to me.” And she called his name Simeon.
33 She conceived again, and bore a son, and said, “Because Yahweh has heard that I am hated, he has therefore given me this son also.” She named him Simeon.
34 And she conceived a third time, and she gave birth to another son, and she said: “Now likewise my husband will unite with me, because I have borne him three sons.” And because of this, she called his name Levi.
34 She conceived again, and bore a son. She said, “Now this time my husband will be joined to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi.
35 A fourth time she conceived and bore a son, and she said, “Only now will I confess to the Lord.” And for this reason, she called him Judah. And she ceased from child-bearing.
35 She conceived again, and bore a son. She said, “This time I will praise Yahweh.” Therefore she named him Judah. Then she stopped bearing.
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Jacob
He wrestled with God through the night and rose as Israel, father of twelve tribes.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 25–35; 46–49
Judah
The lion of the tribes, from whom kings and the Messiah would come.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 29:35; 38; 49:8–12
Laban
Bethuel's son and Rebekah's brother, who welcomed Abraham's servant, later became Jacob's uncle and father-in-law, deceived him by giving him Leah, and pursued him to Gilead when…
Cited in the guide: Genesis 24:29; Genesis 25:20; Genesis 29:13
Leah
Jacob's first wife, the unloved sister who became mother of six tribes and Dinah.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 29-30
Levi
A son of Leah whose tribe was set apart for the service of God.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 29:34; 34; Exodus 6:16–20
Rachel
Jacob's beloved wife, mother of Joseph and Benjamin, who died in childbirth.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 29-35
Reuben
Jacob's firstborn, who forfeited his standing by a grave offense.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 29:32; 35:22; 49:3–4
Simeon
A son of Leah whose fierce anger drew his father's rebuke.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 29:33; 34; 49:5–7
Cross references (32)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Judges 6:3; Hosea 12:12; Judges 6:33; Psalm 119:32; Psalm 119:60
- 2 John 4:14; John 4:6; Isaiah 49:10; Revelation 7:17; Song of Songs 1:6–7
- 4 Genesis 28:10; Genesis 27:43; Genesis 11:31; Genesis 24:10; Acts 7:2
- 5 Genesis 24:29; Genesis 24:24; Genesis 31:53
- 6 Genesis 43:27; 2 Samuel 20:9; 1 Samuel 17:22; Exodus 18:7; Genesis 37:14
- 7 Ephesians 5:16; Galatians 6:9–10
- 8 Mark 16:3; Luke 24:2; Genesis 34:14; Genesis 29:3; Genesis 43:32
- 9 Exodus 2:21; Song of Songs 1:7–8; Exodus 2:15–16; Genesis 24:15
- 10 Exodus 2:17
- 11 Genesis 33:4; Genesis 45:2; Genesis 43:30; Genesis 45:14–15; Genesis 29:13
- 12 Genesis 24:28; Genesis 13:8; Genesis 14:14–16
- 13 Genesis 24:29; Luke 7:45; Acts 20:37; Exodus 18:7; Genesis 45:15
- 14 2 Samuel 19:12–13; Genesis 2:23; Judges 9:2; 2 Samuel 5:1; Genesis 29:12
- 15 Genesis 30:28; Genesis 31:7
- 16 Ruth 4:11; Genesis 49:31; Genesis 30:19; Genesis 31:4; Genesis 29:25–32
- 17 Genesis 12:11; Genesis 35:19–20; Genesis 29:18; 1 Samuel 10:2; Genesis 35:24
- 18 Hosea 12:12; Exodus 22:16–17; Genesis 34:12; Hosea 3:2; 2 Samuel 3:14
- 19 Isaiah 6:11; Isaiah 6:5; Psalm 12:2
- 20 1 Corinthians 13:7; Hosea 12:12; Ephesians 5:2; Song of Songs 8:6–7; Genesis 24:67
- 21 Judges 15:1; Genesis 4:1; Genesis 38:16; Matthew 1:18; Genesis 31:41
- 22 Revelation 19:9; Judges 14:10–18; Matthew 25:1–10; Matthew 22:2–10; Ruth 4:10–13
- 23 Micah 7:5; Genesis 24:65; Genesis 38:14–15
- 24 Genesis 16:1; Genesis 30:9–12; Genesis 46:18; Genesis 24:59
- 25 Matthew 7:2; Proverbs 11:31; Genesis 27:35–36; 1 Corinthians 3:13; Revelation 3:19
- 27 Leviticus 18:18; Judges 14:12; Judges 14:10; Genesis 2:2–3; Genesis 8:10–12
- 29 Genesis 29:24; Genesis 35:22; Genesis 30:3–8; Genesis 35:25; Genesis 37:2
- 30 Genesis 31:41; Genesis 44:27; Matthew 10:37; Genesis 29:20; Genesis 29:18
- 31 1 Samuel 2:21; Psalm 127:3; Genesis 20:18–21:2; Deuteronomy 21:15; Genesis 30:1–2
- 32 Deuteronomy 26:7; Exodus 4:31; Exodus 3:7; 1 Samuel 1:11; Genesis 42:27
- 33 Genesis 34:25; Genesis 30:8; Genesis 42:24; Genesis 35:23; Genesis 30:6
- 34 Exodus 32:26–29; Genesis 49:5–7; Numbers 18:2–4; Genesis 46:11; Genesis 34:25
- 35 Matthew 1:2; Genesis 49:8–12; 1 Chronicles 5:2; Genesis 35:26; Deuteronomy 33:7
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
For let us remember Jacob who before he received Rachel, said to Laban, Give me my wife.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)