Genesis · King James Version (with Apocrypha)
Genesis 29 King James Version (with Apocrypha)
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east.
1 Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the children of the east.
2 And he looked, and behold 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 great stone [was] upon the well’s mouth.
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 thither were all the flocks gathered: and they rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon the well’s mouth in his place.
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 Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence [be] ye? And they said, Of Haran [are] we.
4 Jacob said to them, “My relatives, where are you from?” They said, “We are from Haran.”
5 And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know [him].
5 He said to them, “Do you know Laban, the son of Nahor?” They said, “We know him.”
6 And he said unto them, [Is] he well? And they said, [He is] well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.
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 he said, Lo, [it is] yet high day, neither [is it] time that the cattle should be gathered together: water ye the sheep, and go [and] feed [them].
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 And they said, We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and [till] they roll the stone from the well’s mouth; then we water the sheep.
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 ¶ And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep: for she kept them.
9 While he was yet speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she kept them.
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 went near, and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother.
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 Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.
11 Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.
12 And Jacob told Rachel that he [was] her father’s brother, and that he [was] Rebekah’s son: and she ran and told 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 it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister’s son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. And he told Laban all these things.
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 And Laban said to him, Surely thou [art] my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month.
14 Laban said to him, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh.” Jacob stayed with him for a month.
15 ¶ And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou [art] my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what [shall] thy wages [be]?
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 And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder [was] Leah, and the name of the younger [was] Rachel.
16 Laban had two daughters. The name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
17 Leah [was] tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.
17 Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and attractive.
18 And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.
18 Jacob loved Rachel. He said, “I will serve you seven years for Rachel, your younger daughter.”
19 And Laban said, [It is] better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide 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 And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him [but] a few days, for the love he had to her.
20 Jacob served seven years for Rachel. They seemed to him but a few days, for the love he had for her.
21 ¶ And Jacob said unto Laban, Give [me] my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.
21 Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her.”
22 And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.
22 Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.
23 And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her.
23 In the evening, he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to Jacob. He went in to her.
24 And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid [for] an handmaid.
24 Laban gave Zilpah his servant to his daughter Leah for a servant.
25 And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it [was] Leah: and he said to Laban, What [is] this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled 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 And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.
26 Laban said, “It is not done so in our place, to give the younger before the firstborn.
27 Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other 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 And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.
28 Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week. He gave him Rachel his daughter as wife.
29 And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.
29 Laban gave Bilhah, his servant, to his daughter Rachel to be her servant.
30 And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.
30 He went in also to Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him seven more years.
31 ¶ And when the LORD saw that Leah [was] hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel [was] barren.
31 Yahweh saw that Leah was hated, and he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.
32 And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore 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 she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the LORD hath heard that I [was] hated, he hath therefore given me this [son] also: 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 again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called 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 And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left 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)