Genesis 29:23
New International Version
But when evening came, he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and Jacob made love to her.

New Living Translation
But that night, when it was dark, Laban took Leah to Jacob, and he slept with her.

English Standard Version
But in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and he went in to her.

Berean Standard Bible
But when evening came, Laban took his daughter Leah and gave her to Jacob, and he slept with her.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
Now it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter and brought her to Jacob; and he went in to her.

New American Standard Bible
Now in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to him; and Jacob had relations with her.

NASB 1995
Now in the evening he took his daughter Leah, and brought her to him; and Jacob went in to her.

NASB 1977
Now it came about in the evening that he took his daughter Leah, and brought her to him; and Jacob went in to her.

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

Amplified Bible
But in the evening he took Leah his daughter and brought her to Jacob, and Jacob went in to [consummate the marriage with] her.

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

Holman Christian Standard Bible
That evening, Laban took his daughter Leah and gave her to Jacob, and he slept with her.

American Standard Version
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.

Contemporary English Version
But that evening he brought Leah to Jacob, who married her and spent the night with her.

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
In the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob. Jacob slept with her. When morning came, he realized it was Leah.

Good News Translation
But that night, instead of Rachel, he took Leah to Jacob, and Jacob had intercourse with her. (

International Standard Version
That night Laban took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob. He had marital relations with her.

Majority Standard Bible
But when evening came, Laban took his daughter Leah and gave her to Jacob, and he slept with her.

NET Bible
In the evening he brought his daughter Leah to Jacob, and Jacob had marital relations with her.

New Heart English Bible
It happened in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter and brought her to him, and he slept with her.

Webster's Bible Translation
And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in to her.

World English Bible
In the evening, he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to Jacob. He went in to her.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And it comes to pass in the evening, that he takes his daughter Leah, and brings her to him, and he goes in to her;

Young's Literal Translation
And it cometh to pass in the evening, that he taketh Leah, his daughter, and bringeth her in unto him, and he goeth in unto her;

Smith's Literal Translation
And it will be in the evening, and he will take Leah his daughter, and bring her to him, and he will go in to her.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And at night he brought in Lia his daughter to him,

Catholic Public Domain Version
And at night, he brought in his daughter Leah to him,

New American Bible
At nightfall he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and he consummated the marriage with her.

New Revised Standard Version
But in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob; and he went in to her.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And it came to pass in the evening, he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and Jacob went in unto her.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And when it was evening, he brought Leah his daughter and brought her to him, and he came in unto her.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
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.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And it was even, and he took his daughter Lea, and brought her in to Jacob, and Jacob went in to her.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel
22So Laban invited all the men of that place and prepared a feast. 23But when evening came, Laban took his daughter Leah and gave her to Jacob, and he slept with her. 24And Laban gave his servant girl Zilpah to his daughter Leah as her maidservant.…

Cross References
Genesis 27:35-36
But Isaac replied, “Your brother came deceitfully and took your blessing.” / So Esau declared, “Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has cheated me twice. He took my birthright, and now he has taken my blessing.” Then he asked, “Haven’t you saved a blessing for me?”

Genesis 24:65
and asked the servant, “Who is that man in the field coming to meet us?” “It is my master,” the servant answered. So she took her veil and covered herself.

Genesis 38:14-25
she removed her widow’s garments, covered her face with a veil to disguise herself, and sat at the entrance to Enaim, which is on the way to Timnah. For she saw that although Shelah had grown up, she had not been given to him as a wife. / When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute because she had covered her face. / Not realizing that she was his daughter-in-law, he went over to her and said, “Come now, let me sleep with you.” “What will you give me for sleeping with you?” she inquired. ...

Judges 14:12-20
“Let me tell you a riddle,” Samson said to them. “If you can solve it for me within the seven days of the feast, I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothes. / But if you cannot solve it, you must give me thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothes.” “Tell us your riddle,” they replied. “Let us hear it.” / So he said to them: “Out of the eater came something to eat, and out of the strong came something sweet.” For three days they were unable to explain the riddle. ...

1 Samuel 25:44
But Saul had given his daughter Michal, David’s wife, to Palti son of Laish, who was from Gallim.

2 Samuel 11:2-4
One evening David got up from his bed and strolled around on the roof of the palace. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing—a very beautiful woman. / So David sent and inquired about the woman, and he was told, “This is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” / Then David sent messengers to get her, and when she came to him, he slept with her. (Now she had just purified herself from her uncleanness.) Then she returned home.

2 Samuel 13:11-14
And when she had brought them to him to eat, he took hold of her and said, “Come lie with me, my sister!” / “No, my brother!” she cried. “Do not violate me, for such a thing should never be done in Israel. Do not do this disgraceful thing! / Where could I ever take my shame? And you would be like one of the fools in Israel! Please speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from you.” ...

1 Kings 2:22
King Solomon answered his mother, “Why do you request Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Since he is my older brother, you might as well request the kingdom for him and for Abiathar the priest and for Joab son of Zeruiah!”

Esther 2:14
She would go there in the evening, and in the morning she would return to a second harem under the care of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch in charge of the concubines. She would not return to the king unless he delighted in her and summoned her by name.

Hosea 12:3
In the womb he grasped his brother’s heel, and in his vigor he wrestled with God.

Matthew 1:18-20
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged in marriage to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. / Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and was unwilling to disgrace her publicly, he resolved to divorce her quietly. / But after he had pondered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to embrace Mary as your wife, for the One conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 25:1-13
“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. / Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. / The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take along any extra oil. ...

Mark 12:19-23
“Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man is to marry his brother’s widow and raise up offspring for him. / Now there were seven brothers. The first one married and died, leaving no children. / Then the second one married the widow, but he also died and left no children. And the third did likewise. ...

Luke 20:34-35
Jesus answered, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage. / But those who are considered worthy to share in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage.

John 3:29
The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom stands and listens for him, and is overjoyed to hear the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.


Treasury of Scripture

And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in to her.

brought her.

Genesis 24:65
For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she took a vail, and covered herself.

Genesis 38:14,15
And she put her widow's garments off from her, and covered her with a vail, and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place, which is by the way to Timnath; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given unto him to wife…

Micah 7:5
Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom.

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Daughter Evening Jacob Leah
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Daughter Evening Jacob Leah
Genesis 29
1. Jacob comes to the well of Haran.
9. He becomes acquainted with Rachel.
13. Laban entertains him.
18. Jacob covenants for Rachel.
23. He is deceived by Laban with Leah.
28. He marries also Rachel, and serves for her seven years more.
32. Leah bears Reuben;
33. Simeon;
34. Levi;
35. and Judah.














But when evening came
The phrase "when evening came" sets the stage for a significant and pivotal moment in the narrative. In the Hebrew context, evening often symbolizes a time of transition and change. The Hebrew word for evening, "ereb," can also imply a sense of obscurity or uncertainty, which is fitting for the deception that is about to unfold. This time of day, when visibility is low, metaphorically represents the lack of clarity and the hidden intentions of Laban.

Laban took his daughter Leah
Laban's action of taking Leah is deliberate and calculated. The Hebrew verb "laqach," translated as "took," implies an active and intentional decision. Laban's choice to give Leah instead of Rachel, whom Jacob loved and worked for, reveals his deceptive nature. Historically, this reflects the customs and familial authority in ancient Near Eastern cultures, where the father had significant control over his daughters' marriages.

and gave her to Jacob
The act of giving Leah to Jacob is a pivotal moment of betrayal. The Hebrew word "natan," meaning "gave," indicates a transfer of responsibility and relationship. This act of giving Leah instead of Rachel is a breach of the agreement between Jacob and Laban. It highlights the theme of deception and the consequences of human manipulation, which are prevalent throughout Jacob's life story.

and he slept with her
The phrase "he slept with her" is a euphemism for consummating the marriage. In Hebrew, the verb "bo" is used, which means "to come" or "to enter," signifying the physical union that seals the marriage covenant. This consummation, under false pretenses, sets the stage for future familial strife and highlights the importance of integrity and truth in relationships. It also foreshadows the complex family dynamics that will arise from this union, as Leah becomes the mother of several of Jacob's children, including Judah, from whom the lineage of David and ultimately Jesus Christ descends.

(23)He took Leah his daughter.--As the bride is taken to the bridegroom's house closely veiled (see Note on Genesis 24:65), and as probably there was some similarity in voice and form between the two sisters, this deception was quite easy. But Leah must have been a party to the fraud, and therefore Jacob's dislike of her was not altogether without reason.

Verse 23. - And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him. The deception practiced on Jacob was rendered possible by the fact that the bride was usually conducted into the marriage chamber veiled; the veil being so long and close as to conceal not only the face, but much of the person (vide Genesis 14:65). And he went in unto her. The conduct of Laban is perfectly intelligible as the outcome of his sordid avarice; but it is difficult to understand how Leah could acquiesce in a proposal so base as to wrong her sister by marrying one who neither sought nor loved her. She must herself have been attached to Jacob; and it is probable that Laban had explained to her his plan for bringing about a double wedding.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But when
וַיְהִ֣י (way·hî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

evening came,
בָעֶ֔רֶב (ḇā·‘e·reḇ)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6153: Evening

Laban took
וַיִּקַּח֙ (way·yiq·qaḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3947: To take

his daughter
בִתּ֔וֹ (ḇit·tōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1323: A daughter

Leah
לֵאָ֣ה (lê·’āh)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3812: Leah -- 'weary', a wife of Jacob

and gave
וַיָּבֵ֥א (way·yā·ḇê)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

her to Jacob,
אֵלָ֑יו (’ê·lāw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

and he slept with
וַיָּבֹ֖א (way·yā·ḇō)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

her.
אֵלֶֽיהָ׃ (’ê·le·hā)
Preposition | third person feminine singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to


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OT Law: Genesis 29:23 It happened in the evening that he (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 29:22
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