English Standard Version

King James Bible

1Then Jacob went on his journey and came to the land of the people of the east.

1Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east.

2As he looked, he saw a well in the field, and behold, three flocks of sheep lying beside it, for out of that well the flocks were watered. The stone on the well’s mouth was large,

2And 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.

3and when all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone from the mouth of the well and water the sheep, and put the stone back in its place over the mouth of the well.

3And 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.

4Jacob said to them, “My brothers, where do you come from?” They said, “We are from Haran.”

4And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, Of Haran are we.

5He said to them, “Do you know Laban the son of Nahor?” They said, “We know him.”

5And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him.

6He said to them, “Is it well with him?” They said, “It is well; and see, Rachel his daughter is coming with the sheep!”

6And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.

7He said, “Behold, it is still high day; it is not time for the livestock to be gathered together. Water the sheep and go, pasture them.”

7And 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.

8But they said, “We cannot until all the flocks are gathered together and the stone is rolled from the mouth of the well; then we water the sheep.”

8And 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.

9While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess.

9And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep: for she kept them.

10Now as soon as Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother, Jacob came near and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother.

10And 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.

11Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept aloud.

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

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

12And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's brother, and that he was Rebekah's son: and she ran and told her father.

13As soon as Laban heard the news about Jacob, his sister’s son, he ran to meet him and embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban all these things,

13And 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.

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

14And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month.

15Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my kinsman, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?”

15And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be?

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

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

17Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance.

17Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.

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

18And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.

19Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to any other man; stay with me.”

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

20So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her.

20And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.

21Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife that I may go in to her, for my time is completed.”

21And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.

22So Laban gathered together all the people of the place and made a feast.

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

23But in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and he went in to her.

23And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her.

24(Laban gave his female servant Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her servant.)

24And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid.

25And in the morning, behold, it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?”

25And 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?

26Laban said, “It is not so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.

26And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.

27Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also in return for serving me another seven years.”

27Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.

28Jacob did so, and completed her week. Then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife.

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

29(Laban gave his female servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her servant.)

29And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.

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

30And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.

31When the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.

31And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.

32And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben, for she said, “Because the LORD has looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me.”

32And 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.

33She conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Because the LORD has heard that I am hated, he has given me this son also.” And she called his name Simeon.

33And 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.

34Again she conceived and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will be attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi.

34And 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.

35And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “This time I will praise the LORD.” Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she ceased bearing.

35And 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.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.