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Hebrew Study Bible

1So Jacob moved on and came to the land of the eastern people.

1וַיִּשָּׂ֥א יַעֲקֹ֖ב רַגְלָ֑יו וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ אַ֥רְצָה בְנֵי־ קֶֽדֶם׃

2He saw in the field a well with three flocks of sheep lying beside it, because the flocks were watered from that well. Now a large stone covered the mouth of the well.

2וַיַּ֞רְא וְהִנֵּ֧ה בְאֵ֣ר בַּשָּׂדֶ֗ה וְהִנֵּה־ שָׁ֞ם שְׁלֹשָׁ֤ה עֶדְרֵי־ צֹאן֙ רֹבְצִ֣ים עָלֶ֔יהָ כִּ֚י מִן־ הַבְּאֵ֣ר הַהִ֔וא יַשְׁק֖וּ הָעֲדָרִ֑ים וְהָאֶ֥בֶן גְּדֹלָ֖ה עַל־ פִּ֥י הַבְּאֵֽר׃

3When all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone off the mouth of the well and water the sheep. Then they would put the stone back in its place over the well's mouth.

3וְנֶאֶסְפוּ־ שָׁ֣מָּה כָל־ הָעֲדָרִ֗ים וְגָלֲל֤וּ אֶת־ הָאֶ֙בֶן֙ מֵעַל֙ פִּ֣י הַבְּאֵ֔ר וְהִשְׁק֖וּ אֶת־ הַצֹּ֑אן וְהֵשִׁ֧יבוּ אֶת־ הָאֶ֛בֶן עַל־ פִּ֥י הַבְּאֵ֖ר לִמְקֹמָֽהּ׃

4Jacob asked them, "My brothers, where are you from?" They replied, "We're from Haran."

4וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לָהֶם֙ יַעֲקֹ֔ב אַחַ֖י מֵאַ֣יִן אַתֶּ֑ם וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ מֵחָרָ֖ן אֲנָֽחְנוּ׃

5So he said to them, "Do you know Laban, the grandson of Nahor?" "We know him," they said.

5וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָהֶ֔ם הַיְדַעְתֶּ֖ם אֶת־ לָבָ֣ן בֶּן־ נָח֑וֹר וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ יָדָֽעְנוּ׃

6"Is he well?" Jacob asked. They replied, "He is well. Now look, here comes his daughter Rachel with the sheep."

6וַיֹּ֥אמֶר לָהֶ֖ם הֲשָׁל֣וֹם ל֑וֹ וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ שָׁל֔וֹם וְהִנֵּה֙ רָחֵ֣ל בִּתּ֔וֹ בָּאָ֖ה עִם־ הַצֹּֽאן׃

7Then Jacob said, "Since it is still the middle of the day, it is not time for the flocks to be gathered. You should water the sheep and then go and let them graze some more."

7וַיֹּ֗אמֶר הֵ֥ן עוֹד֙ הַיּ֣וֹם גָּד֔וֹל לֹא־ עֵ֖ת הֵאָסֵ֣ף הַמִּקְנֶ֑ה הַשְׁק֥וּ הַצֹּ֖אן וּלְכ֥וּ רְעֽוּ׃

8"We can't," they said, "until all the flocks are gathered and the stone is rolled off the mouth of the well. Then we water the sheep."

8וַיֹּאמְרוּ֮ לֹ֣א נוּכַל֒ עַ֣ד אֲשֶׁ֤ר יֵאָֽסְפוּ֙ כָּל־ הָ֣עֲדָרִ֔ים וְגָֽלֲלוּ֙ אֶת־ הָאֶ֔בֶן מֵעַ֖ל פִּ֣י הַבְּאֵ֑ר וְהִשְׁקִ֖ינוּ הַצֹּֽאן׃

9While he was still speaking with them, Rachel arrived with her father's sheep, for she was tending them.

9עוֹדֶ֖נּוּ מְדַבֵּ֣ר עִמָּ֑ם וְרָחֵ֣ל ׀ בָּ֗אָה עִם־ הַצֹּאן֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לְאָבִ֔יהָ כִּ֥י רֹעָ֖ה הִֽוא׃

10When Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of his uncle Laban, and the sheep of his uncle Laban, he went over and rolled the stone off the mouth of the well and watered the sheep of his uncle Laban.

10וַיְהִ֡י כַּאֲשֶׁר֩ רָאָ֨ה יַעֲקֹ֜ב אֶת־ רָחֵ֗ל בַּת־ לָבָן֙ אֲחִ֣י אִמּ֔וֹ וְאֶת־ צֹ֥אן לָבָ֖ן אֲחִ֣י אִמּ֑וֹ וַיִּגַּ֣שׁ יַעֲקֹ֗ב וַיָּ֤גֶל אֶת־ הָאֶ֙בֶן֙ מֵעַל֙ פִּ֣י הַבְּאֵ֔ר וַיַּ֕שְׁקְ אֶת־ צֹ֥אן לָבָ֖ן אֲחִ֥י אִמּֽוֹ׃

11Then Jacob kissed Rachel and began to weep loudly.

11וַיִּשַּׁ֥ק יַעֲקֹ֖ב לְרָחֵ֑ל וַיִּשָּׂ֥א אֶת־ קֹל֖וֹ וַיֵּֽבְךְּ׃

12When Jacob explained to Rachel that he was a relative of her father and the son of Rebekah, she ran and told her father.

12וַיַּגֵּ֨ד יַעֲקֹ֜ב לְרָחֵ֗ל כִּ֣י אֲחִ֤י אָבִ֙יהָ֙ ה֔וּא וְכִ֥י בֶן־ רִבְקָ֖ה ה֑וּא וַתָּ֖רָץ וַתַּגֵּ֥ד לְאָבִֽיהָ׃

13When Laban heard this news about Jacob, his sister's son, he rushed out to meet him. He embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban how he was related to him.

13וַיְהִי֩ כִשְׁמֹ֨עַ לָבָ֜ן אֶת־ שֵׁ֣מַע ׀ יַעֲקֹ֣ב בֶּן־ אֲחֹת֗וֹ וַיָּ֤רָץ לִקְרָאתוֹ֙ וַיְחַבֶּק־ לוֹ֙ וַיְנַשֶּׁק־ ל֔וֹ וַיְבִיאֵ֖הוּ אֶל־ בֵּית֑וֹ וַיְסַפֵּ֣ר לְלָבָ֔ן אֵ֥ת כָּל־ הַדְּבָרִ֖ים הָאֵֽלֶּה׃

14Then Laban said to him, "You are indeed my own flesh and blood." So Jacob stayed with him for a month.

14וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לוֹ֙ לָבָ֔ן אַ֛ךְ עַצְמִ֥י וּבְשָׂרִ֖י אָ֑תָּה וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב עִמּ֖וֹ חֹ֥דֶשׁ יָמִֽים׃

15Then Laban said to Jacob, "Should you work for me for nothing because you are my relative? Tell me what your wages should be."

15וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לָבָן֙ לְיַעֲקֹ֔ב הֲכִי־ אָחִ֣י אַ֔תָּה וַעֲבַדְתַּ֖נִי חִנָּ֑ם הַגִּ֥ידָה לִּ֖י מַה־ מַּשְׂכֻּרְתֶּֽךָ׃

16(Now Laban had two daughters; the older one was named Leah, and the younger one Rachel.

16וּלְלָבָ֖ן שְׁתֵּ֣י בָנ֑וֹת שֵׁ֤ם הַגְּדֹלָה֙ לֵאָ֔ה וְשֵׁ֥ם הַקְּטַנָּ֖ה רָחֵֽל׃

17Leah's eyes were tender, but Rachel had a lovely figure and beautiful appearance.)

17וְעֵינֵ֥י לֵאָ֖ה רַכּ֑וֹת וְרָחֵל֙ הָֽיְתָ֔ה יְפַת־ תֹּ֖אַר וִיפַ֥ת מַרְאֶֽה׃

18Since Jacob had fallen in love with Rachel, he said, "I'll serve you seven years in exchange for your younger daughter Rachel."

18וַיֶּאֱהַ֥ב יַעֲקֹ֖ב אֶת־ רָחֵ֑ל וַיֹּ֗אמֶר אֶֽעֱבָדְךָ֙ שֶׁ֣בַע שָׁנִ֔ים בְּרָחֵ֥ל בִּתְּךָ֖ הַקְּטַנָּֽה׃

19Laban replied, "I'd rather give her to you than to another man. Stay with me."

19וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָבָ֗ן ט֚וֹב תִּתִּ֣י אֹתָ֣הּ לָ֔ךְ מִתִּתִּ֥י אֹתָ֖הּ לְאִ֣ישׁ אַחֵ֑ר שְׁבָ֖ה עִמָּדִֽי׃

20So Jacob worked for seven years to acquire Rachel. But they seemed like only a few days to him because his love for her was so great.

20וַיַּעֲבֹ֧ד יַעֲקֹ֛ב בְּרָחֵ֖ל שֶׁ֣בַע שָׁנִ֑ים וַיִּהְי֤וּ בְעֵינָיו֙ כְּיָמִ֣ים אֲחָדִ֔ים בְּאַהֲבָת֖וֹ אֹתָֽהּ׃

21Finally Jacob said to Laban, "Give me my wife, for my time of service is up. I want to have marital relations with her."

21וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יַעֲקֹ֤ב אֶל־ לָבָן֙ הָבָ֣ה אֶת־ אִשְׁתִּ֔י כִּ֥י מָלְא֖וּ יָמָ֑י וְאָב֖וֹאָה אֵלֶֽיהָ׃

22So Laban invited all the people of that place and prepared a feast.

22וַיֶּאֱסֹ֥ף לָבָ֛ן אֶת־ כָּל־ אַנְשֵׁ֥י הַמָּק֖וֹם וַיַּ֥עַשׂ מִשְׁתֶּֽה׃

23In the evening he brought his daughter Leah to Jacob, and Jacob had marital relations with her.

23וַיְהִ֣י בָעֶ֔רֶב וַיִּקַּח֙ אֶת־ לֵאָ֣ה בִתּ֔וֹ וַיָּבֵ֥א אֹתָ֖הּ אֵלָ֑יו וַיָּבֹ֖א אֵלֶֽיהָ׃

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

24וַיִּתֵּ֤ן לָבָן֙ לָ֔הּ אֶת־ זִלְפָּ֖ה שִׁפְחָת֑וֹ לְלֵאָ֥ה בִתּ֖וֹ שִׁפְחָֽה׃

25In the morning Jacob discovered it was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, "What in the world have you done to me! Didn't I work for you in exchange for Rachel? Why have you tricked me?"

25וַיְהִ֣י בַבֹּ֔קֶר וְהִנֵּה־ הִ֖וא לֵאָ֑ה וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֶל־ לָבָ֗ן מַה־ זֹּאת֙ עָשִׂ֣יתָ לִּ֔י הֲלֹ֤א בְרָחֵל֙ עָבַ֣דְתִּי עִמָּ֔ךְ וְלָ֖מָּה רִמִּיתָֽנִי׃

26"It is not our custom here," Laban replied, "to give the younger daughter in marriage before the firstborn.

26וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָבָ֔ן לֹא־ יֵעָשֶׂ֥ה כֵ֖ן בִּמְקוֹמֵ֑נוּ לָתֵ֥ת הַצְּעִירָ֖ה לִפְנֵ֥י הַבְּכִירָֽה׃

27Complete my older daughter's bridal week. Then we will give you the younger one too, in exchange for seven more years of work."

27מַלֵּ֖א שְׁבֻ֣עַ זֹ֑את וְנִתְּנָ֨ה לְךָ֜ גַּם־ אֶת־ זֹ֗את בַּעֲבֹדָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תַּעֲבֹ֣ד עִמָּדִ֔י ע֖וֹד שֶֽׁבַע־ שָׁנִ֥ים אֲחֵרֽוֹת׃

28Jacob did as Laban said. When Jacob completed Leah's bridal week, Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife.

28וַיַּ֤עַשׂ יַעֲקֹב֙ כֵּ֔ן וַיְמַלֵּ֖א שְׁבֻ֣עַ זֹ֑את וַיִּתֶּן־ ל֛וֹ אֶת־ רָחֵ֥ל בִּתּ֖וֹ ל֥וֹ לְאִשָּֽׁה׃

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

29וַיִּתֵּ֤ן לָבָן֙ לְרָחֵ֣ל בִּתּ֔וֹ אֶת־ בִּלְהָ֖ה שִׁפְחָת֑וֹ לָ֖הּ לְשִׁפְחָֽה׃

30Jacob had marital relations with Rachel as well. He loved Rachel more than Leah, so he worked for Laban for seven more years.

30וַיָּבֹא֙ גַּ֣ם אֶל־ רָחֵ֔ל וַיֶּאֱהַ֥ב גַּֽם־ אֶת־ רָחֵ֖ל מִלֵּאָ֑ה וַיַּעֲבֹ֣ד עִמּ֔וֹ ע֖וֹד שֶֽׁבַע־ שָׁנִ֥ים אֲחֵרֽוֹת׃

31When the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, he enabled her to become pregnant while Rachel remained childless.

31וַיַּ֤רְא יְהוָה֙ כִּֽי־ שְׂנוּאָ֣ה לֵאָ֔ה וַיִּפְתַּ֖ח אֶת־ רַחְמָ֑הּ וְרָחֵ֖ל עֲקָרָֽה׃

32So Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, for she said, "The LORD has looked with pity on my oppressed condition. Surely my husband will love me now."

32וַתַּ֤הַר לֵאָה֙ וַתֵּ֣לֶד בֵּ֔ן וַתִּקְרָ֥א שְׁמ֖וֹ רְאוּבֵ֑ן כִּ֣י אָֽמְרָ֗ה כִּֽי־ רָאָ֤ה יְהוָה֙ בְּעָנְיִ֔י כִּ֥י עַתָּ֖ה יֶאֱהָבַ֥נִי אִישִֽׁי׃

33She became pregnant again and had another son. She said, "Because the LORD heard that I was unloved, he gave me this one too." So she named him Simeon.

33וַתַּ֣הַר עוֹד֮ וַתֵּ֣לֶד בֵּן֒ וַתֹּ֗אמֶר כִּֽי־ שָׁמַ֤ע יְהוָה֙ כִּֽי־ שְׂנוּאָ֣ה אָנֹ֔כִי וַיִּתֶּן־ לִ֖י גַּם־ אֶת־ זֶ֑ה וַתִּקְרָ֥א שְׁמ֖וֹ שִׁמְעֽוֹן׃

34She became pregnant again and had another son. She said, "Now this time my husband will show me affection, because I have given birth to three sons for him." That is why he was named Levi.

34וַתַּ֣הַר עוֹד֮ וַתֵּ֣לֶד בֵּן֒ וַתֹּ֗אמֶר עַתָּ֤ה הַפַּ֙עַם֙ יִלָּוֶ֤ה אִישִׁי֙ אֵלַ֔י כִּֽי־ יָלַ֥דְתִּי ל֖וֹ שְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה בָנִ֑ים עַל־ כֵּ֥ן קָרָֽא־ שְׁמ֖וֹ לֵוִֽי׃

35She became pregnant again and had another son. She said, "This time I will praise the LORD." That is why she named him Judah. Then she stopped having children.

35וַתַּ֨הַר ע֜וֹד וַתֵּ֣לֶד בֵּ֗ן וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ הַפַּ֙עַם֙ אוֹדֶ֣ה אֶת־ יְהוָ֔ה עַל־ כֵּ֛ן קָרְאָ֥ה שְׁמ֖וֹ יְהוּדָ֑ה וַֽתַּעֲמֹ֖ד מִלֶּֽדֶת׃

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