New King James Version

English Standard Version

1So Jacob went on his journey and came to the land of the people of the East.

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

2And he looked, and saw a well in the field; and behold, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks. A large stone was on the well’s mouth.

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,

3Now all the flocks would be gathered there; and they would roll the stone from the well’s mouth, water the sheep, and put the stone back in its place on 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.

4And Jacob said to them, “My brethren, where are you from?” And they said, “We are from Haran.”

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

5Then he said to them, “Do you know Laban the son of Nahor?” And they said, “We know him.”

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

6So he said to them, “Is he well?” And they said, “He is well. And look, his daughter Rachel is coming with the sheep.”

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

7Then he said, “Look, it is still high day; it is not time for the cattle to be gathered together. Water the sheep, and go and feed them.”

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.”

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

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.”

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

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

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.

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.

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

11Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept aloud.

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

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.

13Then it came to pass, when Laban heard the report about Jacob his sister’s son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him and kissed him, and brought him to his house. So he told Laban all these things.

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,

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

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

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

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

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

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

17Leah’s eyes were delicate, but Rachel was beautiful of form and appearance.

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

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

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

19And Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to another man. Stay with me.”

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

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

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

21Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her.”

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

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

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

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

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

24And Laban gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah as a maid.

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

25So it came to pass in the morning, that behold, it was Leah. And he said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served you? Why then have you deceived me?”

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?”

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

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

27Fulfill her week, and we will give you this one also for the service which you will serve with me still another seven years.”

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

28Then Jacob did so and fulfilled her week. So he gave him his daughter Rachel as wife also.

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

29And Laban gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as a maid.

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

30Then Jacob also went in to Rachel, and he also loved Rachel more than Leah. And he served with Laban still another seven years.

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

31When the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb; but Rachel was barren.

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

32So Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben; for she said, “The LORD has surely looked on my affliction. Now therefore, my husband will love me.”

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.”

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

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.