New King James Version

King James Bible

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 into 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.

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.

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 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.

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

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

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

5And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And 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.”

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

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 they have rolled the stone from the well’s mouth; 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.

9Now while 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.

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.

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 lifted up his voice and wept.

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

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 brother, 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.

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 for 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 relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what should 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 elder 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 delicate, but Rachel was beautiful of form and appearance.

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

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

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

19And Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to another 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 only a few days to him 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, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her.”

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

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

22And Laban gathered together all the men 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.

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.

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

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

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 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?

26And Laban said, “It must not be done so 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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, “Now I will praise the LORD.” Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she stopped 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.

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

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.