1Then Jacob went on his journey , and came to the land of the children of the east . 2And he looked , and , behold , a well in the field , and , lo , three flocks of sheep lying there by it ; for out of that well they watered the flocks : and the stone upon the well’s mouth was great . 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 its place . 4And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence are ye? And they said, Of Haran are we . 5And he said unto them , Know ye Laban the son of Nahor ? And they said, We know him . 6And he said unto them, Is it well with him ? And they said, It is well : and , behold , Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep . 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 . 8And they said , We cannot , until all the flocks be gathered together , and they roll the stone from the well’s mouth ; then we water the sheep . 9While he was yet speaking 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. 11And Jacob kissed Rachel , and lifted up his voice , and wept . 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 . 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 thou art my bone and my flesh . And he abode with him the space of a month .
Jacob's Service to Laban
15And Laban said unto Jacob , Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought ? tell me , what shall thy wages be ? 16And Laban had two daughters : the name of the elder was Leah , and the name of the younger was Rachel . 17And Leah ’s eyes were tender ; but Rachel was beautiful and well favored. 18And Jacob loved Rachel ; and he said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter . 19And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee , than that I should give her to another man : abide with me . 20And Jacob served seven years for Rachel ; and they seemed unto him but a few days , for the love he had to her .
The Deception of Laban
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 . 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 Zilpah his handmaid unto his daughter Leah for a handmaid . 25And it came to pass in the morning that , 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 is not so done in our place , to give the younger before the first-born. 27Fulfil the week of this one , and we will give thee the other also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years . 28And Jacob did so , and fulfilled her week : and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife. 29And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her handmaid . 30And he went in also unto Rachel , and he loved also Rachel more than Leah , and served with him yet seven other years .
The Birth of Jacob's Children
31And Jehovah saw that Leah was hated , and he opened her womb : but Rachel was barren . 32And Leah conceived , and bare a son , and she called his name Reuben : for she said , Because Jehovah hath looked upon my affliction ; for now my husband will love me . 33And she conceived again , and bare a son : and said , Because Jehovah hath heard that I am hated , he hath therefore given me this son also : and she called his name Simeon . 34And she conceived again , and bare a son ; and said , Now this time will my husband be joined unto me , because I have borne him three sons : therefore was his name called Levi . 35And she conceived again , and bare a son : and she said , This time will I praise Jehovah : therefore she called his name Judah ; and she left off bearing .