Genesis 29

Jacob Meets Rachel

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

2 He looked, and saw ²a well in the field, and behold, three flocks of sheep were lying there beside it, for from that well they watered the flocks. Now the stone on the mouth of the well was large.

3 When all the flocks were gathered there, they would then roll the stone from the mouth of the well and water the sheep, and put the stone back in its place on the mouth of the well.

4 Jacob said to them, "My brothers, where are you from?" And they said, "We are from ³Haran."

5 He said to them, "Do you know Laban the ⁴son of Nahor?" And they said, "We know him."

6 And he said to them, "Is it well with him?" And they said, "It is well, and here is ⁵Rachel his daughter coming with the sheep."

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

8 But they said, "We cannot *, until * all the flocks are gathered, and they roll the stone from the mouth of the well; then we water the sheep."

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

10 When Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, Jacob went up and rolled the stone from the mouth of the well and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother.

11 Then Jacob ⁶kissed Rachel, and lifted his voice and wept.

12 Jacob told Rachel that he was a ⁷relative of her father and that he was Rebekah's son, and ⁸she ran and told her father.

13 So when ⁹Laban heard the news of Jacob his sister's son, he ran to meet him, and ¹⁰embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house. Then he related to Laban all these things.

14 Laban said to him, "Surely you are ¹¹my bone and my flesh." And he stayed with him a month.

15 Then Laban said to Jacob, "Because you are my relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall ¹²your wages be?"

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

17 And Leah's eyes were weak, but Rachel was ¹³beautiful of form and face.

18 Now Jacob ¹⁴loved Rachel, so he said, "¹⁵I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel."

19 Laban said, "It is better that I give her to you than to give her to another man; stay with me."

20 So Jacob served seven years for Rachel and they seemed * to him but a few days ¹⁶because of his love for her.

Laban's Treachery

21 Then Jacob said to Laban, "Give me my wife, for my time is completed, that I may ¹⁷go in to her."

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

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

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

25 So it came about in the morning that, behold, it was Leah! And he said to Laban, "¹⁸What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served with you? Why then have you ¹⁹deceived me?"

26 But Laban said, "It is not the practice * in our place to marry off the younger before the firstborn.

27 "Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also for the service which ²⁰you shall serve with me for another seven years."

28 Jacob did so and completed her week, and he gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife.

29 Laban also gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maid.

30 So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and indeed ²¹he loved Rachel more than Leah, and he served with Laban for ²²another seven years.

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

32 Leah conceived and bore a son and named * him Reuben, for she said, "Because the LORD has ²³seen my affliction; surely now my husband will love me."

33 Then she conceived again and bore a son and said, "²⁴Because the LORD has heard that I am unloved, He has therefore given me this son also." So she named * him Simeon.

34 She 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 * he was named * ²⁵Levi.

35 And she conceived again and bore a son and said, "This time I will praise the LORD." Therefore * she named * him ²⁶Judah. Then she stopped bearing.

Genesis 29 Commentary

Chapter 29

Jacob comes to the well of Haran. (1-8) His interview with Rachel, Laban entertains him. (9-14) Jacob's covenant for Rachel, Laban's deceit. (15-30) Leah's sons. (31-35)

Verses 1-8 Jacob proceeded cheerfully in his journey, after the sweet communion he had with God at Beth-el. Providence brought him to the field where his uncle's flocks were to be watered. What is said of the care of the shepherds for their sheep, may remind us of the tender concern which our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, has for his flock the church; for he is the good Shepherd, that knows his sheep, and is known of them. The stone at the well's mouth was to secure it; water was scarce, it was not there for every one's use: but separate interests should not take us from helping one another. When all the shepherds came together with their flocks, then, like loving neighbours, they watered their flocks together. The law of kindness in the tongue has a commanding power, ( Proverbs 31:26 ) . Jacob was civil to these strangers, and he found them civil to him.

Verses 9-14 See Rachel's humility and industry. Nobody needs to be ashamed of honest, useful labour, nor ought it to hinder any one's preferment. When Jacob understood that this was his kinswoman, he was very ready to serve her. Laban, though not the best humoured, bade him welcome, and was satisfied with the account Jacob gave of himself. While we avoid being foolishly ready to believe every thing which is told us, we must take heed of being uncharitably suspicious.

Verses 15-30 During the month that Jacob spent as a guest, he was not idle. Wherever we are, it is good to employ ourselves in some useful business. Laban was desirous that Jacob should continue with him. Inferior relations must not be imposed upon; it is our duty to reward them. Jacob made known to Laban the affection he had for his daughter Rachel. And having no wordly goods with which to endow her, he promises seven years' service Love makes long and hard services short and easy; hence we read of the labour of love, ( Hebrews 6:10 ) . If we know how to value the happiness of heaven, the sufferings of this present time will be as nothing to us. An age of work will be but as a few days to those that love God, and long for Christ's appearing. Jacob, who had imposed upon his father, is imposed upon by Laban, his father-in-law, by a like deception. Herein, how unrighteous soever Laban was, the Lord was righteous: see ( Judges 1:7 ) . Even the righteous, if they take a false step, are sometimes thus recompensed in the earth. And many who are not, like Jacob, in their marriage, disappointed in person, soon find themselves, as much to their grief, disappointed in the character. The choice of that relation ought to be made with good advice and thought on both sides. There is reason to believe that Laban's excuse was not true. His way of settling the matter made bad worse. Jacob was drawn into the disquiet of multiplying wives. He could not refuse Rachel, for he had espoused her; still less could he refuse Leah. As yet there was no express command against marrying more than one wife. It was in the patriarchs a sin of ignorance; but it will not justify the like practice now, when God's will is plainly made known by the Divine law, ( Leviticus 18:18 ) , and more fully since, by our Saviour, that one man and woman ( 1 Corinthians. 7:2 )

Verses 31-35 The names Leah gave her children, expressed her respect and regard, both to God and to her husband. Reuben, or See a son, with this thought, Now will my husband love me; Levi, or joined, expecting, Now will my husband be joined unto me. Mutual affection is both the duty and comfort of the married relation; and yoke-fellows should study to recommend themselves to each ( 1 Corinthians. 7:33 1 Corinthians. 7:34 ) providence of God in hearing her. Whatever supports and comforts us under afflictions, or tends to our deliverance from them, God must be owned in it. Her fourth son she called Judah, or praise, saying, Now will I praise the Lord. This was he, of whom, as concerning the flesh, Christ came. Whatever is the matter of our rejoicing, ought to be the matter of our thanksgiving. Fresh favours should quicken us to praise God for former favours; Now will I praise the Lord more and better than I have done. All our praises must centre in Christ, both as the matter of them, and as the Mediator of them. He descended after the flesh from him whose name was "Praise," and He is our praise. Is Christ formed in my heart? Now will I praise the Lord.

Cross References

• 1. Judges 6:3, 33
• 2. Genesis 24:10, 11; Exodus 2:15, 16
• 3. Genesis 28:10
• 4. Genesis 24:24, 29
• 5. Exodus 2:16
• 6. Genesis 33:4
• 7. Genesis 28:5
• 8. Genesis 24:28
• 9. Genesis 24:29-31
• 10. Genesis 33:4
• 11. Genesis 2:23; Judges 9:2; 2 Samuel 5:1; 2 Samuel 19:12, 13
• 12. Genesis 31:41
• 13. Genesis 12:11, 14; Genesis 26:7
• 14. Genesis 24:67
• 15. Hosea 12:12
• 16. Song of Songs 8:7
• 17. Judges 15:1
• 18. Genesis 12:18; Genesis 20:9; Genesis 26:10
• 19. 1 Samuel 28:12
• 20. Genesis 31:41
• 21. Genesis 29:17, 18
• 22. Genesis 31:41
• 23. Genesis 16:11; Genesis 31:42; Exodus 3:7; Exodus 4:31; Deuteronomy 26:7; Psalms 25:18
• 24. Deuteronomy 21:15
• 25. Genesis 49:5
• 26. Genesis 49:8; Matthew 1:2

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "lifted up his feet"
• [b]. Lit "behold"
• [c]. Lit "brother"
• [d]. Lit "brother"
• [e]. Lit "beautiful of appearance"
• [f]. Lit "days are"
• [g]. Lit "done thus in"
• [h]. Lit "give"
• [i]. Lit "him"
• [j]. Lit "hated"
• [k]. I.e. see, a son
• [l]. Lit "looked upon"
• [m]. Heb "shama," related to Simeon
• [n]. Lit "hated"
• [o]. Heb "lavah," related to Levi
• [p]. Heb "Jadah," related to Judah
• [q]. Heb "Jehudah"

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 29

This chapter informs us of Jacob's coming to a well near Haran, where meeting with some shepherds he inquires after Laban, Ge 29:1-8; and there also with Rachel his daughter, the shepherds made known to him, and acquainted her who he was, Ge 29:9-12; upon which she ran to her father, and told him who was at the well, who went forth and brought him to his house, and kindly entertained him, Ge 29:13,14; with whom he agreed to stay and serve seven years for Rachel his daughter, Ge 29:15-20; at the end of which Jacob demands his wife, but instead of Rachel, Leah was brought to him as his wife, Ge 29:21-25; which being discovered, and complained of, it was proposed he should have Rachel also, provided he would serve yet seven years more, to which he agreed, Ge 29:26-30; and the chapter is concluded with an account of four sons being born to Jacob of Leah, Ge 29:31-35.