Genesis 29:10-30

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 ¹kissed Rachel, and lifted his voice and wept.

12 Jacob told Rachel that he was a ²relative of her father and that he was Rebekah's son, and ³she ran and told her father.

13 So when ⁴Laban heard the news of Jacob his sister's son, he ran to meet him, and ⁵embraced 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 ⁶my 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 ⁷your 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 ⁸beautiful of form and face.

18 Now Jacob ⁹loved Rachel, so he said, "¹⁰I 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 ¹¹because 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 ¹²go 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, "¹³What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served with you? Why then have you ¹⁴deceived 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 ¹⁵you 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 ¹⁶he loved Rachel more than Leah, and he served with Laban for ¹⁷another seven years.

Genesis 29:10-30 Meaning and Commentary

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.

Cross References

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

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "brother"
• [b]. Lit "brother"
• [c]. Lit "beautiful of appearance"
• [d]. Lit "days are"
• [e]. Lit "done thus in"
• [f]. Lit "give"
• [g]. Lit "him"