Common English Bible CEB
English Standard Version ESV
1 Jacob got to his feet and set out for the land of the easterners.
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Then Jacob went on his journey and came to the land of the people of the east.
2 He saw a well in the field in front of him, near which three flocks of sheep were lying down. That well was their source for water because the flocks drank from that well. A huge stone covered the well's opening.
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As 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,
3 When all of the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone from the well's opening, water the sheep, and return the stone to its place at the well's opening.
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and 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.
4 Jacob said to them, "Where are you from, my brothers?" They said, "We're from Haran."
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Jacob said to them, “My brothers, where do you come from? ” They said, “We are from Haran. ”
5 Then he said to them, "Do you know Laban, Nahor's grandson?" They said, "We know him."
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He said to them, “Do you know Laban the son of Nahor? ” They said, “We know him. ”
6 He said to them, "Is he well?" They said, "He's fine. In fact, this is his daughter Rachel now, coming with the flock."
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He said to them, “Is it well with him? ” They said, “It is well; and see, Rachel his daughter is coming with the sheep! ”
7 He said to them, "It's now only the middle of the day. It's not time yet to gather the animals. Water the flock, and then go, put them out to pasture."
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He 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. ”
8 They said to him, "We can't until all the herds are gathered, and then we roll the stone away from the well's opening and water the flock."
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But 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. ”
9 While he was still talking to them, Rachel came with her father's flock since she was its shepherd.
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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 uncle, and the flock of Laban, Jacob came up, rolled the stone from the well's opening, and watered the flock of his uncle Laban.
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Now 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.
11 Jacob kissed Rachel and wept aloud.
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Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept aloud.
12 Jacob told Rachel that he was related to her father and that he was Rebekah's son. She then ran to tell her father.
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And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s kinsman, and that he was Rebekah’s son, and she ran and told her father.
13 When Laban heard about Jacob his sister's son, he ran to meet him. Laban embraced him, kissed him, and invited him into his house, where Jacob recounted to Laban everything that had happened.
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As 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,
14 Laban said to him, "Yes, you are my flesh and blood." After Jacob had stayed with Laban for a month,
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and Laban said to him, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh! ” And he stayed with him a month.
15 Laban said to Jacob, "You shouldn't have to work for free just because you are my relative. Tell me what you would like to be paid."
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Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my kinsman, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be? ”
16 Now Laban had two daughters: the older was named Leah and the younger Rachel.
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Now Laban had two daughters. The name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
17 Leah had delicate eyes, but Rachel had a beautiful figure and was good-looking.
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Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance.
18 Jacob loved Rachel and said, "I will work for you for seven years for Rachel, your younger daughter."
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Jacob loved Rachel. And he said, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel. ”
19 Laban said, "I'd rather give her to you than to another man. Stay with me."
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Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to any other man; stay with me. ”
20 Jacob worked for Rachel for seven years, but it seemed like a few days because he loved her.
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So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her.
21 Jacob said to Laban, "The time has come. Give me my wife so that I may sleep with her."
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Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife that I may go in to her, for my time is completed. ”
22 So Laban invited all the people of that place and prepared a banquet.
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So Laban gathered together all the people of the place and made a feast.
23 However, in the evening, he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and he slept with her.
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But in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and he went in to her.
24 Laban had given his servant Zilpah to his daughter Leah as her servant.
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(Laban gave his female servant Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her servant. )
25 In the morning, there she was—Leah! Jacob said to Laban, "What have you done to me? Didn't I work for you to have Rachel? Why did you betray me?"
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And 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? ”
26 Laban said, "Where we live, we don't give the younger woman before the oldest.
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Laban said, “It is not so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.
27 Complete the celebratory week with this woman. Then I will give you this other woman too for your work, if you work for me seven more years."
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Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also in return for serving me another seven years. ”
28 So that is what Jacob did. He completed the celebratory week with this woman, and then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife.
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Jacob did so, and completed her week. Then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife.
29 Laban had given his servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her servant.
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(Laban gave his female servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her servant. )
30 Jacob slept with Rachel, and he loved Rachel more than Leah. He worked for Laban seven more years.
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So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah, and served Laban for another seven years.
31 When the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, he opened her womb; but Rachel was unable to have children.
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When the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.
32 Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben because she said, "The LORD saw my harsh treatment, and now my husband will love me."
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And 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. ”
33 She became pregnant again and gave birth to a son. She said, "The LORD heard that I was unloved, so he gave me this son too," and she named him Simeon.
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She 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.
34 She became pregnant again and gave birth to a son. She said, "Now, this time my husband will embrace me, since I have given birth to three sons for him." So she named him Levi.
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Again 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.
35 She became pregnant again and gave birth to a son. She said, "This time I will praise the LORD." So she named him Judah. Then she stopped bearing children.
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And 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.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025