Passage

Genesis 29

Book: Genesis · NASB95

Immediate context (±2 verses)

ASV (ASV)

"1. Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the children of the east. 2. And 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. 3. And 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. 4. And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence are ye? And they said, Of Haran are we. 5. And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him. 6. And he said unto them, Is it well with him? And they said, It is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep. 7. And 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. 8. And 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. 9. While he was yet speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep; for she kept them. 10. And 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. 11. And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept. 12. And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's brother, and that he was Rebekah's son: and she ran and told her father. 13. And 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. 14. And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month. 15. And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be? 16. And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17. And Leah's eyes were tender; but Rachel was beautiful and well-favored. 18. And Jacob loved Rachel; and he said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter. 19. And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me. 20. And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her. 21. And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her. 22. And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast. 23. And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her. 24. And Laban gave Zilpah his handmaid unto his daughter Leah for a handmaid. 25. And 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? 26. And Laban said, It is not so done in our place, to give the younger before the first-born. 27. Fulfil 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. 28. And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife. 29. And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her handmaid. 30. And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years. 31. And Jehovah saw that Leah was hated, and he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren. 32. And 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. 33. And 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. 34. And 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. 35. And 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." (Genesis 29:1-35, ASV)

WEB (WEB)

"1. Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the children of the east. 2. He looked, and behold, a well in the field, and, behold, three flocks of sheep lying there by it. For out of that well they watered the flocks. The stone on the well’s mouth was large. 3. There all the flocks were gathered. They rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again on the well’s mouth in its place. 4. Jacob said to them, “My relatives, where are you from?” They said, “We are from Haran.” 5. He said to them, “Do you know Laban, the son of Nahor?” They said, “We know him.” 6. He said to them, “Is it well with him?” They said, “It is well. See, Rachel, his daughter, is coming with the sheep.” 7. He said, “Behold, it is still the middle of the day, not time to gather the livestock together. Water the sheep, and go and feed them.” 8. They said, “We can’t, until all the flocks are gathered together, and they roll the stone from the well’s mouth. Then we water the sheep.” 9. While he was yet speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she kept them. 10. When Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban, his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban, his mother’s brother, Jacob went 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 lifted up his voice, and wept. 12. Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s brother, and that he was Rebekah’s son. She ran and told her father. 13. When Laban heard the news of Jacob, his sister’s son, he ran to meet Jacob, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban all these things. 14. Laban said to him, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh.” He lived with him for a month. 15. Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my brother, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what will your wages be?” 16. Laban had two daughters. The name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17. Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and attractive. 18. Jacob loved Rachel. He said, “I will serve you seven years for Rachel, your younger daughter.” 19. Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you, than that I should give her to another man. Stay with me.” 20. Jacob served seven years for Rachel. They seemed to him but a few days, for the love he had for her. 21. Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her.” 22. Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast. 23. In the evening, he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him. He went in to her. 24. Laban gave Zilpah his servant to his daughter Leah for a servant. 25. In the morning, behold, it was Leah. He said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Didn’t I serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?” 26. Laban said, “It is not done so in our place, to give the younger before the firstborn. 27. Fulfill the week of this one, and we will give you the other also for the service which you will serve with me yet seven other years.” 28. Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week. He gave him Rachel his daughter as wife. 29. Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah, his servant, to be her servant. 30. He went in also to Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years. 31. Yahweh saw that Leah was hated, and he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. 32. Leah conceived, and bore a son, and she named him Reuben. For she said, “Because Yahweh has looked at my affliction. For now my husband will love me.” 33. She conceived again, and bore a son, and said, “Because Yahweh has heard that I am hated, he has therefore given me this son also.” She named him Simeon. 34. She conceived again, and bore a son. Said, “Now this time will my husband be joined to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi. 35. She conceived again, and bore a son. She said, “This time will I praise Yahweh.” Therefore she named him Judah. Then she stopped bearing." (Genesis 29:1-35, WEB)

KJV (KJV)

"1. Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east. ^{went: Heb. lift up his feet} ^{people: Heb. children} 2. And 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. 3. And 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. 4. And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, Of Haran are we. 5. And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him. 6. And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep. ^{Is he: Heb. Is there peace to him?} 7. And 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. ^{it is: Heb. yet the day is great} 8. And 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. 9. And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep: for she kept them. 10. And 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. 11. And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept. 12. And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's brother, and that he was Rebekah's son: and she ran and told her father. 13. And 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. ^{tidings: Heb. hearing} 14. And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month. ^{the space: Heb. a month of days} 15. And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be? 16. And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17. Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured. 18. And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter. 19. And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me. 20. And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her. 21. And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her. 22. And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast. 23. And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her. 24. And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid. 25. And 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? 26. And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. ^{country: Heb. place} 27. Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years. 28. And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also. 29. And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid. 30. And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years. 31. And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren. 32. And 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. ^{Reuben: that is, See a son} 33. And 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. ^{Simeon: that is, Hearing} 34. And 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. ^{Levi: that is, Joined} 35. And 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. ^{Judah: that is, Praise} ^{left: Heb. stood from bearing}" (Genesis 29:1-35, KJV)

YLT (YLT)

"1. And Jacob lifteth up his feet, and goeth towards the land of the sons of the east; 2. and he looketh, and lo, a well in the field, and lo, there three droves of a flock crouching by it, for from that well they water the droves, and the great stone [is] on the mouth of the well. 3. (When thither have all the droves been gathered, and they have rolled the stone from off the mouth of the well, and have watered the flock, then they have turned back the stone on the mouth of the well to its place.) 4. And Jacob saith to them, 'My brethren, from whence [are] ye?' and they say, 'We [are] from Haran.' 5. And he saith to them, 'Have ye known Laban, son of Nahor?' and they say, 'We have known.' 6. And he saith to them, 'Hath he peace?' and they say, 'Peace; and lo, Rachel his daughter is coming with the flock.' 7. And he saith, 'Lo, the day [is] still great, [it is] not time for the cattle to be gathered; water ye the flock, and go, delight yourselves.' 8. And they say, 'We are not able, till that all the droves be gathered together, and they have rolled away the stone from the mouth of the well, and we have watered the flock.' 9. He is yet speaking with them, and Rachel hath come with the flock which her father hath, for she [is] shepherdess; 10. and it cometh to pass when Jacob hath seen Rachel, daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the flock of Laban his mother's brother, that Jacob cometh nigh and rolleth the stone from off the mouth of the well, and watereth the flock of Laban his mother's brother. 11. And Jacob kisseth Rachel, and lifteth up his voice, and weepeth, 12. and Jacob declareth to Rachel that he [is] her father's brother, and that he [is] Rebekah's son, and she runneth and declareth to her father. 13. And it cometh to pass, when Laban heareth the report of Jacob his sister's son, that he runneth to meet him, and embraceth him, and kisseth him, and bringeth him in unto his house; and he recounteth to Laban all these things, 14. and Laban saith to him, 'Only my bone and my flesh [art] thou;' and he dwelleth with him a month of days. 15. And Laban saith to Jacob, 'Is it because thou [art] my brother that thou hast served me for nought? declare to me what [is] thy hire.' 16. And Laban hath two daughters, the name of the elder [is] Leah, and the name of the younger Rachel, 17. and the eyes of Leah [are] tender, and Rachel hath been fair of form and fair of appearance. 18. And Jacob loveth Rachel, and saith, 'I serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter:' 19. and Laban saith, 'It is better for me to give her to thee than to give her to another man; dwell with me;' 20. and Jacob serveth for Rachel seven years; and they are in his eyes as some days, because of his loving her. 21. And Jacob saith unto Laban, 'Give up my wife, for my days have been fulfilled, and I go in unto her;' 22. and Laban gathereth all the men of the place, and maketh a banquet. 23. And it cometh to pass in the evening, that he taketh Leah, his daughter, and bringeth her in unto him, and he goeth in unto her; 24. and Laban giveth to her Zilpah, his maid-servant, to Leah his daughter, a maid-servant. 25. And it cometh to pass in the morning, that lo, it [is] Leah; and he saith unto Laban, 'What [is] this thou hast done to me? for Rachel have I not served with thee? and why hast thou deceived me?' 26. And Laban saith, 'It is not done so in our place, to give the younger before the first-born; 27. fulfil the week of this one, and we give to thee also this one, for the service which thou dost serve with me yet seven other years.' 28. And Jacob doth so, and fulfilleth the week of this one, and he giveth to him Rachel his daughter, to him for a wife; 29. and Laban giveth to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his maid-servant, for a maid-servant to her. 30. And he goeth in also unto Rachel, and he also loveth Rachel more than Leah; and he serveth with him yet seven other years. 31. And Jehovah seeth that Leah [is] the hated one, and He openeth her womb, and Rachel [is] barren; 32. and Leah conceiveth, and beareth a son, and calleth his name Reuben, for she said, 'Because Jehovah hath looked on mine affliction; because now doth my husband love me.' 33. And she conceiveth again, and beareth a son, and saith, 'Because Jehovah hath heard that I [am] the hated one, He also giveth to me even this [one];' and she calleth his name Simeon. 34. And she conceiveth again, and beareth a son, and saith, 'Now [is] the time, my husband is joined unto me, because I have born to him three sons,' therefore hath [one] called his name Levi. 35. And she conceiveth again, and beareth a son, and saith this time, 'I praise Jehovah;' therefore hath she called his name Judah; and she ceaseth from bearing." (Genesis 29:1-35, YLT)

Setting

Speaker: TBD
Audience: TBD
Location: TBD
Time period: TBD

Theological reading

Patristic / early-church-father exegesis, to be added.

Key words

Theologically-loaded Greek or Hebrew words in this verse may have entries in the lexicon. Curated to roughly 100 contested terms across the corpus, not every word; see Lexicon Roadmap.

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Quoted in

Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the most literal English translations available (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the public domain in the United States, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

ASV (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
WEB (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
KJV (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
YLT (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See Bibles for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.