Genesis29
King James Version · Public Domain
1Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east.
2And 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.
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 his place.
4And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be 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 he well? And they said, He 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 till they roll the stone from the well's mouth; then we water the sheep.
9And while he yet spake 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.
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.
17Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.
18And Jacob loved Rachel; and 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.
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 unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid.
25And 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?
26And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.
27Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this 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 also.
29And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.
30And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.
31And when the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.
32And 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.
33And 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.
34And 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.
35And 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.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Genesis 29.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: 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).
vv1-8
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, Pr 31:26. Jacob was civil to these strangers, and he found them civil to him.
vv9-14
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.
vv15-30
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, Heb 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 Jud 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, Le 18:18, and more fully since, by our Saviour, that one man and woman only must be joined together, 1Co 7:2.
Key Words
יַעֲקֹב: Jaakob, the Israelitish patriarch
נָשָׂא: to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
רֶגֶל: a foot (as used in walking); by implication, a step; by euphemistically the pudenda
יָלַךְ: to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses)
אֶרֶץ: the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
קֶדֶם: the front, of place (absolutely, the fore part, relatively the East) or time (antiquity); often used adverbially (before, anciently, eastward)
רָאָה: to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
הִנֵּה: lo!
בְּאֵר: a pit; especially a well
Cross References
Genesis 29The explicit prophetic summary of Jacob fleeing to Syria, serving for a wife, and keeping sheep.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Clear parallel of a future deliverer meeting his bride (Zipporah) at a well where she watered sheep.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The primordial formula of kinship and covenant identity ('bone of my bones, flesh of my flesh').
Supported by Matthew Poole
Jacob, who deceived Isaac, is himself deceived by Laban; a direct measure-for-measure recompense.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The Mosaic law regarding a man having two wives, one beloved and another hated (Leah).
Supported by Matthew Poole
The parallel setting where Abraham's servant met Rebekah at a well outside Haran.
Supported by JFB
Illustrates the Ancient Near Eastern custom of paying a bride price (mohar) or service for a wife.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The mosaic law regarding the dowry of virgins, validating Jacob's labor as a bride-price.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Illustrates the ancient custom of the bridal week (fulfilling her week) spent in celebration.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Later Mosaic law specifically forbids marrying a woman and her sister simultaneously.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The name Levi (meaning 'joined') is linked to the tribe's priestly joining to God's service.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Jacob's blessing on Judah, whose name means 'praise' and from whom the Messiah came.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Connects Jacob's arrival in Haran back to Rebekah's command to flee from Esau's wrath.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallels Jacob's emotional weeping and kissing upon meeting close kin after long separation.
Supported by Matthew Poole
A later biblical usage of the idiom 'your bone and your flesh' to appeal to tribal kinship.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Jacob references his fourteen years of total service for Laban's two daughters.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Verbal link where Jacob accused Laban of beguiling him, echoing Isaac's charge against Jacob.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
The Hebrew idiom of 'hated' used comparatively for loving one less, as with Leah.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Identifies the region of Mesopotamia/Haran as 'the land of the people of the East'.
Supported by JFB
Further biblical usage designating the nomadic peoples of Mesopotamia as 'children of the East'.
Supported by JFB
Rebekah coming out to water her flock, mirroring Rachel's sudden arrival at the well.
Supported by JFB
Jacob later recounts the exact terms of his fourteen years of grueling service for Laban's daughters.
Supported by JFB
Hannah's prayer echoes Leah's words, asking God to look on her affliction.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Genealogy of Jesus Christ, who descended from Judah (praise) according to the flesh.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Illustrates the idiom 'we cannot' as expressing local customs, laws, or strict social boundaries.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Explains the bridal veil custom that allowed Laban to substitute Leah for Rachel.
Supported by JFB
The custom of giving a maidservant to a daughter upon her marriage.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Affirms that children and the opening of the womb are a heritage from the Lord.
Supported by Matthew Henry