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Genesis 29
New International Version
Genesis 29
New International Version
Jacob Arrives in Paddan Aram
29 Then Jacob continued on his journey and came to the land of the eastern peoples.(A) 2 There he saw a well in the open country, with three flocks of sheep lying near it because the flocks were watered from that well.(B) The stone(C) over the mouth of the well was large. 3 When all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone(D) away from the well’s mouth and water the sheep.(E) Then they would return the stone to its place over the mouth of the well.
4 Jacob asked the shepherds, “My brothers, where are you from?”(F)
“We’re from Harran,(G)” they replied.
5 He said to them, “Do you know Laban, Nahor’s grandson?”(H)
“Yes, we know him,” they answered.
6 Then Jacob asked them, “Is he well?”
“Yes, he is,” they said, “and here comes his daughter Rachel(I) with the sheep.(J)”
7 “Look,” he said, “the sun is still high; it is not time for the flocks to be gathered. Water the sheep and take them back to pasture.”
8 “We can’t,” they replied, “until all the flocks are gathered and the stone(K) has been rolled away from the mouth of the well. Then we will water(L) the sheep.”
9 While he was still talking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep,(M) for she was a shepherd. 10 When Jacob saw Rachel(N) daughter of his uncle Laban, and Laban’s sheep, he went over and rolled the stone(O) away from the mouth of the well and watered(P) his uncle’s sheep.(Q) 11 Then Jacob kissed(R) Rachel and began to weep aloud.(S) 12 He had told Rachel that he was a relative(T) of her father and a son of Rebekah.(U) So she ran and told her father.(V)
13 As soon as Laban(W) heard the news about Jacob, his sister’s son, he hurried to meet him. He embraced him(X) and kissed him and brought him to his home, and there Jacob told him all these things. 14 Then Laban said to him, “You are my own flesh and blood.”(Y)
Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel
After Jacob had stayed with him for a whole month, 15 Laban said to him, “Just because you are a relative(Z) of mine, should you work for me for nothing? Tell me what your wages(AA) should be.”
16 Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the older was Leah,(AB) and the name of the younger was Rachel.(AC) 17 Leah had weak[a] eyes, but Rachel(AD) had a lovely figure and was beautiful.(AE) 18 Jacob was in love with Rachel(AF) and said, “I’ll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel.”(AG)
19 Laban said, “It’s better that I give her to you than to some other man. Stay here with me.” 20 So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel,(AH) but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.(AI)
21 Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife. My time is completed, and I want to make love to her.(AJ)”
22 So Laban brought together all the people of the place and gave a feast.(AK) 23 But when evening came, he took his daughter Leah(AL) and brought her to Jacob, and Jacob made love to her. 24 And Laban gave his servant Zilpah(AM) to his daughter as her attendant.(AN)
25 When morning came, there was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me?(AO) I served you for Rachel, didn’t I? Why have you deceived me?(AP)”
26 Laban replied, “It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older one.(AQ) 27 Finish this daughter’s bridal week;(AR) then we will give you the younger one also, in return for another seven years of work.(AS)”
28 And Jacob did so. He finished the week with Leah, and then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife.(AT) 29 Laban gave his servant Bilhah(AU) to his daughter Rachel as her attendant.(AV) 30 Jacob made love to Rachel also, and his love for Rachel was greater than his love for Leah.(AW) And he worked for Laban another seven years.(AX)
Jacob’s Children
31 When the Lord saw that Leah was not loved,(AY) he enabled her to conceive,(AZ) but Rachel remained childless. 32 Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son.(BA) She named him Reuben,[b](BB) for she said, “It is because the Lord has seen my misery.(BC) Surely my husband will love me now.”
33 She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Because the Lord heard that I am not loved,(BD) he gave me this one too.” So she named him Simeon.[c](BE)
34 Again she conceived, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Now at last my husband will become attached to me,(BF) because I have borne him three sons.” So he was named Levi.[d](BG)
35 She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” So she named him Judah.[e](BH) Then she stopped having children.(BI)
Footnotes
- Genesis 29:17 Or delicate
- Genesis 29:32 Reuben sounds like the Hebrew for he has seen my misery; the name means see, a son.
- Genesis 29:33 Simeon probably means one who hears.
- Genesis 29:34 Levi sounds like and may be derived from the Hebrew for attached.
- Genesis 29:35 Judah sounds like and may be derived from the Hebrew for praise.
Genesis 29
English Standard Version
Genesis 29
English Standard Version
Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel
29 Then Jacob went on his journey and came to (A)the land of the people of the east. 2 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 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, “My brothers, where do you come from?” They said, (B)“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; and see, Rachel his daughter is coming with the sheep!” 7 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 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 speaking with them, (C)Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she was a shepherdess. 10 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 Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept aloud. 12 And Jacob told Rachel that he was (D)her father's kinsman, and that he was Rebekah's son, (E)and she ran and told her father.
13 As soon as Laban heard the news about Jacob, his sister's son, (F)he ran to meet him and embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban all these things, 14 and Laban said to him, (G)“Surely you are my bone and my flesh!” And he stayed with him a month.
15 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 name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17 Leah's eyes were weak,[a] but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance. 18 Jacob loved Rachel. And he said, (H)“I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.” 19 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 So Jacob (I)served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her.
21 Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife that I may go in to her, for my time is completed.” 22 So Laban gathered together all the people of the place and (J)made a feast. 23 But in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and he went in to her. 24 (Laban gave[b] (K)his female servant Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her servant.) 25 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, “It is not so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. 27 (L)Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also in return for serving me another seven years.” 28 Jacob did so, and completed her week. Then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife. 29 (Laban gave (M)his female servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her servant.) 30 So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah, and served Laban (N)for another seven years.
Jacob's Children
31 When the Lord saw that Leah was (O)hated, (P)he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. 32 And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben,[c] for she said, “Because the Lord (Q)has looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me.” 33 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.[d] 34 Again she conceived and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will be (R)attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi.[e] 35 And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” Therefore she called his name (S)Judah.[f] Then she ceased bearing.
Footnotes
- Genesis 29:17 Or soft
- Genesis 29:24 Or had given; also verse 29
- Genesis 29:32 Reuben means See, a son
- Genesis 29:33 Simeon sounds like the Hebrew for heard
- Genesis 29:34 Levi sounds like the Hebrew for attached
- Genesis 29:35 Judah sounds like the Hebrew for praise
Genèse 29
La Bible du Semeur
Genèse 29
La Bible du Semeur
Chez Laban
29 Jacob reprit sa marche et se dirigea vers les pays de l’Orient[a]. 2 Un jour, il aperçut dans la campagne un puits où l’on menait boire les troupeaux. Trois troupeaux de moutons et de chèvres étaient couchés alentour. L’ouverture du puits était fermée par une grosse pierre 3 que l’on roulait de côté lorsque tous les troupeaux y étaient rassemblés. Après avoir abreuvé les bêtes, on remettait la pierre sur l’ouverture. 4 Jacob demanda aux bergers : D’où êtes-vous, les amis ?
– Nous sommes de Harân, lui répondirent-ils.
5 – Alors, reprit-il, connaissez-vous Laban, descendant de Nahor ?
– Oui, nous le connaissons.
6 – Comment va-t-il ?
– Il va bien. D’ailleurs, voici justement sa fille Rachel qui vient avec le troupeau.
7 – Mais, dit Jacob, il fait encore grand jour ! Ce n’est pas le moment de rassembler le bétail. Faites-donc boire les bêtes et ramenez-les aux pâturages !
8 – Nous ne pouvons rien faire, lui répondirent-ils, avant que tous les troupeaux soient rassemblés ; alors seulement nous roulons la pierre qui bouche l’ouverture du puits et nous faisons boire les bêtes.
9 Pendant qu’il s’entretenait ainsi avec eux, Rachel arriva avec le troupeau de son père. Elle était en effet bergère. 10 Lorsque Jacob vit Rachel, la fille de son oncle Laban et les bêtes de son oncle, il s’approcha, roula la pierre de l’ouverture du puits et fit boire le troupeau de son oncle. 11 Puis il embrassa Rachel et éclata en pleurs.
12 Il apprit à la jeune fille qu’il était un parent de son père, un fils de Rébecca. Rachel courut prévenir son père. 13 Dès que Laban entendit parler de Jacob, le fils de sa sœur, il se précipita à sa rencontre, le serra contre lui et l’embrassa, puis il le conduisit dans sa maison. Alors Jacob lui raconta tout ce qui s’était passé. 14 Laban lui dit : Tu es bien du même sang que moi !
Pendant tout un mois, Jacob demeura chez lui.
Les épouses de Jacob
15 Puis Laban lui dit : Travailleras-tu pour rien chez moi parce que tu es mon neveu ? Dis-moi ce que tu voudrais comme salaire.
16 Or, Laban avait deux filles, l’aînée s’appelait Léa, et la cadette Rachel. 17 Léa avait le regard tendre, mais Rachel était bien faite et d’une grande beauté. 18 Jacob s’était épris de Rachel et il dit à Laban : Je te servirai pendant sept ans si tu me donnes Rachel, ta fille cadette, en mariage[b].
19 Et Laban répondit : Je préfère te la donner à toi plutôt qu’à un autre. Reste chez moi.
20 Jacob travailla sept ans pour obtenir Rachel, et ces années furent à ses yeux comme quelques jours parce qu’il l’aimait.
21 Puis il dit à Laban : Donne-moi maintenant ma femme, car j’ai accompli mon temps de service et je voudrais l’épouser.
22 Alors Laban fit un festin auquel il invita tous les habitants de la localité. 23 La nuit venue, il prit sa fille Léa et l’amena à Jacob qui s’unit à elle[c]. 24 Laban donna sa servante Zilpa à sa fille Léa. 25 Le lendemain matin, Jacob se rendit compte que c’était Léa. Jacob dit à Laban : Que m’as-tu fait ? N’est-ce pas pour Rachel que j’ai travaillé chez toi ? Pourquoi alors m’as-tu trompé ?
26 Laban répondit : Chez nous, il n’est pas d’usage de marier la cadette avant l’aînée. 27 Mais termine la semaine de noces avec celle-ci, et nous te donnerons aussi l’autre en contrepartie de sept autres années de travail chez moi[d].
28 Jacob accepta : il termina cette semaine-là avec Léa, et Laban lui donna sa fille Rachel pour épouse. 29 Il donna aussi à Rachel sa servante Bilha[e]. 30 Jacob s’unit aussi à Rachel qu’il aimait plus que Léa. Il travailla encore sept autres années chez Laban.
Les enfants de Jacob
31 L’Eternel vit que Léa était mal aimée et il lui accorda des enfants, tandis que Rachel était stérile. 32 Ainsi Léa devint enceinte et donna naissance à un fils qu’elle appela Ruben (Voyez, un fils !), car elle dit : L’Eternel a vu ma misère ; à présent, mon mari m’aimera.
33 Puis elle fut de nouveau enceinte et eut encore un fils. Elle dit : L’Eternel a entendu que je n’étais pas aimée et il m’a encore accordé celui-ci.
Et elle le nomma Siméon (Il entend). 34 Elle devint encore enceinte et enfanta un fils. Elle dit : Cette fois-ci, mon mari s’attachera à moi, car je lui ai donné trois fils.
C’est pourquoi elle l’appela Lévi (Il s’attache). 35 De nouveau, elle devint enceinte et eut un fils. Elle s’écria : Cette fois, je louerai l’Eternel.
C’est pourquoi elle le nomma Juda (Il loue). Puis elle cessa d’avoir des enfants.
Footnotes
- 29.1 Pays situés sur les rives de l’Euphrate.
- 29.18 Le fiancé versait une dot à son futur beau-père (34.12). S’il ne pouvait la payer, il s’acquittait de sa dette par un service en nature.
- 29.23 La mariée portait un voile sur le visage.
- 29.27 Rachel fut sans doute donnée à Jacob à la fin de la semaine des festivités. Les sept autres années de travail allaient suivre ce mariage.
- 29.29 Coutume attestée par les documents de l’époque.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
La Bible du Semeur (BDS)
La Bible Du Semeur (The Bible of the Sower) Copyright © 1992, 1999 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.