The big picture
Jacob, the traveler sent from his parents’ home, reaches the land near Haran, the town where his relatives live. He has come to find Laban, his mother’s brother, and to seek a wife from that family. Rachel, Laban’s younger daughter, works with the sheep. Leah is Rachel’s older sister. Jacob arrives with no household of his own. Laban welcomes him as family, but the visit soon becomes a work deal. Marriage, wages, and family rank will all become part of the same conflict.
In this chapter
- Jacob Meets Rachel at the Well Genesis 29:1-14
Jacob arrives in the eastern country and finds a well.
- Laban Gives Jacob the Wrong Bride Genesis 29:15-30
After a month, Laban asks Jacob what wages he wants.
- Leah Bears Four Sons Genesis 29:31-35
The LORD sees that Leah is hated.
Central truth
Jacob finds family and marriage in Haran, but Laban’s deceit leaves Leah unloved and the whole household strained.
Scripture beside the summary
Genesis · King James Version · 35Genesis 29:1-14
Jacob Meets Rachel at the Well
Jacob arrives in the eastern country and finds a well. Three flocks are resting there. A large stone covers the opening. The shepherds explain that they wait for all the flocks before moving it. Jacob asks about Laban and learns that Rachel is coming with Laban’s sheep. When she arrives, Jacob moves the stone and waters the flock. He kisses Rachel in greeting, weeps, and tells her who he is. Rachel runs to tell Laban. Laban comes out, embraces Jacob, and brings him home. Jacob tells him what has happened. Laban accepts him as close family, and Jacob stays for a month.
In everyday life
A young mechanic reaches a rural town with one family name and one address. Workers at a fuel stop know the name. Soon his cousin arrives in a farm truck. She calls her father, who comes and takes him home. Jacob’s meeting happens in an ancient kinship system, not a modern road trip.
Notice
Genesis 29:10 Jacob moves the heavy stone and waters Rachel’s flock before any pay deal exists. His first act toward Laban’s household is useful work.
Genesis 29:1-14
King James Version1Then 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.
Genesis 29:15-30
Laban Gives Jacob the Wrong Bride
After a month, Laban asks Jacob what wages he wants. Jacob loves Rachel and offers seven years of work for her. Laban agrees. Jacob serves the full term, and a wedding feast is held. That night, Laban gives Leah to Jacob instead. Jacob learns the truth in the morning and confronts him. Laban says the older daughter must marry before the younger one. Laban offers Rachel after Leah’s wedding week if Jacob serves seven more years. Jacob accepts. He marries Rachel too and loves her more than Leah.
In everyday life
A carpenter finishes seven years under a deal for a share of the family shop. The owner then gives him a different share. Only afterward does the owner cite a family rule. The carpenter signs another long term to get the first deal. Jacob is dealing with marriage and two sisters, not business property.
Notice
Genesis 29:26 Laban explains the local rule only after Leah has been given to Jacob. No earlier scene shows Laban warning him about that custom.
Genesis 29:15-30
King James Version15And 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.
Genesis 29:31-35
Leah Bears Four Sons
The LORD sees that Leah is hated. Here, Jacob clearly loves Rachel more, so Leah is the less-loved wife. God enables Leah to have children while Rachel remains barren. Leah gives birth to Reuben. She hopes Jacob will love her because God has seen her pain. Then Simeon is born, and Leah says God has heard that she is hated. With Levi, she hopes three sons will bind Jacob to her. Judah is born next. This time Leah speaks about praising the LORD instead of gaining Jacob’s love. After Judah, she stops bearing children for a time.
In everyday life
A neglected wife watches every family milestone for signs that her husband will draw close again. Each birthday and success feels like another chance. After years of that hope, one event is received without the same plea for affection. Leah lives in a household with several wives, which makes her setting very different.
Notice
Genesis 29:35 Leah’s words change when Judah is born. She speaks of praising the LORD, not of winning Jacob’s love as she did with earlier sons.
Genesis 29:31-35
King James Version31And 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.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Genesis 29:1 begins with “Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east.”
Where the chapter turns
Genesis 29:15 forms a natural hinge: “And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be?”
The final note
Genesis 29:35 leaves the reader with “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.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words Laban, Rachel, Jacob, Leah, daughter, sheep help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
KJV words made clear
- nought
- nothing, especially no payment or wages.
- tender eyed
- a description of Leah’s eyes whose exact force is unclear.
- well favoured
- good-looking or attractive in physical appearance.
- beguiled
- tricked or deceived by deliberate misleading.
- handmaid
- a female servant assigned to serve within a household.
Music and video connected to the passage
Related media appears when its Scripture reference overlaps this study. Music and video can illuminate a theme while the biblical text remains the foundation.
