19 Jul 2025 – jeffersonvann

Genesis 29

Genesis 29:1 Then Jacob went on his journey and came to the land of the sons of the east.

Genesis 29:2 As he looked, he saw a well in the field, and noticed three flocks of sheep lying beside it, because the flocks were watered from that well. The stone used for the well’s lid was large,

Genesis 29:3 and when all the flocks were gathered there, all the shepherds would roll the stone from the top of the well and water the sheep and put the stone back in its place over the top of the well.

Genesis 29:4 Jacob said to them, “My brothers, where do you come from?” They answered, “We are from Haran.”

Genesis 29:5 He asked them, “Do you know Laban the son of Nahor?” They answered, “We know him.”

Genesis 29:6 He asked them, “Is it well with him?” They answered, “It is well; and notice, Rachel his daughter is coming with the sheep!”

Genesis 29:7 He said, “Notice, it is still high day; it is not time for the livestock to be gathered together. Water the sheep and go pasture them.”

Genesis 29:8 But they said, “We cannot do that until all the flocks are gathered together and the stone is rolled from the mouth of the well; then we water the sheep.”

Genesis 29:9 While he was still conversing with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, because she was a shepherdess.

Genesis 29:10 And 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.

Genesis 29:11 Then Jacob kissed Rachel and shouted and wept.

Genesis 29:12 And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s relative, and that he was Rebekah’s son, and she ran and told her father.

Genesis 29:13 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,

Genesis 29:14 and Laban said to him, “You are my bone and my flesh indeed!” And he stayed with him for a month.

Genesis 29:15 Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my brother, should you therefore serve me as a favor? Tell me, what will your wages be?”

Genesis 29:16 And Laban had two daughters. The name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.

Genesis 29:17 Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in shape and appearance.

Genesis 29:18 Jacob loved Rachel. And he answered, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.”

Genesis 29:19 Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to any other man; remain living with me.”

Genesis 29:20 So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him only a few days because of the love he had for her.

Genesis 29:21 Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife that I may go in to her, for my days are completed.”

Genesis 29:22 So Laban gathered together all the men of the place and made a feast.

Genesis 29:23 But in the evening, he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and he went in to her.

Genesis 29:24 (Laban had given his female slave Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her servant.)

Genesis 29:25 And in the morning, notice, 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?”

Genesis 29:26 Laban said, “It is not customary in our country to give the younger before the firstborn.

Genesis 29:27 Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also in return for serving me another seven years.”

Genesis 29:28 Jacob did what Laban asked and completed Leah’s week. Then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife also.

Genesis 29:29 (Laban had given his female slave Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her slave.)

Genesis 29:30 So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah, and served Laban for another seven years.

Genesis 29:31 When Yahveh saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.

Genesis 29:32 And Leah conceived and gave birth to a son, and she called his name Reuben, because she said, “Because Yahveh has looked upon my trouble; since now my husband will love me.”

Genesis 29:33 She conceived again and gave birth to a son, and said, “Because Yahveh has heard that I am hated, he has given me this son also.” And she called his name Simeon.

Genesis 29:34 Again she conceived and gave birth to a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will be attached to me, because I have given birth to three sons for him.” That is why his name was Levi.

Genesis 29:35 And she conceived again and gave birth to a son, and said, “This time I will praise Yahveh.” That is why she named him Judah. Then she stopped bearing.

Genesis 29 quotes:

“Jacob is not the only one whom God was watching over.”

Higgs, Liz Curtis. Loved by God: Trusting His Promises & Experiencing His Blessings; a Bible Study Workbook. Sampson Resources, 2004. p. 89.

“Sentenced to a life of slavery, Bilhah had nothing to look forward to. Her life simply was not her own. In fact, she was passed from person to person, given to Rachel by her master when Rachel married Jacob (Genesis 29:29). Yet Bilhah discovered God’s blessings in the midst of her lowly existence.”

George, Elizabeth. Women Who Loved God. Harvest House, 1999. p. 74.

“Now meet a woman most wnlikely to be clothed with such splendor: Zilpah, whose Arabic name does in fact mean “dignity.” Nothing in Zilpah s life, however, hinted that she would ever be important. She was a slave, owned by Leah s father, Laban, and given to Leah when she married Jacob (Genesis 29:24).”

George, p. 75.