Genesis Chapter 29
Showing all 35 verses for Genesis Chapter 29.
The People's Bible is written by people, for the people. Each verse below shows:
"Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east. "
"Jacob went on his journey, and travelled until he reached the territory of the eastern peoples."
Jacob continues his journey with renewed purpose after his encounter with God. A genuine experience of God's presence can give you the strength and clarity to keep moving forward through the uncertain, ordinary miles of your own journey.
"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. "
"He looked around and saw a well out in open country, with three flocks of sheep lying beside it, because that well was where the flocks were watered. A large stone covered the mouth of the well."
A well is shared carefully among several flocks, following an established, communal system. Shared resources often depend on mutual patience and cooperation; there's real wisdom in systems that ask everyone to wait their turn for the common good.
"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. "
"All the flocks would gather there, and the shepherds would roll the stone away from the well's opening, water the sheep, then put the stone back in place."
The community works together to move the heavy stone whenever enough flocks have gathered. Some tasks are genuinely easier, and fairer, when done together rather than alone; don't be too quick to try to manage everything by yourself.
"And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, Of Haran are we. "
"Jacob asked the shepherds, "Friends, where are you from?" They answered, "We're from Haran.""
Jacob asks the shepherds directly where they're from, seeking out his family. Being willing to ask direct, simple questions of strangers can be exactly what leads you to the connection or answer you're actually looking for.
"And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him. "
"He said, "Do you know Laban, Nahor's son?" They said, "We know him.""
The shepherds recognise the name Laban immediately, confirming Jacob is in the right place. Trust that God can lead you to exactly the right place and people, even through the most ordinary, unplanned conversation.
"And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep. "
"He asked, "Is he well?" They said, "He's well. Look, here comes his daughter Rachel with the sheep.""
The shepherds mention that Rachel is approaching with the flock at that very moment. Pay attention to the small, well-timed details that arrive right when you need them; they're often not as coincidental as they first appear.
"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. "
"He said, "Look, it's still broad daylight - it's not time to bring the animals in yet. Water the sheep and take them back out to graze.""
Jacob suggests the shepherds water their flocks and continue grazing, perhaps eager to move things along. It's natural to feel eager or impatient in an important moment; that eagerness isn't wrong, as long as it doesn't push you to disregard others' legitimate needs or customs.
"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. "
"They replied, "We can't, not until all the flocks are gathered and the stone is rolled away from the well - only then do we water the sheep.""
The shepherds explain their communal custom, unwilling to break from it even for a stranger's suggestion. Respecting an established, sensible system, even when it slows you down, usually serves everyone better in the long run.
"And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep: for she kept them. "
"While he was still talking with them, Rachel arrived with her father's sheep, since she was the one who looked after them."
Rachel arrives leading her father's flock, capable and responsible in her own right. Recognise and respect the competence and responsibility of the people you meet, rather than assuming their significance in your story only comes later.
"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. "
"When Jacob saw Rachel, his uncle Laban's daughter, and Laban's sheep, he went over, rolled the stone away from the well's mouth by himself, and watered his uncle Laban's flock."
Jacob, moved by the moment, single-handedly rolls away the heavy stone to water Laban's flock. Let genuine excitement and connection move you towards real, practical helpfulness rather than staying only in your own head or emotion.
"And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept. "
"Then Jacob kissed Rachel and burst into tears."
Jacob greets Rachel with a kiss and weeps openly. Let yourself feel and express deep emotion honestly at a significant reunion or connection; there's no need to hide relief, joy, or the weight of a long journey finally easing.
"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. "
"Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's relative, the son of Rebekah, and she ran to tell her father."
Jacob reveals his identity, and Rachel runs eagerly to share the news with her father. Good news about family and belonging is worth sharing quickly and joyfully with the people who will care about it most.
"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. "
"When Laban heard the news about Jacob, his sister's son, he ran to meet him, hugged him, kissed him, and brought him into his home. Jacob then told Laban everything that had happened."
Laban runs to meet Jacob, embracing and welcoming him warmly into his home. Let your welcome of family, especially someone arriving after a long or difficult journey, be full and unreserved, not measured or cautious.
"And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month. "
"Laban said to him, "You really are my own flesh and blood." And Jacob stayed with him for a month."
Laban affirms the family bond plainly: 'thou art my bone and my flesh.' Speaking plainly and warmly about the value of a relationship helps make someone feel genuinely secure and belonging within a new or renewed connection.
"And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be? "
"Then Laban said to Jacob, "Just because you're my relative, should you work for me for nothing? Tell me what you want to be paid.""
Laban raises the fair question of wages, unwilling to let Jacob work without proper recognition. Fairness in how you treat someone who works for or serves you matters, even, and especially, when that person is family.
"And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. "
"Now Laban had two daughters: the older one was named Leah, and the younger was named Rachel."
Leah and Rachel are introduced together, each in her own right as Laban's daughter. Every person in a family deserves to be seen fully as themselves, not simply defined by comparison to a sibling.
"Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured. "
"Leah had delicate eyes, while Rachel was beautiful and attractive."
Leah and Rachel are described with different qualities, setting up the story's central tension. Physical attraction is a real and human part of relationships, but let it never be the whole measure of a person's worth or your response to them.
"And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter. "
"Jacob loved Rachel, and he said, "I'll work for you for seven years in exchange for Rachel, your younger daughter.""
Jacob loves Rachel and offers seven years of labour for her hand in marriage. Real love is often willing to commit real time, effort, and patience towards what it genuinely values; that kind of sustained commitment says more than a quick declaration ever could.
"And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me. "
"Laban replied, "It's better that I give her to you than to some other man. Stay here with me.""
Laban accepts the offer, seemingly straightforward, though later events prove otherwise. Take people's agreements at face value where you reasonably can, while still staying alert; not every apparent 'yes' turns out to mean what you assumed it did.
"And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her. "
"So Jacob worked seven years for Rachel, and they felt like just a few days to him because of how much he loved her."
The seven years feel like only days to Jacob because of his deep love for Rachel. Genuine love has a way of making even long seasons of waiting and effort feel bearable, even meaningful, rather than simply burdensome.
"And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her. "
"Then Jacob said to Laban, "Give me my wife - my time is up, and I want to marry her now.""
Jacob, having fulfilled his agreed years, asks plainly for what was promised. It's right to expect that a fair, freely made agreement will be honoured; asking for what's rightfully yours isn't greed, it's simple integrity.
"And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast. "
"So Laban gathered all the men of the town together and held a feast."
Laban gathers the community and prepares a feast, seemingly honouring the agreement. A celebration can look completely genuine on the surface while still concealing something dishonest underneath; outward appearances alone don't guarantee good faith.
"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. "
"But that evening, Laban took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and Jacob slept with her."
Laban deceives Jacob, substituting Leah for Rachel under cover of darkness. Deception inflicts real pain regardless of who commits it or why; the wrong Jacob had once done to his own father returns to him here in a strikingly similar form.
"And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid. "
"And Laban gave his servant Zilpah to his daughter Leah, to be her maid."
Leah is given her own maid as part of the marriage customs, despite the deceit surrounding her wedding. Even within a situation shaped by someone else's wrongdoing, the people involved, like Leah here, still deserve to be treated with basic dignity and provision.
"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? "
"In the morning, there she was - it was Leah! Jacob said to Laban, "What have you done to me? Didn't I work for you for Rachel? Why have you deceived me?""
Jacob discovers the deception and confronts Laban with real anger and betrayal. It's right to name a genuine wrong plainly and hold the person responsible accountable, even within a close family relationship.
"And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. "
"Laban answered, "It's not the custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the firstborn.""
Laban offers a customary justification, though it comes only after the fact, not before. An explanation offered only after deception has already caused harm rings hollow; real honesty requires being upfront before, not after, an agreement is made.
"Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years. "
""Finish this daughter's bridal week, and we'll give you the other one too, in exchange for another seven years of work.""
Laban proposes a resolution requiring Jacob to serve another seven years for Rachel. Sometimes making things right after a genuine wrong still requires real sacrifice from the person who was wronged; that's not fair, but showing up to face it with integrity still matters.
"And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also. "
"So Jacob did this - he completed Leah's bridal week, and then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as a wife too."
Jacob agrees to the new terms and receives Rachel as his wife as well. Persisting towards something you deeply value, even after being treated unfairly along the way, can still be the right choice, so long as it doesn't require compromising who you are.
"And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid. "
"And Laban gave his servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel, to be her maid."
Rachel, too, receives a maid as part of her marriage, mirroring the earlier provision for Leah. Consistency and fairness in how you treat people in similar situations, even amid a complicated family dynamic, matters more than it might seem.
"And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years. "
"Jacob slept with Rachel too, and he loved her more than Leah. He worked for Laban another seven years."
Jacob loves Rachel more deeply than Leah, setting the stage for real family pain. Unequal love within a family, even when understandable, tends to create lasting wounds; try to be honest about where your own affections are unevenly distributed and its cost to others.
"And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren. "
"When the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, he made it possible for her to have children, while Rachel remained unable to conceive."
God sees that Leah is unloved and responds by opening her womb. Trust that God takes particular notice of the person who feels overlooked or less loved in a relationship; His attention isn't limited to whoever holds someone else's greater affection.
"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. "
"Leah became pregnant and had a son. She named him Reuben, saying, "The LORD has seen my suffering - now surely my husband will love me.""
Leah names her first son with the hope that this will finally win her husband's love. Be honest with yourself about seeking someone else's love through achievement or effort; that longing is deeply human, even when it's an unreliable path towards feeling truly valued.
"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. "
"She became pregnant again and had another son, and said, "Because the LORD heard that I was unloved, he has given me this one too." So she named him Simeon."
Leah names her second son in the belief that God has heard she is unloved. Trust that God hears the ache of feeling unloved or overlooked, even when the person who should love you more fully hasn't yet met that need.
"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. "
"She became pregnant again and had another son, and said, "Now, surely, my husband will become attached to me, since I've given him three sons." So he was named Levi."
Leah hopes her third son will finally bring her husband's attachment. It's alright to long deeply for connection and belonging; that longing itself is not a flaw, even when the specific way you're hoping to meet it doesn't work as expected.
"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. "
"She became pregnant once more and had another son, and said, "This time I will praise the LORD." So she named him Judah, and then she stopped having children for a while."
With her fourth son, Leah's focus shifts from Jacob's love to praising God directly. There can be a real turning point in your own life when your searching for validation from one person gives way to a deeper, steadier gratitude towards God instead.