Jacob meets Rachel at a well and works seven years to marry her. Laban tricks him into marrying her older sister Leah instead, and Jacob works seven more years for Rachel. Leah bears four sons.
1 Then Jacob went on his journey , and came into the land of the people of the east .
2 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 .
3 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 .
4 And Jacob said unto them, My brethren , whence be ye? And they said , Of Haran are we.
5 And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor ? And they said , We know him.
6 And he said unto them, Is he well ? And they said , He is well : and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep .
7 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.
8 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 .
9 And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep : for she kept them .
10 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 .
11 And Jacob kissed Rachel , and lifted up his voice , and wept .
12 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 .
13 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 .
14 And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh . And he abode with him the space of a month .
15 And Laban said unto Jacob , Because thou art my brother , shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought ? tell me, what shall thy wages be?
16 And Laban had two daughters : the name of the elder was Leah , and the name of the younger was Rachel .
17 Leah was tender eyed ; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured .
18 And Jacob loved Rachel ; and said , I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter .
19 And Laban said , It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man : abide with me.
20 And Jacob served seven years for Rachel ; and they seemed unto him but a few days , for the love he had to her.
21 And Jacob said unto Laban , Give me my wife , for my days are fulfilled , that I may go in unto her.
22 And Laban gathered together all the men of the place , and made a feast .
23 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.
24 And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid .
25 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?
26 And Laban said , It must not be so done in our country , to give the younger before the firstborn .
27 Fulfil her week , and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years .
28 And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week : and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.
29 And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid .
30 And he went in also unto Rachel , and he loved also Rachel more than Leah , and served with him yet seven other years .
31 And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated , he opened her womb : but Rachel was barren .
32 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.
33 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 .
34 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 .
35 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 .