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Genesis 29

Jacob’s love for Rachel unfolds into a household divided by deception and unequal affection, where God sees Leah’s affliction.

Jacob meets Rachel at a well and finds a home with her father Laban, his mother’s brother. He agrees to serve seven years to marry Rachel, whom he loves. At the wedding, Laban substitutes Leah, his older daughter, then gives Rachel to Jacob after Leah’s wedding week in exchange for seven more years of service. The account turns toward Leah, the less-loved wife, as God sees her affliction and she bears four sons while Rachel remains barren.

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1Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the children of the east.
2He looked, and saw a well in the field, and saw three flocks of sheep lying there by it. For out of that well they watered the flocks. The stone on the well’s mouth was large.
4Jacob said to them, “My relatives, where are you from?” They said, “We are from Haran.”
5He said to them, “Do you know Laban, the son of Nahor?” They said, “We know him.”
6He said to them, “Is it well with him?” They said, “It is well. See, Rachel, his daughter, is coming with the sheep.”
8They said, “We can’t, until all the flocks are gathered together, and they roll the stone from the well’s mouth. Then we will water the sheep.”
9While he was yet speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she kept them.
11Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.
12Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s relative, and that he was Rebekah’s son. She ran and told her father.
13When Laban heard the news of Jacob, his sister’s son, he ran to meet Jacob, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban all these things.
14Laban said to him, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh.” Jacob stayed with him for a month.
15Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what will your wages be?”
16Laban had two daughters. The name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
17Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and attractive.
18Jacob loved Rachel. He said, “I will serve you seven years for Rachel, your younger daughter.”
19Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you, than that I should give her to another man. Stay with me.”
20Jacob served seven years for Rachel. They seemed to him but a few days, for the love he had for her.
21Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her.”
22Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.
23In the evening, he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to Jacob. He went in to her.
24Laban gave Zilpah his servant to his daughter Leah for a servant.
25In the morning, behold, it was Leah! He said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Didn’t I serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?”
27Fulfill the week of this one, and we will give you the other also for the service which you will serve with me for seven more years.”
28Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week. He gave him Rachel his daughter as wife.
29Laban gave Bilhah, his servant, to his daughter Rachel to be her servant.
30He went in also to Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him seven more years.
31The LORD saw that Leah was hated, and he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.
32Leah conceived, and bore a son, and she named him Reuben. For she said, “Because the LORD has looked at my affliction; for now my husband will love me.”
33She conceived again, and bore a son, and said, “Because the LORD has heard that I am hated, he has therefore given me this son also.” She named him Simeon.
34She conceived again, and bore a son. She said, “Now this time my husband will be joined to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi.
35She conceived again, and bore a son. She said, “This time I will praise the LORD.” Therefore she named him Judah. Then she stopped bearing.
World English BibleRead in NIV in Psalmlog →Highlighted verses are the most connected.
Key verses
Genesis 29:20Jacob’s love makes seven years seem brief, setting his willing service beside the deception that follows.
Genesis 29:31God’s attention to Leah shifts the account toward the wife who receives less love in Jacob’s household.
Genesis 29:32Leah names God’s care for her affliction while still hoping that bearing a son will win her husband’s love.
Where this chapter reaches

Exodus names Leah’s sons among the family entering Egypt, and Matthew traces Jesus’ ancestry through Judah, whose birth closes this chapter. Deuteronomy addresses inheritance in a household with a loved and an unloved wife, sharing the family tension described here without retelling Jacob’s marriages.

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Notice

After reading the whole chapter

What do Leah’s words at each son’s birth reveal about her hopes and her view of God?

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How does God’s attention to Leah shape your reading of the love story that begins at the well?

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Questions people ask about Genesis 29

Did Jacob wait fourteen years to marry Rachel?

Jacob served seven years before the wedding at which Laban substituted Leah. He then completed Leah’s wedding week and received Rachel as his wife, agreeing to serve another seven years. The chapter places his marriage to Rachel before that second period of service was completed.

Why does Genesis 29 say Leah was hated?

Verse 30 says Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah; verse 31 describes Leah as hated. Together, these statements portray Leah’s painful position as the less-loved wife. Her words after the births show her longing for Jacob’s affection and attachment. The chapter does not describe every aspect of his treatment of her.

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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).