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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"><title>Genesis 29 CEV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /></head> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-LR4HSKRP2H"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-LR4HSKRP2H'); </script><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/genesis/29.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/genesis/29-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="//biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">CEV</a> > Genesis 29</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../genesis/28.htm" title="Genesis 28">◄</a> Genesis 29 <a href="../genesis/30.htm" title="Genesis 30">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading">Contemporary English Version</div><div class="chap"><h3 class="s1">Jacob Arrives at Laban's Home</h3><p class="par"><span class="v0_29_1"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.29.1" class="v0_29_1">1</span>As Jacob continued on his way to the east, </span><span class="v0_29_2"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.29.2" class="v0_29_2">2</span>he looked out in a field and saw a well where shepherds took their sheep for water. Three flocks of sheep were lying around the well, which was covered with a large rock. </span><span class="v0_29_3"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.29.3" class="v0_29_3">3</span>Shepherds would roll the rock away when all their sheep had gathered there. Then after the sheep had been watered, the shepherds would roll the rock back over the mouth of the well.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v0_29_4"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.29.4" class="v0_29_4">4</span>Jacob asked the shepherds, “Where are you from?”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v0_29_4">“We're from Haran,” they answered.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v0_29_5"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.29.5" class="v0_29_5">5</span>Then he asked, “Do you know Nahor's grandson Laban?”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v0_29_5">“Yes we do,” they replied.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v0_29_6"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.29.6" class="v0_29_6">6</span>“How is he?” Jacob asked.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v0_29_6">“He's fine,” they answered. “And here comes his daughter Rachel with the sheep.”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v0_29_7"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.29.7" class="v0_29_7">7</span>Jacob told them, “Look, the sun is still high up in the sky, and it's too early to bring in the rest of the flocks. Water your sheep and take them back to the pasture.”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v0_29_8"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.29.8" class="v0_29_8">8</span>But they replied, “We can't do that until they all get here, and the rock has been rolled away from the well.”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v0_29_9"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.29.9" class="v0_29_9">9</span>While Jacob was still talking with the men, his cousin Rachel came up with her father's sheep. </span><span class="v0_29_10"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.29.10" class="v0_29_10">10</span>When Jacob saw her and his uncle's sheep, he rolled the rock away and watered the sheep. </span><span class="v0_29_11"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.29.11" class="v0_29_11">11</span>He then kissed Rachel and started crying because he was so happy. </span><span class="v0_29_12"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.29.12" class="v0_29_12">12</span>He told her that he was the son of her aunt Rebekah, and she ran and told her father about him.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v0_29_13"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.29.13" class="v0_29_13">13</span>As soon as Laban heard the news, he ran out to meet Jacob. He hugged and kissed him and brought him to his home, where Jacob told him everything that had happened. </span><span class="v0_29_14"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.29.14" class="v0_29_14">14</span>Laban said, “You are my nephew, and you are like one of my own family.”</span></p><h3 class="s1">Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel</h3><p class="par"><span class="v0_29_14">After Jacob had been there for a month, </span><span class="v0_29_15"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.29.15" class="v0_29_15">15</span>Laban said to him, “You shouldn't have to work without pay, just because you are a relative of mine. What do you want me to give you?”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v0_29_16"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.29.16-Gen.29.17" class="v0_29_16">16-17</span>Laban had two daughters. Leah was older than Rachel, but her eyes didn't sparkle,<a href="#fn" id="link_Gen.29.16-Gen.29.17!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> while Rachel was beautiful and had a good figure. </span><span class="v0_29_18"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.29.18" class="v0_29_18">18</span>Since Jacob was in love with Rachel, he answered, “If you will let me marry Rachel, I'll work seven years for you.”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v0_29_19"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.29.19" class="v0_29_19">19</span>Laban replied, “It's better for me to let you marry Rachel than for someone else to have her. So stay and work for me.” </span><span class="v0_29_20"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.29.20" class="v0_29_20">20</span>Jacob worked seven years for Laban, but the time seemed like only a few days, because he loved Rachel so much.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v0_29_21"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.29.21" class="v0_29_21">21</span>Jacob said to Laban, “The time is up, and I want to marry Rachel now!” </span><span class="v0_29_22"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.29.22" class="v0_29_22">22</span>So Laban gave a big feast and invited all their neighbors. </span><span class="v0_29_23"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.29.23" class="v0_29_23">23</span>But that evening he brought Leah to Jacob, who married her and spent the night with her. </span><span class="v0_29_24"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.29.24" class="v0_29_24">24</span>Laban also gave Zilpah to Leah as her servant woman.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v0_29_25"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.29.25" class="v0_29_25">25</span>The next morning Jacob found out that he had married Leah, and he asked Laban, “Why did you do this to me? Didn't I work to get Rachel? Why did you trick me?”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v0_29_26"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.29.26" class="v0_29_26">26</span>Laban replied, “In our country the older daughter must get married first. </span><span class="v0_29_27"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.29.27" class="v0_29_27">27</span>After you spend this week<a href="#fn" id="link_Gen.29.27!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> with Leah, you may also marry Rachel. But you will have to work for me another seven years.”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v0_29_28"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.29.28-Gen.29.30" class="v0_29_28">28-30</span>At the end of the week of celebration, Laban let Jacob marry Rachel, and he gave her his servant woman Bilhah. Jacob loved Rachel more than he did Leah, but he had to work another seven years for Laban.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v0_29_31"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.29.31" class="v0_29_31">31</span>The <span class="nd">Lord</span> knew that Jacob loved Rachel more than he did Leah, and so he gave children to Leah, but not to Rachel. </span><span class="v0_29_32"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.29.32" class="v0_29_32">32</span>Leah gave birth to a son and named him Reuben.<a href="#fn" id="link_Gen.29.32!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> Then she said, “The <span class="nd">Lord</span> has taken away my sorrow. Now my husband will love me more than he does Rachel.” </span><span class="v0_29_33"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.29.33" class="v0_29_33">33</span>She had a second son and named him Simeon,<a href="#fn" id="link_Gen.29.33!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> because she said, “The <span class="nd">Lord</span> has heard that my husband doesn't love me.” </span><span class="v0_29_34"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.29.34" class="v0_29_34">34</span>When Leah's third son was born, she said, “Now my husband will hold me close.” So this son was named Levi.<a href="#fn" id="link_Gen.29.34!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> </span><span class="v0_29_35"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.29.35" class="v0_29_35">35</span>She had one more son and named him Judah,<a href="#fn" id="link_Gen.29.35!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> because she said, “I'll praise the <span class="nd">Lord</span>!”</span></p> <a name="fn"></a><br /><br /><br /><b>Footnotes:<br /><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">29.16,17 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">but her eyes didn't sparkle: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Or “and her eyes sparkled.”</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">29.27 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">this week: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">The wedding feast lasted for seven days (see Judges 14.12,17).</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">29.32 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">Reuben: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">In Hebrew “Reuben” means, “Look, a son!”</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">29.33 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">Simeon: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">In Hebrew “Simeon” sounds like “someone who hears.”</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">29.34 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">hold me close … Levi: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">In Hebrew “Levi” sounds like “hold (someone) close.”</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">29.35 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">Judah: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">In Hebrew “Judah” sounds like “praise.”</char></note></div></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div align="center"><p><span style="font-size:11pt;">Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt;">© 2006 American Bible Society. 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