1 Then Jacob {Yaakov: pilgrim patriarch} lifted his feet {raglav: set out}, and went to the land of the sons of the east.
2 He looked and saw a well in the field, with three flocks of sheep lying beside it, because the flocks drank from that well. A large stone {gedolah: massive} covered the mouth {pi: opening} of the well.
3 When all the flocks assembled there, they rolled {galalu: rotated barrier} the stone away from the mouth of the well, gave the flock drink, and then returned the stone to its appointed place {makom: designated location}.
4 And Jacob said to them, “My brothers, where do you come from {meayin: origin question}?” And they said, “We are from Haran {mecharan: city of Nahor}.”
5 And he said to them, “Do you know {yada: ongoing personal acquaintance} Laban, the son {ben: direct male descendant} of Nahor?” And they said, “We know him.”
6 And he said to them, “Is it well with him?” And they said, “It is well.” And behold, Rachel {Rachel: ewe-like name} his daughter is coming with the flock {tson: gathered small livestock}.
7 And he said, “Behold {hen: pay attention}, the day is still great {gadol: long and bright}; it is not the time for the livestock to be gathered. Water the flock and go, pasture them.”
8 And they said, “We cannot {nukhal: have the ability} until all the flocks are gathered and they roll the stone from upon the mouth of the well; then they will water the flock {tson: collective livestock}.”
9 While he was still speaking with them, Rachel {Rahel: beloved daughter} came with the flock that belonged to her father, for she was a shepherdess {roah: female keeper}.
10 When Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter {bat: female offspring} of Laban, his mother’s brother {achi immo: maternal uncle}, and when he saw the flock of Laban his mother’s brother, Jacob stepped forward, rolled the stone away from the mouth of the well, and watered the flock belonging to Laban, his mother’s brother.
11 And Jacob kissed Rachel {Rakhel: relative he has just met}, and he lifted up his voice {qol: expression of deep emotion} and wept.
12 Then Jacob {Yaakov: Covenant Heir} told Rachel that he was her father’s kinsman {achi aviha: close kinsman}, and that he was the son of Rebekah. So she ran and told her father.
13 When Laban {Lavan: hospitable relative} heard the news about Jacob, his sister’s son, he ran out to meet him, hugged him {chabeq: welcoming hug} and kissed him, and brought him into his house. Then Jacob told Laban the whole account.
14 And Laban said to him, “Surely you are my own bone and flesh {atsmi uvsari: close kinship bond},” and he stayed with him a month of days {khodesh yamim: full monthly span}.
15 And Laban said to Jacob, “Is it not because you are my brother {achi: close kinsman} that you should serve me for nothing? Tell me what your wages {maskurtekha: agreed compensation} should be.”
16 Now Laban {Lavan: white name} had two daughters; the name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel {Rachel: ewe figure}.
17 And the eyes of Leah {leah: older sister} were tender, and Rachel was beautiful of form and beautiful of appearance {mareh: outward beauty}.
18 And Jacob loved Rachel {Rahel: cherished bride}, so he said, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter {haktannah: junior in age} Rachel.”
19 And Laban said, “It is better {tov: preferable arrangement} that I give her to you than that I should give her to another man. Stay {shevah: remain living here} with me.”
20 Jacob served seven years for Rachel, yet the time appeared to him as no more than a few {achadim: relatively short period} days because of his love {ahavah: steadfast devotion} for her.
21 Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife {ishti: covenant spouse}, because my time is fulfilled {malu: engagement period completed}, so that I may go in to her.”
22 And Laban gathered all the men of the place {makom: local area}, and he made a feast {mishteh: formal banquet}.
23 And it happened in the evening, that he took Leah {Leah: given bride} his daughter and brought her to him, and he went in to her {vayavo: marital consummation}.
24 And Laban gave to her Zilpah {Zilpah: assigned household servant}, his maid, to Leah his daughter as a servant {shifchah: personal attendant}.
25 And in the morning, behold {vehineh: sudden discovery}, it was Leah. Then Jacob said to Laban, “What have you done to me? Did I not serve you for Rachel? Why have you deceived me {rimmitani: acted treacherously}?”
26 But Laban said, “It is not done this way in our place {bimkomenu: binding local custom}—to give the younger {hatseirah: second-born daughter} before the firstborn.”
27 Fulfill this week {shevu'a: seven-day wedding feast}, and we will give you also this one, for the service which you will serve with me another seven years {shanim: extended labor period}.
28 And Jacob did so, and he fulfilled this week {shevua: full seven-day period}; then Laban {Lavan: family patriarch} gave him Rachel his daughter as a wife.
29 And Laban {Lavan: family patriarch} gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah, his maidservant as a maidservant {shifchah: servant woman} for her.
30 And he went in also to Rachel, and he also loved Rachel more than Leah {milleʾah: comparative preference}, and he served with him {immo: serving Laban} yet another seven years.
31 When the LORD {YHWH, Compassionate Seer} saw that Leah was hated {senuah: treated with rejection}, He opened her womb, but Rachel remained barren.
32 Leah conceived, and she gave birth to a son, and she called his name Reuben, for she said, “Because the LORD {YHWH, Seer of Suffering} has seen my affliction {onyi: deep distress}; for now my husband will love me.”
33 And she conceived again and bore a son, and she said, “Because the LORD {YHWH, Compassionate Hearer} has heard {shama: attentive listening} that I am unloved, He has given me this one also.” And she called his name Simeon.
34 And she conceived again and bore a son, and she said, “Now this time my husband will be joined {yillaveh: form a close bond} to me, because I have borne him three sons {sheloshah banim: weighty male heirs}.” Therefore, she called his name Levi.
35 She conceived again and gave birth to a son, and she said, “This time I will praise the LORD {YHWH, Worthy of Praise}.” Therefore she called his name Judah {Yehudah: linked to praise}, and she ceased from bearing children.