Genesis 29:1-30

Genesis 29:1-30

[1] Then Jacob  went on  his journey,  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,  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 feed  [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  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 another  abide  with me. [20] And Jacob  served  seven  years  for Rachel;  and they seemed  unto him but a few  days,  [21] And Jacob  said  unto Laban,  Give  me my wife,  for my days  are fulfilled,  that I may go in  [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  [24] And Laban  gave  unto his daughter  Leah  Zilpah  his maid  [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  [30] And he went in  also unto Rachel,  and he loved  also Rachel  more than Leah,  and served  with him yet seven  other  years. 

What does Genesis 29:1-30 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The long account of Jacob"s relationship with Laban (chs29-31) is the centerpiece of the Jacob story (chs25-35). It is a story within a story, and it too has a chiastic structure. At its center is the account of the birth of Jacob"s sons, the forefathers of the tribes of Israel ( Genesis 29:31-35).
Jacob met Rachel at the well and watered the flocks in spite of opposition against doing so. His love for her led him to serve Laban for seven years to obtain her as his wife. Laban deceived Jacob into marrying Leah, the first-born, so Jacob had to work another seven years for Rachel.
"In Laban Jacob met his match and his means of discipline." [1]
"Jacob is now in the greatest of all schools, that of experience, and there are many lessons to learn. These three chapters (xxix-xxxi.) cover forty years [2] of his life, and are the record of a large part of his training." [3]