Genesis 29

Genesis 29 is a chapter in the Jacob narrative in the latter part of Genesis. It continues from Genesis 28, in which Jacob sets out to flee from his brother Esau, and opens as Jacob arrives near Haran, where his uncle lives.

Outline

• Verses 1–8: At a well in the field, Jacob meets shepherds from Haran and asks about the welfare of Laban, the grandson of Nahor.
• Verses 9–14: Laban's daughter Rachel arrives with the sheep. Jacob rolls the stone from the mouth of the well and waters the flock. Laban welcomes Jacob, who stays with him for a month.
• Verses 15–20: Jacob agrees to serve seven years for Rachel. Because he loves Rachel, the seven years seem to him but a few days.
• Verses 21–30: On the night of the wedding feast, Laban brings Leah in place of Rachel. When Jacob protests, Laban answers that it is the custom of the country not to give the younger before the firstborn. After completing the week, Jacob also takes Rachel as his wife and serves another seven years.
• Verses 31–35: The LORD opens the womb of the unloved Leah, and she bears Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah.

Key Verses

• Genesis 29:20: "And they seemed unto him but a few days" shows how deeply Jacob loved Rachel.
• Genesis 29:25: "Wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?" Jacob the deceiver now becomes the one deceived.
• Genesis 29:35: "Now will I praise the LORD." The name Judah derives from this confession.

Characters and Places

• Laban: The brother of Jacob's mother, Rebekah; he lived in Haran.
• Rachel and Leah: Laban's two daughters; Leah is the elder.
• Zilpah and Bilhah: Laban's maidservants. Zilpah was given to Leah and Bilhah to Rachel as handmaids.
• Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah: The sons born to Leah, who are among the forefathers of the twelve tribes of Israel.

Points to Consider

• The Hebrew expression describing Leah's eyes in verse 17 is of uncertain meaning. As a result, translations render it in different ways, such as "weak eyes" or "tender eyes."
• The text does not make the connection explicit. Many interpreters, however, read this deception, in which the elder and the younger are switched, in contrast with Genesis 27, where Jacob deceived his father by posing as his elder brother.
• Jewish tradition is known to preserve stories that elaborate on how Leah came to be brought in. Such stories do not appear in the biblical text.
• The names of the four sons are explained through wordplay that links Leah's words with the sounds of the names.
• The chapter also connects to the New Testament. The Levites descend from Levi, and the line of Judah continues through David to the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1.

In Korean Churches

Sermons frequently focus on verse 35, in which the unloved Leah confesses, "Now will I praise the LORD."