Genesis 29:1-14

1Jacob continued on his trip and came to the land in the east.

2He looked around, and out in a field he saw a well with a large stone over the opening. Three flocks of sheep were lying down near it, because the flocks were watered from that well.

3When all the flocks were gathered there, the stone would be rolled off the opening of the well so that the sheep could be watered. Then the stone would be put back in place over the opening of the well.

4Jacob asked some people, “My friends, where are you from?” “We’re from Haran,” they replied.

5He asked them, “Do you know Laban, Nahor’s grandson?” They answered, “We do.”

6“How is he doing?” Jacob asked them. “He’s fine,” they answered. “Here comes his daughter Rachel with the sheep.”

7“It’s still the middle of the day,” he said. “It isn’t time yet to gather the livestock. Water the sheep. Then let them graze.”

8They replied, “We can’t until all the flocks are gathered. When the stone is rolled off the opening of the well, we can water the sheep.”

9While he was still talking to them, Rachel arrived with her father’s sheep, because she was a shepherd.

10Jacob saw Rachel, daughter of his uncle Laban, with his uncle Laban’s sheep. He came forward and rolled the stone off the opening of the well and watered his uncle Laban’s sheep.

11Then Jacob kissed Rachel and sobbed loudly.

12When Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s nephew and that he was Rebekah’s son, she ran and told her father.

13As soon as Laban heard the news about his sister’s son Jacob, he ran to meet him. He hugged and kissed him and brought him into his home. Then Jacob told Laban all that had happened.

14Laban said to him, “You are my own flesh and blood.” Jacob stayed with him for a whole month.