Genesis 29:1-14

1So Jacob moved on and came to the land of the eastern people.

2He saw in the field a well with three flocks of sheep lying beside it, because the flocks were watered from that well. Now a large stone covered the mouth of the well.

3When all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone off the mouth of the well and water the sheep. Then they would put the stone back in its place over the well’s mouth.

4Jacob asked them, “My brothers, where are you from?” They replied, “We’re from Haran.”

5So he said to them, “Do you know Laban, the grandson of Nahor?” “We know him,” they said.

6“Is he well?” Jacob asked. They replied, “He is well. Now look, here comes his daughter Rachel with the sheep.”

7Then Jacob said, “Since it is still the middle of the day, it is not time for the flocks to be gathered. You should water the sheep and then go and let them graze some more.”

8“We can’t,” they said, “until all the flocks are gathered and the stone is rolled off the mouth of the well. Then we water the sheep.”

9While he was still speaking with them, Rachel arrived with her father’s sheep, for she was tending them.

10When Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of his uncle Laban, and the sheep of his uncle Laban, he went over and rolled the stone off the mouth of the well and watered the sheep of his uncle Laban.

11Then Jacob kissed Rachel and began to weep loudly.

12When Jacob explained to Rachel that he was a relative of her father and the son of Rebekah, she ran and told her father.

13When Laban heard this news about Jacob, his sister’s son, he rushed out to meet him. He embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban how he was related to him.

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