Jacob’s Two Wives – Genesis 29:1-30

Bethel Baptist Church – David Rising

Genesis 29:1-30; October 25, 2026 – Sunday PM

Jacob’s Two Wives

Jacob is on his way to Haran where he is to find a wife from among the family of Rebekah. He is also on this trip so that he can escape the anger of Esau who made it known that after father Isaac dies he intended to kill his brother Jacob.

Along the journey Jacob stops for the night. He is about midway through the land of promise. There, in a dream, the LORD appeared to Jacob and declared directly to him the promise He also gave Abraham and Isaac. Jacob realizes that the LORD was indeed there in that place. Jacob responded by making a vow that if God were to keep all His promises, then He would be Jacob’s God.

This was Bethel, the house of God, formerly known as Luz. The land is now filling up with places and names that point to a covenant-making, covenant-keeping God who will accomplish in time what He promises.

After Jacob hears from God and makes a vow, he continues on his journey north. This is where our study tonight takes us. Pray.

1. Jacob Meets Rachel (29:1-14)

29:1 So Jacob went on his journey and came to the land of the people of the East.

This small verse covers a lot of the trip and describe his destination in a way we have not heard before – the ‘people of the East’. Remember, Jacob was heading to Rebekah’s family in Paddan Aram – the ‘field of Aram’. This is the name of the land around Haran in upper Mesopotamia. This is where Abraham dwelt before he came into the land. It is the place where Abraham’s servant went to find Rebekah. This is Nahor’s home, and now they are called the people of the East or the Easterners.

Much is said about this designation as we recall the eastern designation is not always a positive statement, though perhaps it is just another way of telling of these people. Nahor was Abraham’s brother and he was not the chosen one, so perhaps it highlights this in some way.

In any case, the story quickly gets to the details of the arrival, which again features a well:

2 And he looked, and saw a well in the field; and behold, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks. A large stone was on the well’s mouth. 3 Now all the flocks would be gathered there; and they would roll the stone from the well’s mouth, water the sheep, and put the stone back in its place on the well’s mouth.

We get a picture here of what the scene was like when Jacob looked and saw what was before him. There were three flocks and a well that provided needed water for these animals. This well had a stone cover that would be moved and replaced upon completion of watering.

It sounds like we are getting more details here than needed, but the description of this large stone covering the well explains why the three flocks were gathered there and essentially delayed in their watering.

Due to the exceptional weight of the stone, shepherds who congregated at this watering hole delayed removing it … No one person or even a few could remove the barrier, making it obligatory to wait until others arrived. As cooperating parties, the shepherds cared for their thirsty flocks and then departed at the same time, always returning the stone to its place.[1]

[1] Mathews, K. A. (2005). Genesis 11:27–50:26 (Vol. 1B, pp. 461–462). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

Knowing a bit about this stone will become important as we see later Jacob’s actions here.

And so he is there at the proverbial water cooler, and so it was an occasion for a discussion:

4 And Jacob said to them, “My brethren, where are you from?”

And they said, “We are from Haran.”

5 Then he said to them, “Do you know Laban the son of Nahor?”

And they said, “We know him.”

6 So he said to them, “Is he well?”

And they said, “He is well. And look, his daughter Rachel is coming with the sheep.”

In what sounds like a typical conversation we might have with someone at the rest stop, here Jacob discovers from these men that they were from Haran, his destination. He asks about Laban and the connection is made.

And, oh by the way, here comes his daughter, Rachel. There she is leading sheep to the well.

Her sudden appearance draws us back as we think of Abraham’s servant who, after inquiring of the Lord, immediately sees Rebekah coming.

Jacob responds:

7 Then he said, “Look, it is still high day; it is not time for the cattle to be gathered together. Water the sheep, and go and feed them.”

This is a rather bold way to begin speaking with people you have just met.

Now, of course, later in this ongoing story we will also see that Jacob was a very hard worker and he was no lazy person.

Here he just could not understand why they did not water the sheep and take advantage of the daytime for more feeding.

It’s like having two cooks in the kitchen who have different ways of doing things. You know how well that goes.

The shepherds respond back to Jacob:

8 But they said, “We cannot until all the flocks are gathered together, and they have rolled the stone from the well’s mouth; then we water the sheep.”

They simply say: we can’t. They don’t really give a reason, only to affirm that they wait until all the flocks are gathered together and then they roll away the stone. Perhaps no one wants to admit that they can’t do it alone, and of course we know that with extra hands difficult tasks are done more easily.

Jacob’s concern for better efficiency was a good idea, but providentially their way of doing things allowed Jacob to meet someone who was bringing her sheep to this well, as now we see again in verse 9:

9 Now while he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess.

That Rachel is called a shepherdess is the only time we see this word in the OT. Every other time it is the masculine word. As Jacob was boldly giving the other shepherds his opinion about protocol, along comes this girl leading her sheep.

Jacob noticed, verse 10:

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.

This is an interesting verse as it highlights the desired outcome of one of the reasons Jacob traveled there. He was looking for a wife among his family. And there she comes, with all the right credentials as noted here: daughter of Laban – brother of his mother.

Now we had been told earlier that the stone covering the well was large (29:2) and that they seemed to budget their energy as they waited for all the sheep to arrive before moving the stone. Jacob criticized that approach. Now, here in verse 10, we see that upon Rachel’s arrival Jacob went and rolled away the stone from the well and watered Rachel’s sheep. Whether he was strong or the other men were weak or lazy, we see the contrast here.

He seems highly motivated. That usually happens. Verse 11 indicates his thoughts and feelings at the time:

11 Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice and wept. 12 And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s relative and that he was Rebekah’s son. So she ran and told her father.

Jacob is very impressed and he responds. She is also quite astonished and goes and tells her family.

Now as you think of this, it is hard not to think back to the similar scene in Genesis 24 with Abraham’s servant upon discovering similar information about Laban and Rebekah. What stands out here, though, is the different response. Here Jacob does basically his own personal response, while Abraham’s servant bowed down his head and worshiped the LORD (Genesis 24:26).

Of course, the difference there was that Abraham’s servant was not meeting his future spouse, but I find the different responses interesting to observe.

This day was becoming very exciting for everyone, and now word reaches Laban and he also responds:

13 Then it came to pass, when Laban heard the report about Jacob his sister’s son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him and kissed him, and brought him to his house. So he told Laban all these things. 14 And Laban said to him, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh.” And he stayed with him for a month.

Laban was equally excited that Jacob had come, and so they meet and greet and Jacob ends up staying with them for a month.

And so everything is coming together perfectly. Jacob has met Rachel, Laban is impressed, all is well.

But we know the story continues and gets a bit complicated.

2. Jacob, Leah, and Rachel (29:15-30)

15 Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what should your wages be?” 16 Now Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17 Leah’s eyes were delicate, but Rachel was beautiful of form and appearance.

Moses is careful here to prepare us for the answer Jacob gives to Laban’s question. Laban seems like a fair man and appears not to want to take advantage of free labor from Jacob.

Jacob is in an odd category as he would not be someone he typically hired, as he was family, but he was not to be seen as a slave either. And so he asks for fair wages of Jacob.

The wages, of course, will have to do with his daughter, and this issue will become the point of conflict between Laban and Jacob as this story unfolds. Moses gives us a preview of it by telling us something about the physical appearances and affections regarding these girls. But first here are the names:

Laban’s oldest was Leah and if the root meaning of her name is related to the Akkadian word (littu, litu), then her name meant “cow” (fully grown female animal) (per Kenneth Matthews). Rachel was the younger and her name means “ewe” (female sheep) which ties in with her vocation as shepherdess.

Moses highlights their appearances. Leah had delicate eyes. Rachel was beautiful of form and appearance. Leah’s eyes can be seen as either something positive or negative. Delicate is translated as “weak” by the NIV but “tender by the KJV, “delicate” by the NKJV, HCSB, or “lovely” (NRSV).

Rachel is defined in terms we might expect some TV producer to subtly say. Whatever the precise meaning of these words is, the point is clear: the two sisters were different, and in the end Jacob preferred one over the other:

18 Now Jacob loved Rachel; so he said, “I will serve you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter.”

In answer now to Laban’s question, Jacob offers to work for seven years so he might have Rachel his younger daughter.

Laban appears to agree to is as he replies:

19 And Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to another man. Stay with me.” 20 So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed only a few days to him because of the love he had for her.

And so seven years is what it takes, and seven years is what is included in verse 20. Time flew for Jacob as he kept his eye on Rachel those seven years. Day in and day out, he was waiting and for him time flew by. He was taken by Rachel.

I’m glad I didn’t have to work seven years for my bride. I was engaged for one whole year, but that flew by for sure.

And so now, after seven days, it was payday:

21 Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her.”

This is quite the bold statement, and even a bit forthright: give me my wife! Even though the seven years flew by, it was still seven years. He was ready for her. And so Laban does not have anything here in reply, but begins the wedding plans – but the giving of a different daughter:

22 And Laban gathered together all the men of the place and made a feast. 23 Now it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter and brought her to Jacob; and he went in to her. 24 And Laban gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah as a maid. 25 So it came to pass in the morning, that behold, it was Leah. And he said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served you? Why then have you deceived me?”

Jacob thought it was Rachel, but in the morning he discovered it was Leah. The text does not say, but some commentators mention that at some feasts at a wedding there would be some wine involved. Perhaps the confusion of Jacob had something to do with that, though the text does not say. We know clearly that Jacob could tell the difference when he was in his right mind.

In any case, he discovers in the morning that Laban had given him the “wrong” daughter. It was Leah, and he wonders why Laban had deceived him?

You wonder if at that moment he thought back to his own life and the deception he had done to Esau and Isaac? What goes around comes around so often. The supplanter is upset that someone has deceived him. How ironic.

Laban replies:

26 And Laban said, “It must not be done so in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. 27 Fulfill her week, and we will give you this one also for the service which you will serve with me still another seven years.”

Ah yes, the traditions of the culture. The customs of the country were to give the oldest first, then the younger. Plug this back in to the pregnancy and story of Jacob as we saw God reverse the customs of the day in Jacob and Esau.

Missionaries in particular study the issues of culture so that they will better minister in their target field. Many things in the culture are not right or wrong, they are just the way they do things. Laban certainly knew about this custom before he agreed to give Jacob Rachel, but he chose deception to bring it to pass.

This will begin a strained relationship that Jacob has with Laban.

Laban urges Jacob to “fulfill her week” and then he would give him Rachel … for another seven years of labor.

Fulfilling Leah’s week is to continue to participate in Leah’s week-long celebration (Matthews).

And so Jacob hears and follows through:

28 Then Jacob did so and fulfilled her week. So he gave him his daughter Rachel as wife also. 29 And Laban gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as a maid. 30 Then Jacob also went in to Rachel, and he also loved Rachel more than Leah. And he served with Laban still another seven years.

This time it appears that Jacob did get Rachel as his wife before he actually worked the second set of seven years, but he does work another seven years. The key point here which repeats from earlier, is the fact that Jacob loved Rachel, and now we see that this was “more” than Leah.

One wonders where Jacob learned to prefer one over another. After all, he probably caught this from his mother and father.

Favoritism within the family is never a good thing and always develops problems that come up in different situations.

In the end, Jacob ends up with Leah and Zilpah, Rachel and Bilhah. He is still tied to Laban through service, but he got what he came for: a wife. He ends up with two + two.

The text of course continues with the fascinating story of the children of Jacob, which we’ll cover next time.

What do we see in this story?

1. We see an example of sowing and reaping. Galatians 6. This is a general principle, and it sometimes applies to the sins of our past. Yes, God in Christ forgives and cleanses us, but sometimes God allows the choices we make in the past to be repeated against us. This is not to teach some kind of Christian karma, but this is often how God teaches us about these things. Proverbs 1 says that if we set a trap to get someone else, it may be the trap that we step into ourselves. Jacob was a deceiver, but he was deceived here. God still worked in his life, and out of this mess came the children of Israel, the nation of Israel – the promise of God. Galatians urges us to sow to the spirit that we might reap spiritual benefits. May that be our focus each day.

2. Be careful about accepting the standards of the world. I see this in the description of Rachel’s beauty and Jacob’s reaction. I see this in Laban’s custom, which may or may not be wrong, but nonetheless it is put forth as a key to this story. If the customs of the day are wrong, if the standards of beauty are elevated above scriptural principles, we should reject them. Man looks at the outward appearance, and so often this becomes the deciding factor in ones “love” for someone else.

3. Deception and lying within the family always leads to trouble. Jacob and Rebekah recognize this. Laban began this, and this will lead to conflict and broken relationships. Scripture says that we should learn to speak the truth in love. We must be honest with one another to avoid the trap of future problems. This honors the Lord

4. In all of the drama we see unfolding in this Jacob story, we still see a sovereign God at work. He takes the ugly and makes the beautiful. He uses this young Jacob who is growing and uses Him for His own purposes. Therefore, let us give our God praise and glory each and every day, regardless of the circumstances we faced in each day. God is always worthy of our praise, for He is exalted and lifted up. May the fruit of our lips be to the praise of our God day after day.

Next week, the children God gave Jacob through these four women.