29 Then Ya’akov (Jacob) got on the road again and went to the land of the eastern peoples. 2 Close to his destination, he looked ahead, and wow, there was a well in the countryside, and what’s more, three flocks of sheep and goats were lying there near it, because the flocks were watered from that well but the stone over the mouth of the well was large and heavy. 3 Once all the flocks were gathered there, then they would roll the stone from over the mouth of the well and water the animals. Then they would return the stone to its place over the mouth of the well.

4 So Ya’akov asked the farmers, “My brothers, where are you from?”

“We’re from Haran,” they replied.

5 “Do you know Nahor’s grandson Lavan (Laban)?” Ya’akov asked.

“Yes, we know him,” they replied.

6 “Is he doing well?” Ya’akov asked.

“Yes, he’s fine,” they said, “and here comes his daughter Rahel (Rachel) with their flock.”

7 “Look, it’s still broad daylight,” Ya’akov told them. “It’s not time for the livestock to be brought it. Water the flock, and go pasture them.”

8 “We can’t,” they said, “until all the flocks are gathered here and they roll the stone off the top of the well. Then we will water the sheep.”

9 He was still talking with them when Rahel came with her father’s flock, because she was the one who looked after them. 10 When Ya’akov saw Rahel (the daughter of his mother’s brother, Lavan (Laban)) with Lavan’s flock, he went over and rolled the stone off the top of the well and watered the sheep and goats. 11 Then he gave Rahel a kiss and happily cried out loud. 12 Then he told Rahel that he was a relative of her father and that he was a son of Rivkah.

Then she ran and told her father, 13 and when Lavan heard the news about his sister’s son Ya’akov, he ran out to meet him. Then he embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house. Then Ya’akov told Lavan everything that had happened up until then, 14 and Lavan told him, “You are indeed a close relative.”