Quotes About Relationships

Esau went to Ishmael and married Mahalath, the sister of Nebaioth and daughter of Abrahamís son Ishmael, in addition to the wives he already had.

Now Laban had two daughters; the older was named Leah, and the younger was named Rachel.

Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel was shapely and beautiful.

Laban replied, “Better that I give her to you than to another. Stay here with me.”

Finally Jacob said to Laban, “Grant me my wife, for my time is complete, and I want to sleep with her.”

But when evening came, Laban took his daughter Leah and gave her to Jacob, and he slept with her.

And Laban gave his servant girl Zilpah to his daughter Leah as her maidservant.

Laban replied, “It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older.

Laban also gave his servant girl Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maidservant.

Jacob slept with Rachel as well, and indeed, he loved Rachel more than Leah. So he worked for Laban another seven years.

Once again Leah conceived and gave birth to a son, and she said, “Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” So he was named Levi.

Jacob became angry with Rachel and said, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld children from you?”

Then she said, “Here is my maidservant Bilhah. Sleep with her, that she may bear children for me, so that through her I too can build a family.”

When Leah saw that she had stopped having children, she gave her servant Zilpah to Jacob as a wife.

When Leahís servant Zilpah bore Jacob a second son,

But Leah replied, “Is it not enough that you have taken away my husband? Now you want to take my sonís mandrakes as well?” “Very well,” said Rachel, “he may sleep with you tonight in exchange for your sonís mandrakes.”

When Jacob came in from the field that evening, Leah went out to meet him and said, “You must come with me, for I have hired you with my sonís mandrakes.” So he slept with her that night.

And Jacob saw from the countenance of Laban that his attitude toward him had changed.

Then Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done? You have deceived me and carried off my daughters like captives of war!

Why did you run away secretly and deceive me, without even telling me? I would have sent you away with joy and singing, with tambourines and harps.

But you did not even let me kiss my grandchildren and my daughters goodbye. Now you have done a foolish thing.

“I was afraid,” Jacob answered, “for I thought you would take your daughters from me by force.

But Laban answered Jacob, “These daughters are my daughters, these sons are my sons, and these flocks are my flocks! Everything you see is mine! Yet what can I do today about these daughters of mine or the children they have borne?

If you mistreat my daughters or take other wives, although no one is with us, remember that God is a witness between you and me.”