Genesis 29:18 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Jacob loved Rachel. And he said, "I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel."

NIV: Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, "I’ll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel."

NASB: Now Jacob loved Rachel, so he said, 'I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.'

CSB: Jacob loved Rachel, so he answered Laban, "I’ll work for you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel."

NLT: Since Jacob was in love with Rachel, he told her father, 'I’ll work for you for seven years if you’ll give me Rachel, your younger daughter, as my wife.'

KJV: And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.

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

Jacob had been sent by his father to his uncle's household, in part, to find a wife (Genesis 28:1–2). In addition, Jacob had grown to love Laban's younger daughter Rachel (Genesis 29:16–17). When Laban asked Jacob what wages he would want to continue to work for him, Jacob saw his chance to broach the subject of marriage. Jacob responded to Laban's question about wages with quite an offer: He would work for Laban for seven years for the hand of Rachel, the younger daughter, in marriage.

Why would Jacob make such an offer, beyond being deeply in love with Rachel? Perhaps he lacked any access to his father's great wealth. Though he had been sent by his father, Jacob was also fleeing his angry brother (Genesis 27:41), and apparently left alone and without much in the way of supplies (Genesis 28:11). It was customary for a groom or groom's family to pay a "bride price" to the family of the woman he wished to marry. If Jacob was without funds, he may have thought it necessary to make such an offer of longtime service.

Still, even at the lowest wage for a common worker during this time, seven years of free labor would apparently far exceed any normal payment for a bride price. Perhaps Jacob imagined that during that time he, as a nephew, would grow to inherit some of Laban's wealth. Or perhaps he just enjoyed the work and the surroundings and didn't mind the thought of spending the next seven years there. It's hard to know for sure.

Genesis 29:1–30 describes Jacob's arrival at his uncle's household. Laban is happy to see his nephew, likely for the first time. Jacob falls in love with Laban's more attractive daughter, Rachel, and agrees to work for Laban seven years to marry her. On the wedding night, however, Laban treacherously switches Rachel for her older sister Leah. Jacob agrees to marry Rachel the next week, but now must work another seven years.

Jacob's journey from his home brings him to his uncle's household in Haran. He falls in love with Laban's younger daughter Rachel and agrees to work for Laban for seven years to marry her. When the time comes, Laban switches out Rachel for her older, less attractive sister Leah. Jacob is surprised to find he has consummated the marriage with the wrong sister. Manipulative Laban assures Jacob he can still marry Rachel the next week, as long as he will work another seven years. Jacob loves Rachel more than Leah, but with the Lord's help, unloved Leah bears Jacob his first four sons.

The previous chapter described Jacob fleeing from home to seek his uncle in Mesopotamia. This was both to escape the rage of his brother, Esau, and to look for a suitable wife. Now Jacob arrives and falls in love with his uncle's daughter Rachel. After working seven years to marry her, Jacob is tricked by his uncle into marrying the older daughter, Leah, instead. Laban allows Jacob to marry Rachel, as well, in exchange for another seven years' work. Though she is unloved by Jacob, the Lord notices Leah's heartbreak and allows her to bear four sons. In the next chapter, Rachel's jealousy sets off something of a birth war, as she and Leah compete to obtain children.

The book of Genesis establishes fundamental truths about God. Among these are His role as the Creator, His holiness, His hatred of sin, His love for mankind, and His willingness to provide for our redemption. We learn not only where mankind has come from, but why the world is in its present form. The book also presents the establishment of Israel, God's chosen people. Many of the principles given in other parts of Scripture depend on the basic ideas presented here in the book of Genesis. Within the framework of the Bible, Genesis explains the bare-bones history of the universe leading up to the captivity of Israel in Egypt, setting the stage for the book of Exodus.