Genesis 29:25 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And in the morning, behold, it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, "What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?"

NIV: When morning came, there was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, "What is this you have done to me? I served you for Rachel, didn’t I? Why have you deceived me?"

NASB: So it came about in the morning that, behold, it was Leah! And he said to Laban, 'What is this that you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served with you? Why then have you deceived me?'

CSB: When morning came, there was Leah! So he said to Laban, "What is this you have done to me? Wasn’t it for Rachel that I worked for you? Why have you deceived me?"

NLT: But when Jacob woke up in the morning — it was Leah! 'What have you done to me?' Jacob raged at Laban. 'I worked seven years for Rachel! Why have you tricked me?'

KJV: And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?

NKJV: 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 made an extravagant offer to Laban: to work seven years for the right to marry Laban's younger daughter, Rachel (Genesis 29:18–19). The years flew by because of his love for her (Genesis 29:20). But Laban has betrayed Jacob and Rachel by switching Leah for Rachel on their wedding night. Jacob has slept with Leah, believing her to be Rachel. Scripture does not explain exactly how he could have done so without realizing the difference. Genesis 29:17 indicates Rachel was beautiful in both her face and her body, while Leah was less attractive (Genesis 29:16–17). It's possible that too much wine, or elaborate veils, cultural modesty, or Jacob's wedding night nervousness caused him to miss this key fact, but we don't really know.

Now he knows. The phrase given here is almost comical, aside from the tragic implications for Jacob and Rachel. Jacob was truly shocked to discover he had slept with—and by the laws of that culture, legally married—the older sister, Leah. When he understood what had happened, he immediately went to Laban to ask why he had been lied to. Jacob had kept his part of the bargain in full. Why did Laban do this?

Laban's deception seems outrageous, unfair, and even monstrous. And it is. However, it's hard not to see echoes of Jacob's own deception of his dying, blind father Isaac (Genesis 27:19). Isaac and Esau together experienced a similar terrible moment of shock when they realized Jacob had impersonated Esau and had stolen the family blessing (Genesis 27:30–36).

Scripture never explicitly labels this an act of retribution from God for Jacob's deception. It could be argued the parallel is so obvious that it doesn't need to be stated, but the fact is the Bible does not directly say this is a punishment. Perhaps, though, Jacob began to learn empathy for those he had harmed. One would hope this would inspire him not to follow in the footsteps of his mother Rebekah and his uncle Laban.

Later in his life, both Jacob's prior deception and this moment will be reflected in an encounter with God. There, Jacob will be asked to state his name, in order to be blessed (Genesis 32:24–28).

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.