Genesis 30:26 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served you, that I may go, for you know the service that I have given you."

NIV: Give me my wives and children, for whom I have served you, and I will be on my way. You know how much work I’ve done for you."

NASB: Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served you, and let me go; for you yourself know my service which I have rendered you.'

CSB: Give me my wives and my children that I have worked for, and let me go. You know how hard I have worked for you."

NLT: Let me take my wives and children, for I have earned them by serving you, and let me be on my way. You certainly know how hard I have worked for you.'

KJV: Give me my wives and my children, for whom I have served thee, and let me go: for thou knowest my service which I have done thee.

NKJV: Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served you, and let me go; for you know my service which I have done for you.”

Jacob's agreed upon time of service to Laban is up. He has met his commitment to work for his father-in-law another seven years after marrying Leah and Rachel (Genesis 29:18–30). Jacob is ready to take his expansive family and return to his homeland.

He began in the previous verse by saying to Laban, "Send me away." Now Jacob continues, "Give me." The text seems to want us to catch that Jacob is taking a firm tone with Laban. He is aware that Laban will likely not want to lose Jacob's productivity or his closeness to his daughters and grandchildren. He is also aware that Laban can be tough and tricky when he wants something—and prone to outrageous levels of deceit.

Joseph states clearly that he has met the terms of their agreement. He also demands clearly that Laban give to him his wives and children in exchange for all of his service. It's possible there may have been a legal question about whether, as an indentured servant of sorts to his uncle, Jacob would have been entitled to possession of his own wife and children when leaving service to his "master."

Genesis 30:25-43 describes Jacob's struggle to convince Laban to allow him to return to his own people with his wives and children, even though the 14 years of Jacob's contracted service have ended. Laban asks Jacob to name new wages to continue to work for him. Laban knows he has grown wealthy due to the Lord's blessing on Jacob. Jacob asks to own all the new off-color sheep and goats that will be born to Laban's flock. Laban agrees and quickly tries to cheat Jacob. Nevertheless, the Lord blesses Jacob's unusual breeding practices, causing so many off-color animals to be born in the flock that Jacob becomes a wealthy man in his own right. Soon he will leave Laban behind for good.

God alone gives children. He causes babies to be born. He even determines what color baby sheep and goats will be. Genesis 30 describes the urgent desire of Rachel and Leah to have sons for Jacob and how God hears and grants their prayers in His own time. In addition, God blesses Jacob's unusual breeding practices with Laban's flocks to finally allow Jacob to overcome his father-in-law's schemes to keep Jacob under his service.

In the previous chapter, Laban tricked Jacob both into marrying Leah along with Rachel and into working for him as a servant for a total of fourteen years. God blessed unloved Leah by allowing her to bear four sons to Jacob. As this chapter opens, Rachel remains barren while Leah and both of their servant women continue to bear sons. Finally God answers Rachel's prayer, allowing her to bear Joseph. His contract completed, Jacob demands Laban send him away to his own people. Laban refuses, asking Jacob to set new terms for his service. Jacob's deal, along with the Lord's blessing and his unusual breeding practices with the flocks, results in Jacob becoming a wealthy man in his own right. This wealth and power will enable him to finally break free and return home.

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.

Accessed 11/23/2024 11:49:23 AM