Genesis 29:15 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my kinsman, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?”

NIV: Laban said to him, 'Just because you are a relative of mine, should you work for me for nothing? Tell me what your wages should be.'

NASB: Then Laban said to Jacob, 'Because you are my relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?'

CSB: Laban said to him, "Just because you're my relative, should you work for me for nothing? Tell me what your wages should be."

NLT: Laban said to him, 'You shouldn’t work for me without pay just because we are relatives. Tell me how much your wages should be.'

KJV: And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be?

NKJV: Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what should your wages be?”

Jacob had apparently arrived at Laban's house without a clear exit strategy. At the urging of both of his parents, Jacob had come to escape the murderous wrath of his brother (Genesis 27:41) and to find a wife (Genesis 28:1–2). Up to this point, things have gone well. He arrived safely, despite at least one night alone and without shelter in the wilderness (Genesis 28:10–11). Laban had welcomed him warmly as a true member of the family (Genesis 29:14).

Now we learn Jacob had apparently started to work for Laban without an explicit arrangement for payment, a mark of good character. Laban realized that arrangement shouldn't continue indefinitely, even though Jacob was a relative. The following verses will reveal that Jacob was a good worker. It's possible Laban didn't want to lose him.

To that end, he approached Jacob to ask what wages he would want to continue to work for him. By now, Jacob had probably begun to think about returning home. Laban's offer would require him to stay longer with his uncle. In the end, what started as a stay of one month (Genesis 29:14) will turn into 20 years (Genesis 31:41)!

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.