Focused Passage

Genesis 29:15-30

The LORD Brings Jacob to Laban, Exposes Him Through Reversal, and Begins Building the Covenant Family Through Leah and Rachel

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

15 Laban said to him, “Just because you are my relative, should you work for nothing? Tell me what your wages should be.”

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

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

18 Since Jacob loved Rachel, he answered, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.”

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

20 So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, yet it seemed but a few days because of his love for her.

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

22 So Laban invited all the men of that place and prepared a feast.

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

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

25 When morning came, there was Leah! “What have you done to me?” Jacob said to Laban. “Wasn’t it for Rachel that I served you? Why have you deceived me?”

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

27 Finish this week’s celebration, and we will give you the younger one in return for another seven years of work.”

28 And Jacob did just that. He finished the week’s celebration, and Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife.

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

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

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 15

Original words

Laban לָבָן֙ H3837 Noun - proper - masculine singular said וַיֹּ֤אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to him לְיַעֲקֹ֔ב H3290 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular Just because הֲכִי־ H3588 Conjunction you are אַ֔תָּה H859 Pronoun - second person masculine singular my relative אָחִ֣י H251 Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular should you work וַעֲבַדְתַּ֖נִי H5647 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular | first person common singular for nothing חִנָּ֑ם H2600 Adverb Tell הַגִּ֥ידָה H5046 Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular me לִּ֖י Preposition | first person common singular what מַה־ H4100 Interrogative your wages should be מַּשְׂכֻּרְתֶּֽךָ׃ H4909 Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Verse 16

Original words

Now Laban וּלְלָבָ֖ן H3837 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular had two שְׁתֵּ֣י H8147 Number - feminine dual construct daughters בָנ֑וֹת H1323 Noun - feminine plural the older הַגְּדֹלָה֙ H1419 Article | Adjective - feminine singular was named שֵׁ֤ם H8034 Noun - masculine singular construct Leah לֵאָ֔ה H3812 Noun - proper - feminine singular and the younger הַקְּטַנָּ֖ה H6996 Article | Adjective - feminine singular was named וְשֵׁ֥ם H8034 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct Rachel רָחֵֽל׃ H7354 Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 17

Original words

Leah לֵאָ֖ה H3812 Noun - proper - feminine singular had weak רַכּ֑וֹת H7390 Adjective - feminine plural eyes וְעֵינֵ֥י H5869 Conjunctive waw | Noun - cdc but Rachel וְרָחֵל֙ H7354 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - feminine singular was הָֽיְתָ֔ה H1961 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular shapely יְפַת־ H3303 Adjective - feminine singular construct . . . תֹּ֖אַר H8389 Noun - masculine singular and beautiful וִיפַ֥ת H3303 Conjunctive waw | Adjective - feminine singular construct . . . מַרְאֶֽה׃ H4758 Noun - masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Or had delicate eyes
Verse 18

Original words

Since Jacob יַעֲקֹ֖ב H3290 Noun - proper - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker loved וַיֶּאֱהַ֥ב H157 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Rachel רָחֵ֑ל H7354 Noun - proper - feminine singular he answered וַיֹּ֗אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular I will serve אֶֽעֱבָדְךָ֙ H5647 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular | second person masculine singular you seven שֶׁ֣בַע H7651 Number - feminine singular years שָׁנִ֔ים H8141 Noun - feminine plural for your younger הַקְּטַנָּֽה׃ H6996 Article | Adjective - feminine singular daughter בִּתְּךָ֖ H1323 Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular Rachel בְּרָחֵ֥ל H7354 Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 19

Original words

Laban לָבָ֗ן H3837 Noun - proper - masculine singular replied וַיֹּ֣אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Better ט֚וֹב H2896 Adjective - masculine singular that I give תִּתִּ֣י H5414 Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | first person common singular her אֹתָ֣הּ H853 Direct object marker | third person feminine singular to you לָ֔ךְ Preposition | second person feminine singular than מִתִּתִּ֥י H5414 Preposition-m | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | first person common singular - אֹתָ֖הּ H853 Direct object marker | third person feminine singular - לְאִ֣ישׁ H376 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular to another אַחֵ֑ר H312 Adjective - masculine singular Stay here שְׁבָ֖ה H3427 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular with me עִמָּדִֽי׃ H5978 Preposition | first person common singular
Verse 20

Original words

So Jacob יַעֲקֹ֛ב H3290 Noun - proper - masculine singular served וַיַּעֲבֹ֧ד H5647 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular seven שֶׁ֣בַע H7651 Number - feminine singular years שָׁנִ֑ים H8141 Noun - feminine plural for Rachel בְּרָחֵ֖ל H7354 Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular yet it seemed וַיִּהְי֤וּ H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural בְעֵינָיו֙ בְעֵינָיו֙ H5869 Preposition-b | Noun - cdc | third person masculine singular [but] a few אֲחָדִ֔ים H259 Number - masculine plural days כְּיָמִ֣ים H3117 Preposition-k | Noun - masculine plural because of his love בְּאַהֲבָת֖וֹ H160 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular for her אֹתָֽהּ׃ H853 Direct object marker | third person feminine singular
Verse 21

Original words

Finally Jacob יַעֲקֹ֤ב H3290 Noun - proper - masculine singular said וַיֹּ֨אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to אֶל־ H413 Preposition Laban לָבָן֙ H3837 Noun - proper - masculine singular Grant הָבָ֣ה H3051 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular me אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker my wife אִשְׁתִּ֔י H802 Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular for כִּ֥י H3588 Conjunction my time יָמָ֑י H3117 Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular is complete מָלְא֖וּ H4390 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural and I want to sleep with וְאָב֖וֹאָה H935 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common singular her אֵלֶֽיהָ׃ H413 Preposition | third person feminine singular
Verse 22

Original words

- וַיֶּאֱסֹ֥ף H622 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular So Laban לָבָ֛ן H3837 Noun - proper - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker invited all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct the men אַנְשֵׁ֥י H582 Noun - masculine plural construct of that place הַמָּק֖וֹם H4725 Article | Noun - masculine singular and prepared וַיַּ֥עַשׂ H6213 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular a feast מִשְׁתֶּֽה׃ H4960 Noun - masculine singular
Verse 23

Original words

But when וַיְהִ֣י H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular evening came בָעֶ֔רֶב H6153 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular Laban took וַיִּקַּח֙ H3947 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker his daughter בִתּ֔וֹ H1323 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular Leah לֵאָ֣ה H3812 Noun - proper - feminine singular and gave וַיָּבֵ֥א H935 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular her אֹתָ֖הּ H853 Direct object marker | third person feminine singular to Jacob אֵלָ֑יו H413 Preposition | third person masculine singular and he slept with וַיָּבֹ֖א H935 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular her אֵלֶֽיהָ׃ H413 Preposition | third person feminine singular
Verse 24

Original words

And Laban לָבָן֙ H3837 Noun - proper - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker gave וַיִּתֵּ֤ן H5414 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular his servant girl שִׁפְחָת֑וֹ H8198 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular Zilpah זִלְפָּ֖ה H2153 Noun - proper - feminine singular to his daughter בִתּ֖וֹ H1323 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular Leah לְלֵאָ֥ה H3812 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - feminine singular as her maidservant שִׁפְחָֽה׃ H8198 Noun - feminine singular
Verse 25

Original words

When morning בַבֹּ֔קֶר H1242 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular came וַיְהִ֣י H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular there וְהִנֵּה־ H2009 Conjunctive waw | Interjection . . . הִ֖וא H1931 Pronoun - third person feminine singular was Leah לֵאָ֑ה H3812 Noun - proper - feminine singular What מַה־ H4100 Interrogative . . . זֹּאת֙ H2063 Pronoun - feminine singular have you done עָשִׂ֣יתָ H6213 Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular to me לִּ֔י Preposition | first person common singular Jacob said וַיֹּ֣אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to אֶל־ H413 Preposition Laban לָבָ֗ן H3837 Noun - proper - masculine singular Wasn’t הֲלֹ֤א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle it for Rachel בְרָחֵל֙ H7354 Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular that I served עָבַ֣דְתִּי H5647 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular you עִמָּ֔ךְ H5973 Preposition | second person feminine singular Why וְלָ֖מָּה H4100 Conjunctive waw | Interrogative have you deceived me רִמִּיתָֽנִי׃ H7411 Verb - Piel - Perfect - second person masculine singular | first person common singular
Verse 26

Original words

Laban לָבָ֔ן H3837 Noun - proper - masculine singular replied וַיֹּ֣אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular It is not לֹא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle our custom יֵעָשֶׂ֥ה H6213 Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular . . . כֵ֖ן H3651 Adverb here בִּמְקוֹמֵ֑נוּ H4725 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common plural to give the younger daughter הַצְּעִירָ֖ה H6810 Article | Adjective - feminine singular in marriage לָתֵ֥ת H5414 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct before לִפְנֵ֥י H6440 Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct the older הַבְּכִירָֽה׃ H1067 Article | Adjective - feminine singular
Verse 27

Original words

Finish מַלֵּ֖א H4390 Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singular this זֹ֑את H2063 Pronoun - feminine singular week’s celebration שְׁבֻ֣עַ H7620 Noun - masculine singular construct . . . גַּם־ H1571 Conjunction - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker and we will give וְנִתְּנָ֨ה H5414 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common plural you לְךָ֜ Preposition | second person masculine singular the younger one זֹ֗את H2063 Pronoun - feminine singular - אֲשֶׁ֣ר H834 Pronoun - relative in return for תַּעֲבֹ֣ד H5647 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular vvv ע֖וֹד H5750 Adverb another אֲחֵרֽוֹת׃ H312 Adjective - feminine plural seven שֶֽׁבַע־ H7651 Number - feminine singular years שָׁנִ֥ים H8141 Noun - feminine plural - עִמָּדִ֔י H5978 Preposition | first person common singular of work בַּעֲבֹדָה֙ H5656 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular
Verse 28

Original words

And Jacob יַעֲקֹב֙ H3290 Noun - proper - masculine singular did וַיַּ֤עַשׂ H6213 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular just that כֵּ֔ן H3651 Adverb He finished וַיְמַלֵּ֖א H4390 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular the week’s celebration שְׁבֻ֣עַ H7620 Noun - masculine singular construct . . . זֹ֑את H2063 Pronoun - feminine singular and Laban gave וַיִּתֶּן־ H5414 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular . . . ל֛וֹ Preposition | third person masculine singular him אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker his daughter בִּתּ֖וֹ H1323 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular - ל֥וֹ Preposition | third person masculine singular Rachel רָחֵ֥ל H7354 Noun - proper - feminine singular as his wife לְאִשָּֽׁה׃ H802 Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular
Verse 29

Original words

Laban also לָבָן֙ H3837 Noun - proper - masculine singular gave וַיִּתֵּ֤ן H5414 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular his servant girl שִׁפְחָת֑וֹ H8198 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular Bilhah בִּלְהָ֖ה H1090 Noun - proper - feminine singular to his daughter בִּתּ֔וֹ H1323 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker Rachel לְרָחֵ֣ל H7354 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - feminine singular as her לָ֖הּ Preposition | third person feminine singular maidservant לְשִׁפְחָֽה׃ H8198 Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular
Verse 30

Original words

Jacob slept with וַיָּבֹא֙ H935 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular . . . אֶל־ H413 Preposition Rachel רָחֵ֔ל H7354 Noun - proper - feminine singular as well גַּ֣ם H1571 Conjunction and indeed גַּֽם־ H1571 Conjunction - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker he loved וַיֶּאֱהַ֥ב H157 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Rachel רָחֵ֖ל H7354 Noun - proper - feminine singular more than Leah מִלֵּאָ֑ה H3812 Preposition-m | Noun - proper - feminine singular So he worked וַיַּעֲבֹ֣ד H5647 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular for עִמּ֔וֹ H5973 Preposition | third person masculine singular Laban ע֖וֹד H5750 Adverb another אֲחֵרֽוֹת׃ H312 Adjective - feminine plural seven שֶֽׁבַע־ H7651 Number - feminine singular years שָׁנִ֥ים H8141 Noun - feminine plural

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.