Genesis 29:16-18

29:16 (Now Laban had two daughters; ¹  the older one was named Leah, and the younger one Rachel. 29:17 Leah’s eyes were tender, ²  but Rachel had a lovely figure and beautiful appearance.) ³  29:18 Since Jacob had fallen in love with ⁴  Rachel, he said, “I’ll serve you seven years in exchange for your younger daughter Rachel.”

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¹ tn Heb “and to Laban [there were] two daughters.” The disjunctive clause (introduced here by a conjunction and a prepositional phrase) provides supplemental material that is important to the story. Since this material is parenthetical in nature, vv. 16-17 have been set in parentheses in the translation.

² tn Heb “and the eyes of Leah were tender.” The disjunctive clause (introduced here by a conjunction and a noun) continues the parenthesis begun in v. 16. It is not clear what is meant by “tender” (or “delicate”) eyes. The expression may mean she had appealing eyes (cf. NAB, NRSV, NLT), though some suggest that they were plain, not having the brightness normally expected. Either way, she did not measure up to her gorgeous sister.

³ tn Heb “and Rachel was beautiful of form and beautiful of appearance.”

⁴ tn Heb “Jacob loved.”