Genesis 22:16

22:16 and said, “‘I solemnly swear by my own name,’ ¹  decrees the Lord, ²  ‘that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son,

Genesis 27:38

27:38 Esau said to his father, “Do you have only that one blessing, my father? Bless me too!” ³  Then Esau wept loudly. ⁴ 

Genesis 29:20

29:20 So Jacob worked for seven years to acquire Rachel. ⁵  But they seemed like only a few days to him ⁶  because his love for her was so great. ⁷ 

Genesis 31:15

31:15 Hasn’t he treated us like foreigners? He not only sold us, but completely wasted ⁸  the money paid for us! ⁹ 

Genesis 41:40

41:40 You will oversee my household, and all my people will submit to your commands. ¹⁰  Only I, the king, will be greater than you. ¹¹ 

---

¹ tn Heb “By myself I swear.”

² tn Heb “the oracle of the Lord.” The phrase refers to a formal oracle or decree from the Lord.

³ tn Heb “Bless me, me also, my father.” The words “my father” have not been repeated in the translation for stylistic reasons.

⁴ tn Heb “and Esau lifted his voice and wept.”

⁵ tn Heb “in exchange for Rachel.”

⁶ sn But they seemed like only a few days to him. This need not mean that the time passed quickly. More likely it means that the price seemed insignificant when compared to what he was getting in the bargain.

⁷ tn Heb “because of his love for her.” The words “was so great” are supplied for stylistic reasons.

⁸ tn Heb “and he devoured, even devouring.” The infinitive absolute (following the finite verb here) is used for emphasis.

sn He sold us and…wasted our money. The precise nature of Rachel’s and Leah’s complaint is not entirely clear. Since Jacob had to work to pay for them, they probably mean that their father has cheated Jacob and therefore cheated them as well. See M. Burrows, “The Complaint of Laban’s Daughters,” JAOS 57 (1937): 250-76.

⁹ tn Heb “our money.” The word “money” is used figuratively here; it means the price paid for Leah and Rachel. A literal translation (“our money”) makes it sound as if Laban wasted money that belonged to Rachel and Leah, rather than the money paid for them.

¹⁰ tn Heb “and at your mouth (i.e., instructions) all my people will kiss.” G. J. Wenham translates this “shall kowtow to your instruction” (Genesis [WBC], 2:395). Although there is some textual support for reading “will be judged, ruled by you,” this is probably an attempt to capture the significance of this word. Wenham lists a number of references where individuals have tried to make connections with other words or expressions – such as a root meaning “order themselves” lying behind “kiss,” or an idiomatic idea of “kiss” meaning “seal the mouth,” and so “be silent and submit to.” See K. A. Kitchen, “The Term Nsq in Genesis 41:40,” ExpTim 69 (1957): 30; D. S. Sperling, “Genesis 41:40: A New Interpretation,” JANESCU 10 (1978): 113-19.

¹¹ tn Heb “only the throne, I will be greater than you.”