Genesis 29:18-19

29:18 Since Jacob had fallen in love with 1  Rachel, he said, “I’ll serve you seven years in exchange for your younger daughter Rachel.” 29:19 Laban replied, “I’d rather give her to you than to another man. 2  Stay with me.”

Genesis 29:27

29:27 Complete my older daughter’s bridal week. 3  Then we will give you the younger one 4  too, in exchange for seven more years of work.” 5 

1 tn Heb “Jacob loved.”

2 tn Heb “Better my giving her to you than my giving her to another man.”

3 tn Heb “fulfill the period of seven of this one.” The referent of “this one” has been specified in the translation as “my older daughter” for clarity.

sn Bridal week. An ancient Hebrew marriage ceremony included an entire week of festivities (cf. Judg 14:12).

4 tn Heb “this other one.”

5 tn Heb “and we will give to you also this one in exchange for labor which you will work with me, still seven other years.”

sn In exchange for seven more years of work. See C. H. Gordon, “The Story of Jacob and Laban in the Light of the Nuzi Tablets,” BASOR 66 (1937): 25-27; and J. Van Seters, “Jacob’s Marriages and Ancient Near Eastern Customs: A Reassessment,” HTR 62 (1969): 377-95.