Genesis 29:19-20

29:19 Laban replied, “I’d rather give her to you than to another man. 1  Stay with me.” 29:20 So Jacob worked for seven years to acquire Rachel. 2  But they seemed like only a few days to him 3  because his love for her was so great. 4 

Genesis 29:30

29:30 Jacob 5  had marital relations 6  with Rachel as well. He loved Rachel more than Leah, so he worked for Laban 7  for seven more years. 8 

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

2 tn Heb “in exchange for Rachel.”

3 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.

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

5 tn Heb “and he”; the referent (Jacob) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

6 tn Heb “went in also to Rachel.” The expression “went in to” in this context refers to sexual intercourse, i.e., the consummation of the marriage.

7 tn Heb “him”; the referent (Laban) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

8 tn Heb “and he loved also Rachel, more than Leah, and he served with him still seven other years.”