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Genesis 29:15-20

Context

29:15 Then Laban said to Jacob, “Should you work 1  for me for nothing because you are my relative? 2  Tell me what your wages should be.” 29:16 (Now Laban had two daughters; 3  the older one was named Leah, and the younger one Rachel. 29:17 Leah’s eyes were tender, 4  but Rachel had a lovely figure and beautiful appearance.) 5  29:18 Since Jacob had fallen in love with 6  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. 7  Stay with me.” 29:20 So Jacob worked for seven years to acquire Rachel. 8  But they seemed like only a few days to him 9  because his love for her was so great. 10 

1 tn The verb is the perfect with the vav (ו) consecutive; the nuance in the question is deliberative.

2 tn Heb “my brother.” The term “brother” is used in a loose sense; actually Jacob was Laban’s nephew.

3 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.

4 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.

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

6 tn Heb “Jacob loved.”

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

8 tn Heb “in exchange for Rachel.”

9 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.

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



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