Laban had two daughters. The name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and attractive. Jacob loved Rachel. He said, “I will serve you seven years for Rachel, your younger daughter.”
Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you, than that I should give her to another man. Stay with me.”
Jacob served seven years for Rachel. They seemed to him but a few days, for the love he had for her.
Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her.”
Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast. In the evening, he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to Jacob. He went in to her. Laban gave Zilpah his servant to his daughter Leah for a servant. In the morning, behold, it was Leah! He said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Didn’t I serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?”
Laban said, “It is not done so in our place, to give the younger before the firstborn. Fulfill the week of this one, and we will give you the other also for the service which you will serve with me for seven more years.”
Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week. He gave him Rachel his daughter as wife. Laban gave Bilhah, his servant, to his daughter Rachel to be her servant. He went in also to Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him seven more years.
John Calvin 1540 · Public Domain On vv18, 22, 25, 27, 30 18. I will serve thee seven years. The iniquity…
18. I will serve thee seven years. The iniquity of Laban betrays itself in a moment; for it is a shameful barbarity to give his daughter, by way of reward, in exchange for Jacob’s services, making her the subject of a kind of barter. He ought, on the other hand, not only to have assigned a portion to his daughter, but also to have acted more liberally towards his future son-in-law. But under the pretext of affinity, he defrauds him of the reward of his labor, the very thing which he had before acknowledged to be unjust. We therefore perceive still more clearly what I have previously alluded to, that although from their mother’s womb men have a general notion of justice, yet as soon as their own advantage presents itself to view, they become actually unjust, unless the Lord reforms them by his Spirit. Moses does not here relate something rare or unusual, but what is of most common occurrence. For though men do not set their daughters to sale, yet the desire of gain hurries the greater part so far away, that they prostitute their honor and sell their souls. Further, it is not altogether to be deemed a fault that Jacob was rather inclined to love Rachel; whether it was that Leah, on account of her tender eyes, was less beautiful, or that she was pleasing only by the comeliness of her eyes, while Rachel excelled her altogether in elegance of form. For we see how naturally a secret kind of affection produces mutual love. Only excess is to be guarded against, and so much the more diligently, because it is difficult so to restrain affections of this kind, that they do not prevail to the stifling of reason. Therefore he who shall be induced to choose a wife, because of the elegance of her form, will not necessarily sin, provided reason always maintains the ascendancy, and holds the wantonness of passion in subjection. Yet perhaps Jacob sinned in being too self-indulgent, when he desired Rachel the younger sister to be given to him, to the injury of the elder; and also, while yielding to the desire of his own eyes, he undervalued the virtues of Leah: for this is a very culpable want of self-government, when any one chooses a wife only for the sake of her beauty, whereas excellence of disposition ought to be deemed of the first importance. But the strength and ardor of his attachment manifests itself in this, that he felt no weariness in the labor of seven years: but chastity was also joined with it, so that he persevered, during this long period, with a patient and quiet mind in the midst of so many labors. And here again the integrity and continence of that age is apparent, because, though dwelling under the same roof, and accustomed to familiar intercourse, Jacob yet conducted himself with modesty, and abstained from all impropriety. Therefore, at the close of the appointed time he said, “Give me my wife, that I may go in unto her,” by which he implies that she had been hitherto a pure virgin.
John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.
Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv17, 20, 21, 23, 26 Or, blear-eyed.
Or, blear-eyed.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv16–30 Gen 29:16 And Laban had two daughters: the name…
Gen 29:16 And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder [was] Leah, and the name of the younger [was] Rachel.
Ver. 16. The name of the elder was Leah,] i.e., Weak and wearish, by her natural constitution {a} No marvel, therefore, though she were weak-sighted, as Gen 29:17.
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{a} Debilis, nec bene habita, quasi lassa ex debilitate constitutionis.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28 Leah was tender-eyed; her eyes were soft and moist,…
Leah was tender-eyed; her eyes were soft and moist, and therefore unsightly.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv16–30 And Laban had two daughters,.... Grown up and marriageable:
And Laban had two daughters,.... Grown up and marriageable:
and the name of the elder was Leah; which signifies labour or weariness:
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and the name of the younger was Rachel; before mentioned, whom Jacob met with at the well, Gen 29:10; and whose name signifies a sheep, as before observed; see Gill on Gen 29:9.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv20, 25, 26, 27 They seemed to him but a few days for…
They seemed to him but a few days for the love he had to her - An age of work will be but as a few days to those that love God, and long for Christ's appearing.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28 Verse 17. Leah was tender-eyed] רכות raccoth, soft, delicate,…
Verse 17. Leah was tender-eyed] רכות raccoth, soft, delicate, lovely. I believe the word means just the reverse of the signification generally given to it. The design of the inspired writer is to compare both the sisters together, that the balance may appear to be greatly in favour of Rachel. The chief recommendation of Leah was her soft and beautiful eyes; but Rachel was יפת תאר yephath toar, beautiful in her shape, person, mien, and gait, and יפת מראה yephath mareh, beautiful in her countenance. The words plainly signify a fine shape and fine features, all that can be considered as essential to personal beauty. Therefore Jacob loved her, and was willing to become a bond servant for seven years, that he might get her to wife; for in his destitute state he could produce no dowry, and it was the custom of those times for the father to receive a portion for his daughter, and not to give one with her. One of the Hindoo lawgivers says, "A person may become a slave on account of love, or to obtain a wife." The bad system of education by which women are spoiled and rendered in general good for nothing, makes it necessary for the husband to get a dowry with his wife to enable him to maintain her; whereas in former times they were well educated and extremely useful, hence he who got a wife almost invariably got a prize, or as Solomon says, got a good thing.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv20, 22, 23, 24, 27 Gen 29:20. They seemed to him but a few…
Gen 29:20. They seemed to him but a few days — That is, the work or service of that time seemed but little in comparison of the worth of Rachel. An age of work will seem but a few days to those that love God, and long for Christ’s appearance.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv17, 20, 21, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 Blear-eyed. Hebrew, racoth. Watery and tender, unable to look…
Blear-eyed. Hebrew, racoth. Watery and tender, unable to look steadfastly at any object, but at the same time very beautiful. (Onkelos; &c.) --- The beauty of Rachel was perfect; not confined to one part. These two sisters represented the synagogue and the Church of Christ. Lia, though married first, never gains the entire affection of her husband. (Calmet)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv17, 18, 21, 28, 29 Leah tender-eyed--that is, soft blue eyes--thought a blemish.
Leah tender-eyed--that is, soft blue eyes--thought a blemish.
Rachel beautiful and well-favored--that is, comely and handsome in form. The latter was Jacob's choice.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 17. Leah was tender eyed — Her eyes were…
17. Leah was tender eyed — Her eyes were weak (Sept. ασθενεις) and perhaps inflamed, (Vulg. lippi,) a great blemish, “since bright eyes, with fire in them, are regarded as the height of beauty in Oriental women.” — Keil.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27 16. Leah] The meaning of “Leah” is uncertain. According…
16. Leah] The meaning of “Leah” is uncertain. According to some scholars, who see in it a totem name, it should be compared with an Arabic word meaning “a wild cow”; according to others, with an Assyrian word meaning “a lady.”
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28 (17) Leah was tender eyed.—Leah, whose name signifies languor,…
(17) Leah was tender eyed.—Leah, whose name signifies languor, weariness, had dull bleared eyes. Probably she suffered, as so many do in that hot sandy region, from some form of ophthalmia. Rachel (Heb., the ewe) was, on the contrary, “beautiful and well favoured” (Heb., beautiful in form and beautiful in look). Leah’s bleared eyes would be regarded in the East as a great defect, just as bright eyes were much admired. (See 1Sa_16:12, where David is described as fair of eyes.) Yet it was not Rachel, with her fair face and well-proportioned figure, and her husband’s lasting love, that was the mother of the progenitor of the Messiah, but the weary-eyed Leah.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv16–30 And Laban had two daughters (the wife of Laban…
And Laban had two daughters (the wife of Laban is not mentioned in the story): the name of the elder was Leah, (Gesenius); "Dull," Stupid" (Furst); "Pining," "Yearning" (Lange)and the name of the younger was Rachel (Gesenius).
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On vv21, 29 He took Leah his daughter, and brought her to…
Gen_29:21-28
He took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him
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Labans fraud on Jacob
I.
THE CHARACTER OF THE FRAUD.
1. Deliberate.
2. Bold.
3. Selfish.
II. THE FRAUD CONSIDERED AS A RETRIBUTION. There are sins which in this world are often punished in kind. (T. H. Leale.)
Lessons
1. The day revealeth that evil usually which the night covereth, sin may hide itself a little while till the morning.
2. Seeming Rachel over night is found Leah in the morning. Fair offers to be deceits.
3. Honest souls, though drawn into error, are full of indignation against it, and the cursors of it when discovered.
4. Plain covenant work is sufficient to convince deceivers that forsake 2:5. Service for Rachel should have Rachel for its reward.
6. It is gross falsehood and deceit to deny covenant reward, and adulterate it with worse (Gen_2:25). (G. Hughes, B. D.)
Labans deceit
This discloses a baseness in Labans character, arousing contempt and aversion; but it ought not to blind us against the redeeming qualities of his heart. In the human mind, fragrant flowers often blossom surprisingly by the side of noxious weeds. The deceit of Laban was practicable, on account of the custom by which the bride is, on the day of marriage, conducted veiled to her future husband. (M. M. Kalisch, Ph. D.)
Evil result of Labans fraud
But the fraud of Laban was not only a moral offence in itself; it was the more deplorable, as it destroyed the principle of monogamy to which the patriarchs on the whole adhered. Jacob had intended to marry Rachel alone; and when he found himself, against his will, allied with Leah, his heart could not renounce her from whom he expected the best part of his happiness; he took her to wife besides Leah; nor was he permitted to dismiss the latter after the solemnization of the marriage. (M. M. Kalisch, Ph. D.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary 1892 · Public Domain On vv21, 29 Gen_29:23. He took Leah, his daughter, and brought her…
CRITICAL NOTES.—
Gen_29:23. He took Leah, his daughter, and brought her to him.] “The fraud was rendered possible by the Eastern custom of the bride being veiled, aided by the darkness of the night.” (Alford.)—
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Gen_29:27. Fulfil her week.] “Attach thyself to her during the accustomed days of the wedding-feast” (Jdg_14:12; Tob_11:18.) Alford.
MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.—Gen_29:21-28
LABAN’S FRAUD ON JACOB
I. The character of the fraud. Jacob had served for his wife, and now demands her as his just right. When the time came for the bride to be conducted to the marriage chamber, Laban substitutes Leah for Rachel. It was not difficult to carry out this deception, as it was evening and the bride was conducted to the chamber of the husband closely veiled. In the morning Jacob discovered the fraud, and complained, “Did not I serve with thee for Rachel? Wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?” (Gen_29:25.) This fraud was,
1. Deliberate. It was not the result of sudden temptation by which a man is overtaken in a fault, but was quite in accordance with the settled habits and principles of Laban’s character. He was a covetous and scheming man, and had little scruple in demanding the services of a helpless relative under plausible professions of disinterestedness.
2. Bold. Laban attempts to justify his conduct by a reference to the custom of the country. (Gen_29:26.) But, why did he not mention this objection before, and why did he promise that which he considered he ought not to perform? He is bold and daring in the defence of his conduct as he was crafty in designing it.
3. Selfish. He proposes to give him Rachel when another week is fulfilled. (Gen_29:27.) Jacob’s labours were very valuable to him, and this was a shrewd device to bind Jacob for a longer term of service.
II. The fraud considered as a retribution. Jacob had deceived his own father, and now he is himself deceived. The measure which he meted is measured to him again. The sheep of God’s pasture may be found and restored, but they are often brought back wounded and lacerated, and smarting from the effects of their own folly and sin. Jacob who had deceived is now, in turn, overreached. Leah also deceived her husband, and as a natural consequence lost his affections. There are sins which in this world are often punished in kind. “Be sure your sin will find you out.” (Num_32:23).
SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS ON THE VERSES
Gen_29:21-22. Laban, like some in their gifts to God, is not wanting in ceremony. He “made a feast,” gave his daughter a hand-maid, and went through all the forms; but the gift was a deception.—(Fuller).
Gen_29:23. According to the custom of those eastern nations, the bride was conducted to the bed of her husband, with silence, in darkness, and covered from head to foot with a veil; circumstances all of them favourable to the wicked, selfish plan which Laban had formed to detain his son-in-law longer in his service. He who employed undue advantage to arrive at the right of the first-born has undue advantage taken of him in having the first-born put in place of the younger. He who could practise on a father’s blindness, though to obtain a laudable end, is, in his turn, practised upon by a father, employing the cover of the night to accomplish a very unwarrantable purpose.—(Hunter.)
God pays us often in our own coin, Herod mocked the wise men, and is mocked of them. (Mat_2:16.) And how oft do we see those that would beguile others, punished with illusion? God usually retaliates, and proportions jealousy to jealousy, provocation to provocation (Deu_32:21,) number to number (Isa_65:11-12,) choice to choice (Isa_66:3-4,) device to device (Mic_2:1; Mic_2:3,) frowardness to frowardness (Psa_18:26,) contrariety to contrariety (Lev_26:21.) Even the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth (Pro_11:31,) as was Jacob.—(Trapp.)
Gen_29:24. It is still customary in the East for a father, who can afford it, to transfer to his daughter, on her marriage, some female slave of the household, who becomes her confidential domestic and humble friend. This slave forms a link between the old and new households, which often proves irksome, but he has little, if any, control over the female slaves in his establishment.—(Bush.)
Gen_29:25-26. A foul disappointment, but so the world ever serves us. The Hebrews have taken up this passage for a proverb, when a man’s hopes are deceived in a wife, or anything else, wherein he looked for content or comfort.—(Trapp.)
But he received, notwithstanding his ignorance as to Leah, the wife designed for him by God, who was to become the mother of the Messiah, just as Isaac blessed him unwittingly as the rightful heir of the promise. Ah, in how many errors and follies of man, here and everywhere, do we find God’s inevitable grace and faithfulness intertwined.—(Ross.)
Gen_29:27-28. And now he must begin a new hope, where he made account of fruition. To raise up an expectation, once frustrate, is more difficult than to continue a long hope drawn on with likelihoods of performance; yet thus dear is Jacob content to pay for Rachel fourteen year’s servitude. Commonly, God’s children come not easily by their pleasures. What miseries will not love digest and overcome? And if Jacob were willingly consumed with heat in the day, and frost in the night, to become the son-in-law to Laban, what should we refuse to be the sons of God?—(Bishop Hall).
Jacob’s service for Rachel presents us a picture of bridal love equalled only in the same development and its poetic beauty in the Song of Solomon. It is particularly to be noticed that Jacob, however, was not indifferent to Rachel’s infirmities (Gen_30:2), and even treated Leah with patience and indulgence, through having suffered from her the most mortifying deception.—(Lange).
The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary (gen. ed. Joseph S. Exell; Funk & Wagnalls, c. 1892) — public domain (pre-1929). A full-Bible homiletical/sermon-outline anthology covering 65 of 66 books (2 John is absent from the source module). Text from a community e-Sword module.
Paul E. Kretzmann 1924 · Public Domain On v21 Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel
Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel
v. 21. And Jacob said unto Laban, at the end of the seven years, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her. Note that he calls Rachel his wife, although only engaged to her, for a rightful betrothal is as binding as marriage in the sight of God.
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v. 22. And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast. He arranged the customary marriage-festival, making it as splendid as his wealth allowed.
v. 23. And it came to pass in the evening that he took Leah, his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her. This deception on Laban’s part could be carried out all the more easily, since custom required that the bride be heavily veiled when led to the bridegroom and to the bridal chamber.
v. 24. And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah, his maid, for an handmaid. This fact is here expressly mentioned on account of later developments.
v. 25. And it came to pass that, in the morning, behold, it was Leah; and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? Did not I serve with thee for Rachel? Wherefore, then, hast thou beguiled me? While the fraud which was practiced upon Jacob may, in a sense, be regarded as a just punishment, his reproof of Laban was nevertheless fully justified, and he might well, according to the contract, have dismissed Leah.
v. 26. And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger-afore the first-born. Granted that this was an established custom in the place, or district, where Laban was living, his excuse was still a flimsy pretext, for his business would have been to acquaint Jacob with that custom at the time the contract was made His selfish motives, especially his avarice, here came to the surface, even as it was in evidence more and more in the succeeding years.
v. 27. Fulfill her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years. The nuptial feast lasting seven days, Jacob was to confirm marriage with Leah by accepting her as his wife during this time. In the second week he was then given Rachel as his wife, with the understanding that he would serve another seven years for her, thus really paying a greater price than he owed.
v. 28. And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week; and he gave him Rachel, his daughter, to wife also. On either aide, sinful weaknesses had played a role and therefore Jacob’s married life in more than one instance became a school of afflictions.
v. 29. And Laban gave to Rachel, his daughter, Bilhah, his handmaid, to be her maid. This fact is also expressly stated on account of later developments.
v. 30. And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years. That bigamy, polygamy, is a perversion of God’s original order, since marriage is to be a monogamy, the union of one man and one woman, appears even here, for it was impossible for Jacob to distribute his affections with impartiality. In spite of the fact, therefore, that the blessing of God upon Abraham made use also of these means to make of the descendants of Abraham a great nation, it is clear, nevertheless, that much of the subsequent trouble was due to this unnatural arrangement.
Paul E. Kretzmann, Popular Commentary of the Bible (1921–1924) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv19, 21, 23, 26, 28 than that I should give her to another man
than that I should give her to another man
"rather than give her to another man"
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and they seemed to him only a few days
"but the time seemed to him to be only a few days"
for the love he had for her
"on account of the love he had for her" or "because of his love for her"
translationWords
Laban
Jacob
year
Rachel
day
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv18, 23, 28, 30 29:18 Seven years of service was a high bride-price…
29:18 Seven years of service was a high bride-price in the ancient world, but Rachel was beautiful (like Sarah and Rebekah), and Jacob was in love with her.
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.