Genesis 29:18 kjv

And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.

Genesis 29:18 nkjv

Now Jacob loved Rachel; so he said, "I will serve you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter."

Genesis 29:18 niv

Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, "I'll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel."

Genesis 29:18 esv

Jacob loved Rachel. And he said, "I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel."

Genesis 29:18 nlt

Since Jacob was in love with Rachel, he told her father, "I'll work for you for seven years if you'll give me Rachel, your younger daughter, as my wife."

Genesis 29 verses

Genesis 29 18 Meaning

This verse encapsulates Jacob's deep affection for Rachel and his explicit proposal to Laban for her hand in marriage. Driven by love, Jacob commits to serving Laban for seven years as a bride-price for Rachel, specifying her as "your younger daughter" to avoid ambiguity. It reveals the depth of his desire for Rachel and sets the stage for the dramatic unfolding of his family's history in Laban's household.

Genesis 29 18 Context

Genesis chapter 29 finds Jacob, fleeing from his brother Esau after seizing the birthright and blessing, arriving in Haran, his mother Rebekah's homeland. His encounter with Rachel at the well is love at first sight, marked by his emotional display of strength and tears. Having found a safe haven with his kinsman Laban, the question of his compensation for staying arises. Jacob's response in this verse directly addresses his deepest desire—to marry Rachel. This specific proposal, rooted in love and adherence to ancient Near Eastern bride-price customs, ignites the subsequent chain of events, including Laban's famous deception, Jacob's service for both Leah and Rachel, and the bitter rivalry between the sisters, all of which shape the immediate family history and the foundational narratives of the nascent nation of Israel.

Genesis 29 18 Word analysis

• And Jacob: Links this declaration directly to Jacob's character and ongoing narrative, highlighting his agency.

• loved: (Hebrew: 'ahev, אהב). This is a strong verb indicating a profound, genuine affection, distinguishing his emotional connection to Rachel from other relationships.

• Rachel: (Hebrew: Rakhel, רחל). Meaning "ewe" or "female lamb." Her name implies grace, and her physical beauty is explicitly noted (Gen 29:17), which deepens Jacob's attachment.

• and he said: Indicates Jacob's decisive, verbal initiative to express his desire and make a formal proposal within the cultural norms.

• 'I will serve you': (Hebrew: e'evodka, אעבדך, from 'avad, עבד). Signifies Jacob's offer of voluntary labor as a "bride-price" or "mohar." Without material wealth, his labor became his offering, showing deep commitment.

• 'seven years': (Hebrew: sheva shanim, שֶׁבַע שָׁנִים). The number "seven" is symbolically significant in biblical texts, often representing completion, perfection, or a divinely appointed period. Here, it denotes a substantial and definite period of intense labor, underscoring the great value Jacob placed on Rachel and the cost he was willing to endure.

• 'for Rachel': (Hebrew: ba'avur Rakhel, בעבור רחל). Explicitly states the sole object and purpose of his immense sacrifice, highlighting Jacob's clear and singular desire.

• 'your younger daughter': (Hebrew: bitkha haqqeṭannah, בתך הקטנה). Jacob's precise wording here attempts to guard against any potential deception by Laban, specifically identifying his preferred wife from Laban's two daughters. Ironically, this exactness fails to prevent Laban's cunning.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "And Jacob loved Rachel": This foundational phrase establishes the powerful emotional core driving Jacob's subsequent actions, explaining the immense commitment he is willing to make. His deep love transforms what might otherwise be a mere transactional arrangement into a narrative of devotion.
  • "'I will serve you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter'": This entire declaration represents Jacob's direct, formalized marriage proposal. It explicitly details the terms of his "bride-price," combining the intense desire ("for Rachel") with a fixed, substantial period of personal sacrifice ("seven years") and a clear designation ("your younger daughter") intended to prevent ambiguity, though ultimately ineffective against Laban's trickery.

Genesis 29 18 Bonus section

• The practice of mohar (bride-price) in the ancient Near East varied significantly, but often served to legitimize the marriage, provide security for the woman, and compensate her family for the loss of her labor. Jacob's service is an example of such compensation.
• The biblical narrative often highlights the preference or "hated" status among wives, like Leah and Rachel. This establishes patterns of sibling rivalry (Joseph and his brothers) and emphasizes God's providence, as He often works through the unexpected (Leah, the less-loved, becomes a mother to Levi and Judah, the priestly and kingly tribes).
• Jacob's proactive offer of labor is in contrast to Laban's initial suggestion for wages (Gen 29:15), indicating Jacob's determination to formalize his relationship with Rachel swiftly. This immediate proposal speaks to the intensity and spontaneity of his love.
• The irony in this verse is profound: Jacob, the "supplanter" who deceived his brother and father, now proposes a specific agreement to avoid deception but ultimately falls victim to Laban's far more elaborate trickery. This serves as a significant turning point where Jacob begins to experience the consequences of deception firsthand.

Genesis 29 18 Commentary

Genesis 29:18 unveils Jacob's defining moment of love and commitment, revealing him as a man driven by profound affection for Rachel. In offering seven years of servitude, Jacob demonstrates his deep devotion, a commitment so powerful that these arduous years later seemed like mere days (Gen 29:20). This period of service functioned as his bride-price, reflecting a common custom where labor served as compensation in the absence of material wealth. Despite Jacob's careful specification of "your younger daughter," this very phrase sets the stage for Laban's manipulation, using custom against Jacob's explicit desire, resulting in Jacob inadvertently marrying Leah first. This episode powerfully illustrates how human intentions, even when driven by pure motives like love, can intersect with deception and God's sovereign, often complex, unfolding of His plan for His covenant people. It is through these varied and sometimes difficult family dynamics that the twelve tribes of Israel would emerge.

• Example: Just as Jacob's love fueled his sacrificial service, the Christian call to discipleship often involves significant, sacrificial commitment and labor, motivated by love for God and others (Col 3:23).
• Example: Jacob's specific, yet thwarted, desire for Rachel reminds us that even with clear intentions, God's pathway can involve detours or unexpected turns, much like His leading through difficult circumstances often refines His people.