Genesis 29:26 kjv
And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.
Genesis 29:26 nkjv
And Laban said, "It must not be done so in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.
Genesis 29:26 niv
Laban replied, "It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older one.
Genesis 29:26 esv
Laban said, "It is not so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.
Genesis 29:26 nlt
"It's not our custom here to marry off a younger daughter ahead of the firstborn," Laban replied.
Genesis 29 26 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 27:35-36 | Esau said, “Is he not rightly named Jacob?...he has cheated me these two times. | Jacob, the "Deceiver," is now deceived. |
| Gal 6:7 | Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. | Reaping what one sows; divine retribution. |
| Psa 7:15 | He digs a pit and makes it deep, and falls into the pit that he has made. | The schemer is ensnared by his own schemes. |
| Prov 12:22 | Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, but those who act faithfully are his delight. | God's stance on dishonesty. |
| Prov 26:27 | Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling. | The consequence of harmful intentions. |
| John 8:44 | You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer...a liar and the father of lies. | Source of deception is Satan. |
| Eph 4:25 | Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. | Christian call to truthfulness. |
| Deut 21:17 | But he shall acknowledge the son of the unloved as the firstborn by giving him a double portion...for he is the first of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his. | Emphasizes firstborn rights. |
| 1 Sam 8:5 | "...appoint for us a king to govern us, like all the nations." | Following custom over divine leading. |
| Ruth 4:11 | The elders and all the people...said, “May the LORD make the woman...like Rachel and Leah... | Acknowledgment of Leah and Rachel as founders. |
| Gen 24:55 | Her brother and her mother said, “Let the young woman remain with us a while...ten days." | Negotiating marriage terms. |
| Gen 29:18 | Jacob loved Rachel. And he said, "I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel." | Jacob's clear original intent. |
| Gen 29:30 | So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah...he served with Laban for another seven years. | Fulfillment of second marriage, deeper love. |
| Gen 31:7 | Your father has cheated me and changed my wages ten times... | Laban's pattern of deception. |
| Gen 31:41 | ...these twenty years I have been in your house...You have changed my wages ten times. | Laban's consistent deceit in Jacob's life. |
| Rom 13:7 | Pay to all what is owed to them...tribute to whom tribute is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed. | Call for honest dealings and respecting agreements. |
| Mal 2:14 | “But you say, ‘Why does he not?’ Because the LORD was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant.” | Covenant aspect of marriage. |
| Isa 59:4 | No one enters suit justly; no one pleads with integrity; they trust in emptiness and speak lies; they conceive mischief and give birth to iniquity. | The pervasive nature of unrighteousness. |
| Zech 8:16 | These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another... | Prophetic call to honesty. |
| Gen 29:15 | Laban said to Jacob, "Because you are my kinsman, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me what your wages shall be." | Laban setting terms, omitting crucial info. |
| 2 Cor 11:3 | But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray... | Deception as a recurring spiritual danger. |
Genesis 29 verses
Genesis 29 26 Meaning
Laban's statement in Gen 29:26 reveals his cunning justification for substituting Leah for Rachel in the marriage to Jacob. He claims it was not their local custom to give the younger daughter in marriage before the elder. This was an undisclosed, crucial detail that Laban deliberately withheld from Jacob during their seven years of agreed labor, setting a precedent of deception within Jacob's own experience, mirroring Jacob's previous actions.
Genesis 29 26 Context
Genesis 29 recounts Jacob's journey to Haran to find a wife from his mother's family, fulfilling Isaac's instruction. Upon arrival, he encounters Rachel at the well and falls deeply in love with her. He offers to serve Laban, his uncle, for seven years in exchange for Rachel's hand in marriage. After the seven years are completed, Jacob expects his promised bride. However, on the wedding night, Laban substitutes his older daughter, Leah, for Rachel. The verse in question is Laban's unapologetic explanation the morning after, revealing his deceptive act was rooted in a supposed local custom. Historically, marriage customs in the ancient Near East often involved detailed negotiations and public witness, yet undisclosed practices or outright deceit like Laban's could still occur, exploiting power imbalances. This narrative serves as a stark parallel to Jacob's own deception of Esau, where the younger (Jacob) gained the blessing over the elder (Esau).
Genesis 29 26 Word analysis
Laban (וַיֹּאמֶר לָבָן֙): Laban, Jacob's uncle and father-in-law. His name's root meaning (לבן,
lavan) can signify "white" or "pure," but his character in the narrative is far from it, highlighting a stark irony in his conduct. He is repeatedly shown to be cunning and manipulative (Gen 31:7, 31:41)."It is not our custom here" (לֹֽא־כֵ֚ן יֵֽעָשֶׂה֙ בִּמְקוֹמֵ֔נוּ):
- לֹֽא (lo'): "Not." A clear negation.
- כֵ֚ן (ken): "So, thus, in this manner." Points to a traditional or accepted way of doing things.
- יֵֽעָשֶׂה֙ (yē‘āśeh): "Is done, is performed." A Niphal imperfect verb, implying something regularly practiced or established.
- בִּמְקוֹמֵ֔נוּ (bimqōmēnu): "In our place, in our land/country." From
maqom, "place." This signifies a local tradition, custom, or law, particular to Mesopotamia (Haran). Laban claims it as a deeply rooted communal practice, rather than his personal choice or invention. The truth of this "custom" is debatable, as its existence is only asserted by Laban after his deceit.
"to give the younger daughter in marriage" (לָתֵת אֶת־הַצְּעִירָה לִפְנֵי הַבְּכִירָה):
- לָתֵת (lātēṯ): "To give." Infinitive construct of
natan, indicating the act of giving. In this context, it refers to giving a daughter in marriage. - אֶת־הַצְּעִירָה (ʾet-haṣṣᵉ‘îrāh): "The younger one."
Tsair, "small, young," with the definite articlehaand feminine ending. This directly refers to Rachel, Jacob's intended. - לִפְנֵי (lip̄nê): "Before, in the presence of, prior to."
Lîphney(לִפְנֵי) is a preposition signifying sequence in time or position, explicitly stating that the younger cannot precede the elder. - הַבְּכִירָה (habbᵉḵîrāh): "The elder one, the firstborn." From
bekhor, "firstborn," with the feminine ending and definite article. This refers to Leah, the older daughter.
- לָתֵת (lātēṯ): "To give." Infinitive construct of
Word-Group Analysis:
- "Laban replied, "It is not our custom here": This phrase asserts cultural authority and frames the deceit as adherence to local tradition, diverting blame from his personal actions. It also reveals his manipulative nature, as he withheld this crucial "custom" for seven years, knowing Jacob's intention was for Rachel.
- "to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older one": This reveals the specific nature of the alleged custom – a patriarchal system where seniority among daughters dictates marriage order. It sets up the immediate dramatic irony with Jacob's own history of circumventing birth order and gaining precedence over Esau. This justification provides a "mirror" effect, reflecting Jacob's own previous actions back to him through divine arrangement or natural consequence.
Genesis 29 26 Bonus section
- The parallel between Jacob cheating Esau and Laban cheating Jacob is a striking example of poetic justice in the biblical narrative. It illustrates the principle that what one sows, he reaps (Gal 6:7), showing God's hidden hand working through human actions, even sinful ones, to shape individuals and advance His covenant purposes. Jacob's suffering under Laban's schemes was part of his discipline and transformation.
- While Laban states a "custom," biblical scholars generally agree there's no widespread Ancient Near Eastern legal text specifically dictating that an elder sister must marry before a younger. This suggests Laban either invented the custom for his benefit or exploited a regional nuance not widely documented, underlining his self-serving character.
- This verse indirectly highlights the power dynamics in ancient marriage negotiations, where the father/guardian had immense control over his daughters' destinies. It also foregrounds the covenant line: God's promise to Abraham will still flow through Jacob, even though the beginnings of his family are mired in human deceit and cultural tension. The focus shifts from human manipulation to God's steadfastness.
Genesis 29 26 Commentary
Genesis 29:26 is a pivotal verse, encapsulating Laban's audacious deception and serving as a crucial moment in Jacob's spiritual development. Laban's claim of an unstated "custom" is less about actual legal practice and more about a manipulative excuse for exploiting Jacob's labor and desire. This withheld information renders the preceding seven-year contract null and void from an ethical standpoint. The dramatic irony is profound: Jacob, the "supplanter" who gained the birthright and blessing over his older brother Esau through guile, now finds himself supplanted and outsmarted by his own uncle, a master of deceit. This incident forces Jacob to experience the very bitterness of betrayal that Esau endured. It marks a moment of divine teaching for Jacob, exposing him to the consequences of deception and preparing him for deeper faith, recognizing God's sovereignty even amid human failings.