Genesis 29:28 kjv

And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.

Genesis 29:28 nkjv

Then Jacob did so and fulfilled her week. So he gave him his daughter Rachel as wife also.

Genesis 29:28 niv

And Jacob did so. He finished the week with Leah, and then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife.

Genesis 29:28 esv

Jacob did so, and completed her week. Then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife.

Genesis 29:28 nlt

So Jacob agreed to work seven more years. A week after Jacob had married Leah, Laban gave him Rachel, too.

Genesis 29 verses

Genesis 29 28 Meaning

Genesis 29:28 describes Jacob's immediate compliance with Laban's demand to complete the customary seven-day wedding feast for Leah before being given Rachel as his second wife. This verse highlights the fulfillment of Laban's cunning arrangement, leading to Jacob's bigamous marriage and setting the stage for the complex family dynamics that would ensue.

Genesis 29 28 Context

This verse is situated immediately after Laban's successful deception of Jacob. Jacob, who had worked seven years for Rachel, awoke after his wedding night to find he had married Leah, the older sister. Upon confronting Laban, Jacob was given a choice: complete the customary "week" of festivities for Leah's wedding, and then he could have Rachel for another seven years of service. Genesis 29:28 records Jacob's pragmatic decision to agree to Laban's terms. This moment is pivotal, shaping Jacob's family structure and establishing a pattern of rivalries between his two wives and their children, which directly impacts the formation and destiny of the twelve tribes of Israel. It also highlights the intricate and often morally ambiguous human interactions within the unfolding divine plan.

Genesis 29 28 Word analysis

• So (וַיַּעַשׂ - vayya‘as): A consecutive 'waw' implying immediate action or consequence. "And he did". Signifies compliance.
• Jacob (יַעֲקֹב - ya‘aqov): The protagonist, whose name means "heel-grabber" or "supplanter". Ironic given that he, a deceiver, is now being deceived. This is part of his training and refinement.
• did (וַיַּעַשׂ - vayya‘as): Hebrew root עשׂה (‘asah), meaning "to do, to make, to perform". Reinforces that Jacob carried out Laban's instructions.
• so (כֵּן - ken): "Thus," "accordingly," or "in like manner." It confirms that Jacob's action aligned precisely with Laban's demand in the preceding verse.
• and completed (וַיְמַלֵּא - vayiymalle'): Hebrew root מלא (mālē') meaning "to fill," "to fulfill," or "to complete." Here, it signifies the act of fulfilling the specific seven-day period.
• her week (שְׁבֻעַ - shevu'a): Refers to the seven-day period of wedding celebration or feasting. In ancient Near Eastern culture, a significant period of marital celebration and a social custom. Laban enforces this tradition to justify delaying Rachel.
• and Laban (וַיִּתֶּן־לוֹ לָבָן - vayyitten-lo Lavan): Introduces Laban as the subject of the next action, the one who gives. Laban maintains control over the transactions.
• gave him (וַיִּתֶּן־לוֹ - vayyitten-lo): Hebrew root נתן (natan) meaning "to give." Indicates the transfer of Rachel to Jacob. The emphasis is on Laban as the one giving, highlighting his authority.
• Rachel (רָחֵל - Rachel): Jacob's intended and beloved wife. Her name means "ewe." She represents Jacob's true desire, contrasting with Leah who was given deceitfully.
• his daughter (בִתּוֹ - bitto): Establishes the paternal relationship and reinforces Laban's ownership and control over the women in his household in these marital negotiations.
• as a wife: Implied in the giving, "to him as a wife" (le'ishah is often explicit in such contexts, here understood). It means for the purpose of marriage.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "So Jacob did so, and completed her week": This phrase directly shows Jacob's immediate submission and compliance with Laban's condition. Despite the betrayal, Jacob prioritizes securing Rachel by adhering to the custom of "the week" for Leah's marriage, a period of seven days dedicated to celebration before other matters. This shows both Jacob's shrewdness in seeing the path forward and his adherence to social norms, however frustratingly they are exploited.
• "and Laban gave him Rachel his daughter as a wife": This concludes the contractual exchange. It demonstrates Laban's manipulative power. He withheld Jacob's chosen wife until his terms were met, showcasing the transactional nature of marriage arrangements in that culture and Laban's specific opportunistic character. This act fundamentally altered Jacob's family from a monogamous intention to a bigamous reality.

Genesis 29 28 Bonus section

• The narrative serves as a divine classroom for Jacob, allowing him to experience firsthand the bitter taste of deception that he himself had previously dealt to others (e.g., Esau and Isaac). This period of being "out-deceived" by Laban contributed to his character development and future dependence on God.
• The tradition of a "marriage week" is alluded to again in the story of Samson (Judg 14:12), indicating a widely observed ancient Near Eastern custom that Laban exploited for his own gain.
• While Jacob's intentions were to have one beloved wife, God utilized this complex polygamous situation to bring forth a diverse set of tribal mothers, ultimately ensuring the twelve tribes that would form the nation of Israel. The Lord saw Leah’s affliction and opened her womb (Gen 29:31), showing His compassion amidst the human struggles caused by this arrangement.

Genesis 29 28 Commentary

Genesis 29:28 is a concise yet pivotal verse. It documents Jacob's acquiescence to Laban's deceitful marriage terms, demonstrating a stark contrast to his own past deceptions: Jacob, the deceiver, is now himself deceived and coerced. His compliance ("Jacob did so") signifies a pragmatic decision to complete the customary seven-day feast for Leah's wedding, knowing it was the only path to marry Rachel. This acceptance, despite the injustice, immediately led to Jacob having two wives—Leah, whom he did not desire, and Rachel, for whom he passionately longed. Laban’s granting of Rachel after the completion of Leah’s week highlights the cultural context of bride service and family authority in marriage. The verse establishes the foundation for deep-seated sibling rivalry between the children of Leah and Rachel, a dynamic that would profoundly impact the patriarchal narrative and the very formation of the twelve tribes of Israel. Even amidst human sin and manipulation, God's providential plan for the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob continues to unfold, showing that His purposes can work through, and even reform, human choices.