Genesis 29:30 kjv

And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.

Genesis 29:30 nkjv

Then Jacob also went in to Rachel, and he also loved Rachel more than Leah. And he served with Laban still another seven years.

Genesis 29:30 niv

Jacob made love to Rachel also, and his love for Rachel was greater than his love for Leah. And he worked for Laban another seven years.

Genesis 29:30 esv

So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah, and served Laban for another seven years.

Genesis 29:30 nlt

So Jacob slept with Rachel, too, and he loved her much more than Leah. He then stayed and worked for Laban the additional seven years.

Genesis 29 verses

Genesis 29 30 Meaning

Genesis 29:30 details Jacob's immediate marital life following Laban's deception. It states that Jacob engaged in intimate relations with Rachel after marrying Leah, confirming Rachel as his second wife. Crucially, the verse highlights Jacob's overwhelming preference and deeper love for Rachel compared to Leah, establishing a dynamic of marital imbalance and foreshadowing significant family strife. It further specifies Jacob's commitment to Laban, agreeing to serve another seven years as part of the renegotiated terms for Rachel.

Genesis 29 30 Context

Genesis chapter 29 describes Jacob's journey to Haran after fleeing his brother Esau. Upon arrival, he encounters Rachel at a well and falls deeply in love. He agrees to serve Laban for seven years in exchange for Rachel's hand in marriage. At the end of these years, Laban deceives Jacob, substituting Leah, his elder daughter, for Rachel in the marriage bed. Upon discovering the deceit, Jacob confronts Laban, who insists on fulfilling Leah's wedding week and then allowing Jacob to marry Rachel, provided Jacob serves another seven years. Verse 30 is the immediate consequence of this arrangement: Jacob takes Rachel as his wife after Leah, establishing his dual marriage. The familial tension and drama that follows, including the barrenness of Rachel and the fervent competition for Jacob's affection and offspring between the two sisters, directly stems from the circumstances laid out in this verse. Historically, in the ancient Near East, a period of festivities followed a marriage before other activities could commence, and Jacob's marrying Rachel shortly after Leah adhered to some aspects of the customary practice (Laban's condition that Leah's week must be completed first), even though the polygamy itself was fraught with complexity.

Genesis 29 30 Word Analysis

• So Jacob (וַיָּבֹא יַעֲקֹב - vayyavo Ya'akov): "And came Jacob." The initial "so" (and/then) marks a direct consequence of the agreement made with Laban in the previous verses. "Jacob" (יַעֲקֹב - Ya'akov), meaning "he supplants" or "heel-grabber," highlights the continued narrative of a man marked by complex interpersonal dealings.
• went in to (וַיָּבֹא אֶל - vayyavo el): An idiomatic Hebrew expression denoting marital or sexual intimacy. It emphasizes the physical act of marriage.
• Rachel also (גַּם־אֶל־רָחֵל - gam 'el Rachel): The inclusion of "also" (גַּם - gam) is significant. It points to the fact that Jacob had already gone in to Leah. This little word underlines the immediate establishment of a polygamous household and signifies the parallel marriage, not a replacement. "Rachel" (רָחֵל - Rachel), meaning "ewe," foreshadows her future role as a foundational mother of a tribe (Joseph and Benjamin).
• and he loved (וַיֶּאֱהַב - vayye'ehav): From the root אָהַב ('ahav), "to love." This denotes deep affection and devotion. The verb emphasizes the personal emotional connection Jacob felt.
• Rachel more than Leah (גַּם־אֶת־רָחֵל מִלֵּאָה - gam-et-Rachel mille'ah): This comparative phrase is crucial. "More than Leah" (מִלֵּאָה - mille'ah) explicitly states a preferential love, creating a hierarchy in Jacob's affection. This strong partiality is the emotional bedrock for the subsequent narrative of sisterly rivalry and family division, setting up future familial discord that God would later address (Gen 29:31). "Leah" (לֵאָה - Le'ah), possibly meaning "weary" or "cow," suggests a character whose life is initially marked by hardship and lesser affection.
• and served with Laban (וַיַּעֲבֹד עִמּוֹ - vayya'avod immo): "And he served with him." The verb "served" (עָבַד - 'avad) refers to labor, work, or servitude. This highlights the terms of the marriage contract, emphasizing Laban's power and Jacob's obligation and perseverance under difficult circumstances. This serving underscores the reality of contractual bride service prevalent in some ancient cultures.
• yet seven other years (עֹוד שֶׁבַע שָׁנִים אֲחֵרוֹת - 'od sheva shanim acherot): "Yet seven years other." "Other" (אֲחֵרוֹת - acherot) specifies this is a second seven-year term, following the initial deceptive one. This cumulative period of fourteen years of bride service showcases Jacob's dedication and Laban's shrewdness in acquiring extensive labor from his son-in-law. The number "seven," often representing completion or covenant in biblical narrative, here marks significant periods of struggle and fulfillment.

Genesis 29 30 Bonus section

• The Law of Reaping: This episode in Jacob's life is a powerful narrative example of "reaping what one sows." Jacob, who deceived his father Isaac and stole Esau's blessing (Gen 27), now finds himself the victim of deception at the hands of Laban. The pattern of cunning and trickery that defined his early life is reflected back at him through his uncle.
• Providence Amidst Polygamy: While the Bible records polygamous marriages, it often showcases the resulting sorrow, conflict, and complications within these families. God's original design (Gen 2:24) was monogamous. This verse, like many others, indirectly affirms the wisdom of God's original plan by illustrating the suffering caused by deviation from it. Despite the broken family structure, God's providence continues to work through these human failings, ensuring the twelve tribes' emergence from both Rachel and Leah's offspring.
• Biblical Pattern of Favoritism: Jacob's favoritism towards Rachel is not an isolated incident. This preference leads to him favoring Joseph (Rachel's firstborn) above all his other sons (Gen 37:3), a favoritism that triggers envy and nearly leads to Joseph's demise. The story of Jacob's own family illustrates the destructive nature of parental partiality.

Genesis 29 30 Commentary

Genesis 29:30 is a pivotal verse, establishing the complex and challenging dynamics that would define Jacob's household and significantly impact the narrative of the emerging Israelite tribes. Following Laban's manipulative actions, Jacob found himself wed to two sisters, but critically, his heart remained firmly set on Rachel. The declaration, "he loved Rachel more than Leah," is not a casual observation but a foundational statement that introduces inherent imbalance and relational strain into the family structure. This preferential love, though perhaps understandable given Jacob's original desire, becomes the root cause of deep-seated jealousy between the wives, which later spills over to their children.

This verse reveals the harsh reality of polygamous households, even those initiated by unforeseen circumstances and cultural custom. While tolerated in that era, the narrative unequivocally portrays the strife and pain it creates, particularly for the unloved wife, Leah. Jacob's commitment to serve another seven years underscores his unwavering determination to secure Rachel, demonstrating significant perseverance even when exploited. However, it also highlights the cost of Laban's cunning. The events here—the deceit, the double marriage, and the resulting favoritism—will ripple through generations, demonstrating a profound spiritual principle: actions driven by deception or unequal love lead to long-lasting consequences and familial discord. Yet, in the subsequent verses, God's intervention on behalf of the "unloved" Leah also illustrates divine compassion and sovereignty working within flawed human circumstances to advance His purposes.