Genesis 29:15

15 Lavan said to him, "Why should you work for me for nothing, just because you are my relative? Tell me how much I should pay you."

Genesis 29:15 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 29:15

And Laban said unto Jacob, because thou [art] my brother
Or nephew, his sister's son, (See Gill on Genesis 29:12):

shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought?
nearness of kin was no reason why he should serve him freely, or for nothing, but rather why he should be more kind to him than to a stranger, and give him better wages:

tell me, what [shall] thy wages [be]?
by the day, or month, or year; signifying he was willing to give him anything that was just and reasonable, which was very well spoken; and this gave Jacob a fair opportunity of opening his mind more freely to him, and for answering a principal end for which he came, as follows:

Genesis 29:15 In-Context

13 When Lavan heard the news of Ya'akov his sister's son, he ran to meet him, hugged him and kissed him, and brought him to his house. Ya'akov told Lavan all that had happened.

14 Lavan said to him, "You are indeed my own flesh and blood." After Ya'akov had stayed with him for a whole month,

15 Lavan said to him, "Why should you work for me for nothing, just because you are my relative? Tell me how much I should pay you."

16 Now Lavan had two daughters; the name of the older was Le'ah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.

17 Le'ah's eyes were weak; but Rachel was good-looking, with beautiful features.