Genesis 29:19

19 And Laban said to him, better that I should give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man; dwell with me.

Genesis 29:19 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 29:19

And Laban said
Deceitfully, as the Targum of Jonathan adds, pretending great respect for Jacob, and that what he had proposed was very agreeable to him, when he meant to impose upon him:

[it is] better that I should give her to thee, than that I should give
her to another man;
by which he not only intimates that he preferred him, a relation, to another man, a stranger; but as if he did not insist upon the servitude for her, but would give her to him; unless he means upon the terms proposed, and so it should seem by what follows:

abide with me:
the term of seven years, and serve me; suggesting, that then he agreed Rachel should be his wife; and so Jacob, a plain hearted man, understood him; but he designed no such thing.

Genesis 29:19 In-Context

17 And the eyes of Lea were weak. But Rachel was beautiful in appearance, and exceedingly fair in countenance.
18 And Jacob loved Rachel, and said, I will serve thee seven years for thy younger daughter Rachel.
19 And Laban said to him, better that I should give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man; dwell with me.
20 And Jacob served for Rachel seven years, and they were before him as a few days, by reason of his loving her.
21 And Jacob said to Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her.

The Brenton translation of the Septuagint is in the public domain.