Genesis 29:21-35

Laban's Treachery

21 Then Jacob said to Laban, "Give me my wife, for my time is completed, that I may ¹go in to her."

22 Laban gathered all the men of the place and made a feast.

23 Now in the evening he took his daughter Leah, and brought her to him; and Jacob went in to her.

24 Laban also gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah as a maid.

25 So it came about in the morning that, behold, it was Leah! And he said to Laban, "²What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served with you? Why then have you ³deceived me?"

26 But Laban said, "It is not the practice * in our place to marry off the younger before the firstborn.

27 "Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also for the service which ⁴you shall serve with me for another seven years."

28 Jacob did so and completed her week, and he gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife.

29 Laban also gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maid.

30 So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and indeed ⁵he loved Rachel more than Leah, and he served with Laban for ⁶another seven years.

31 Now the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, and He opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.

32 Leah conceived and bore a son and named * him Reuben, for she said, "Because the LORD has ⁷seen my affliction; surely now my husband will love me."

33 Then she conceived again and bore a son and said, "⁸Because the LORD has heard that I am unloved, He has therefore given me this son also." So she named * him Simeon.

34 She conceived again and bore a son and said, "Now this time my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons." Therefore * he was named * ⁹Levi.

35 And she conceived again and bore a son and said, "This time I will praise the LORD." Therefore * she named * him ¹⁰Judah. Then she stopped bearing.

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Genesis 29:21-35 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 29

This chapter informs us of Jacob's coming to a well near Haran, where meeting with some shepherds he inquires after Laban, Ge 29:1-8; and there also with Rachel his daughter, the shepherds made known to him, and acquainted her who he was, Ge 29:9-12; upon which she ran to her father, and told him who was at the well, who went forth and brought him to his house, and kindly entertained him, Ge 29:13,14; with whom he agreed to stay and serve seven years for Rachel his daughter, Ge 29:15-20; at the end of which Jacob demands his wife, but instead of Rachel, Leah was brought to him as his wife, Ge 29:21-25; which being discovered, and complained of, it was proposed he should have Rachel also, provided he would serve yet seven years more, to which he agreed, Ge 29:26-30; and the chapter is concluded with an account of four sons being born to Jacob of Leah, Ge 29:31-35.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 10

1. Judges 15:1
2. Genesis 12:18; Genesis 20:9; Genesis 26:10
3. 1 Samuel 28:12
4. Genesis 31:41
5. Genesis 29:17, 18
6. Genesis 31:41
7. Genesis 16:11; Genesis 31:42; Exodus 3:7; Exodus 4:31; Deuteronomy 26:7; Psalms 25:18
8. Deuteronomy 21:15
9. Genesis 49:5
10. Genesis 49:8; Matthew 1:2

Footnotes 12

[a]. Lit "days are"
[b]. Lit "done thus in"
[c]. Lit "give"
[d]. Lit "him"
[e]. Lit "hated"
[f]. I.e. see, a son
[g]. Lit "looked upon"
[h]. Heb "shama," related to Simeon
[i]. Lit "hated"
[j]. Heb "lavah," related to Levi
[k]. Heb "Jadah," related to Judah
[l]. Heb "Jehudah"