Genesis 29:26-35

26 Laban replied, “It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older one.

27 Finish this daughter’s bridal week; then we will give you the younger one also, in return for another seven years of work.”

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

29 Laban gave his servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her attendant.

30 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.

Jacob’s Children

31 When the LORD saw that Leah was not loved, he enabled her to conceive, but Rachel remained childless.

32 Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben,^[a] for she said, “It is because the LORD has seen my misery. Surely my husband will love me now.”

33 She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Because the LORD heard that I am not loved, he gave me this one too.” So she named him Simeon.^[b]

34 Again she conceived, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” So he was named Levi.^[c]

35 She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “This time I will praise the LORD.” So she named him Judah.^[d] Then she stopped having children.

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Genesis 29:26-35 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 19

1. Judges 15:2; 1 Samuel 14:49; 1 Samuel 18:17,20; 2 Samuel 6:23
2. Judges 14:12
3. S ver 18; Genesis 31:41
4. S ver 16; S Genesis 4:19
5. Genesis 30:3; Genesis 35:22; Genesis 49:4; Deuteronomy 22:30; 1 Chronicles 5:1
6. S Genesis 16:1
7. S ver 16
8. S ver 20; Genesis 31:41
9. ver 33; Deuteronomy 21:15-17
10. S Genesis 11:30; Genesis 30:1; S Genesis 16:2; Ruth 4:13; 1 Samuel 1:19; Psalms 127:3
11. Genesis 30:23; Ruth 4:13; 1 Samuel 1:20
12. Genesis 37:21; Genesis 46:8; Genesis 48:5,14; Genesis 49:3; Exodus 6:14; Numbers 1:5,20; Numbers 26:5; Deuteronomy 33:6; Joshua 4:12; 1 Chronicles 5:1,3
13. S Genesis 16:11; Genesis 31:42; Exodus 4:31; Deuteronomy 26:7; Psalms 25:18
14. S ver 31
15. Genesis 34:25; Genesis 46:10; Genesis 48:5; Genesis 49:5; Exodus 6:15; Numbers 1:6,22; Numbers 34:20; 1 Chronicles 4:24; Ezekiel 48:24
16. Genesis 30:20; 1 Samuel 1:2-4
17. Genesis 34:25; Genesis 46:11; Genesis 49:5-7; Exodus 2:1; Exodus 6:16,19; Numbers 1:47; Numbers 3:17-20; Numbers 26:57; Deuteronomy 33:8; 1 Chronicles 6:1,16; 1 Chronicles 23:6-24,13-14
18. Genesis 35:23; Genesis 37:26; Genesis 38:1; Genesis 43:8; 1 Chronicles 4:14,18">41 Chronicles 4:14,18; Genesis 46:12; Genesis 49:8; 1 Chronicles 2:3; 1 Chronicles 4:1; Isaiah 48:1; Matthew 1:2-3
19. Genesis 30:9

Footnotes 4

[a]. "Reuben" sounds like the Hebrew for "he has seen my misery" ; the name means "see, a son" .
[b]. "Simeon" probably means "one who hears."
[c]. "Levi" sounds like and may be derived from the Hebrew for "attached."
[d]. "Judah" sounds like and may be derived from the Hebrew for "praise."