Genesis 29:15

15 And Laban said to Jacob, Because thou [art] my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for naught? tell me, what [shall] thy wages [be]?

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 And it came to pass when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister's son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. And he told Laban all these things.

14 And Laban said to him, Surely thou [art] my bone and my flesh: and he abode with him the space of a month.

15 And Laban said to Jacob, Because thou [art] my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for naught? tell me, what [shall] thy wages [be]?

16 And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder [was] Leah, and the name of the younger [was] Rachel.

17 Leah [was] tender-eyed, but Rachel was beautiful and well-favored.