Genesis 30:26

26 give up my wives and my children, for whom I have served thee, and I go; for thou -- thou hast known my service which I have served thee.'

Genesis 30:26 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 30:26

Give [me] my wives
His two wives, Leah and Rachel, and the two maids, Bilhah and Zilpah, which he had given him for wives also; he desires leave not to have them, but to take them away with him: and my children;
his twelve children; he did not desire his father-in- law to take any of them, and keep them for him, but was desirous of having them with him: no doubt, for the sake of their education, though he had nothing of his own wherewith to support them; not doubting that God would make good his promise in giving him food and raiment, and returning him to his country; and which his faith applied to his family as well as to himself: for whom I have served thee;
not for his children, but for his wives, his two wives; and let me go;
free from thy service, and to my own country; for thou knowest my service which I have done thee:
how much and great it is, and with what diligence and faithfulness it has been performed, and that the time of it fixed and agreed upon was at an end.

Genesis 30:26 In-Context

24 and she calleth his name Joseph, saying, `Jehovah is adding to me another son.'
25 And it cometh to pass, when Rachel hath borne Joseph, that Jacob saith unto Laban, `Send me away, and I go unto my place, and to my land;
26 give up my wives and my children, for whom I have served thee, and I go; for thou -- thou hast known my service which I have served thee.'
27 And Laban saith unto him, `If, I pray thee, I have found grace in thine eyes -- I have observed diligently that Jehovah doth bless me for thy sake.'
28 He saith also, `Define thy hire to me, and I give.'
Young's Literal Translation is in the public domain.