Genesis 29:18

18 Jacob was in love with Rachel, so he said, "I will work seven years for you, if you will let me marry Rachel."

Genesis 29:18 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 29:18

And Jacob loved Rachel
As he seems to have done from the moment he saw her at the well, being beautiful, modest, humble, affable, diligent, and industrious:

and he said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger
daughter:
signifying, that he desired no other wages for his service than that, that he might have her for his wife, at the end of seven years' servitude, which he was very willing to oblige himself to, on that condition; for having no money to give as a dowry, as was customary in those times, he proposed servitude instead of it; though Schmidt thinks this was contrary to custom, and that Laban treated his daughters like bondmaids, and such as are taken captives or strangers, and sold them, of which they complain, ( Genesis 31:15 ) .

Genesis 29:18 In-Context

16 Laban had two daughters; the older was named Leah, and the younger Rachel.
17 Leah had lovely eyes, but Rachel was shapely and beautiful.
18 Jacob was in love with Rachel, so he said, "I will work seven years for you, if you will let me marry Rachel."
19 Laban answered, "I would rather give her to you than to anyone else; stay here with me."
20 Jacob worked seven years so that he could have Rachel, and the time seemed like only a few days to him, because he loved her.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.