Genesis 30:26

26 Give me my wives and children for whom I've served you. You know how hard I've worked for you."

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 She named him Joseph (Add), praying, "May God add yet another son to me."
25 After Rachel had had Joseph, Jacob spoke to Laban, "Let me go back home.
26 Give me my wives and children for whom I've served you. You know how hard I've worked for you."
27 Laban said, "If you please, I have learned through divine inquiry that God has blessed me because of you."
28 He went on, "So name your wages. I'll pay you."
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.