Bereshis 29:15

15 And Lavan said unto Ya’akov, Because thou art my relative, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall thy maskoret (wages) be?

Bereshis 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:

Bereshis 29:15 In-Context

13 And it came to pass, when Lavan heard the news of Ya’akov ben achoto, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his bais. And he told Lavan all these things.

14 And Lavan said to him, Surely thou art my etzem (bone) and my basar. And he abode with him the space of a chodesh (month).

15 And Lavan said unto Ya’akov, Because thou art my relative, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall thy maskoret (wages) be?

16 And Lavan had two banot: the shem of the elder was Leah, and the shem of the younger was Rachel.

17 Leah had weak eyes; but Rachel was yafeh and lovely in form.