Genesis 29:18

18 En Jakob had Rachel lief; en hij zeide: Ik zal u zeven jaren dienen, om Rachel, uw kleinste dochter.

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 En Laban had twee dochters: de naam der grootste was Lea; en de naam der kleinste was Rachel.
17 Doch Lea had tedere ogen; maar Rachel was schoon van gedaante, en schoon van aangezicht.
18 En Jakob had Rachel lief; en hij zeide: Ik zal u zeven jaren dienen, om Rachel, uw kleinste dochter.
19 Toen zeide Laban: Het is beter, dat ik haar aan u geve, dan dat ik haar aan een anderen man geve; blijf bij mij.
20 Alzo diende Jakob om Rachel zeven jaren; en die waren in zijn ogen als enige dagen, omdat hij haar liefhad.
The Dutch Staten Vertaling translation is in the public domain.