Genesis 29:19

19 Laban answered, It is better that I give her to thee than to another man; dwell thou with me.

Genesis 29:19 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 29:19

And Laban said
Deceitfully, as the Targum of Jonathan adds, pretending great respect for Jacob, and that what he had proposed was very agreeable to him, when he meant to impose upon him:

[it is] better that I should give her to thee, than that I should give
her to another man;
by which he not only intimates that he preferred him, a relation, to another man, a stranger; but as if he did not insist upon the servitude for her, but would give her to him; unless he means upon the terms proposed, and so it should seem by what follows:

abide with me:
the term of seven years, and serve me; suggesting, that then he agreed Rachel should be his wife; and so Jacob, a plain hearted man, understood him; but he designed no such thing.

Genesis 29:19 In-Context

17 but Leah was bleary-eyed, and Rachel was of fair face, and lovely in sight. (and Leah was blurry-eyed, but Rachel had a beautiful face, and was lovely to look at.)

18 And Jacob loved Rachel, and (so he) said, I shall serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.

19 Laban answered, It is better that I give her to thee than to another man; dwell thou with me.

20 Therefore Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and the days seemed few to him for the greatness of (his) love.

21 And (at last) he said to Laban, Give thou my wife to me, for the time is fulfilled that I enter [in] to her.