Verse

Genesis 29:14

ESV and Laban said to him, "Surely you are my bone and my flesh!" And he stayed with him a month.
NIV Then Laban said to him, "You are my own flesh and blood." After Jacob had stayed with him for a whole month,
NASB And Laban said to him, 'You certainly are my bone and my flesh.' And he stayed with him a month.
CSB Laban said to him, "Yes, you are my own flesh and blood." After Jacob had stayed with him a month,
NLT Laban exclaimed, 'You really are my own flesh and blood!' After Jacob had stayed with Laban for about a month,
KJV And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month.
NKJV And Laban said to him, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh.” And he stayed with him for a month.

What does Genesis 29:14 mean?

Just as he did when Abraham's servant arrived to seek a wife for Isaac (Genesis 24:28–29), Laban rushes out to a well to greet someone who has arrived from Canaan in search of a wife (Genesis 29:12–13). After meeting his sister's son, Laban embraced Jacob, kissed him, and welcomed him into his home. The phrase "surely you are my bone and my flesh" may be a statement of celebrating his close family connection to Jacob. It may also have been an acknowledgement that Jacob was who he said he was, the son of Rebekah and thus a true member of Laban's family.

Welcomed into Laban's home, Jacob stays with the family for a month. Apparently, he began to work for Laban during that time (Genesis 29:15). It's possible that Jacob's plan was to follow the instruction of his parents and only stay with Laban for a short season. A month may have been long enough for Esau to cool off (Genesis 27:41), for Jacob to find a wife (Genesis 28:1–2), and to return home.

Instead, Laban will make Jacob an offer he can't refuse, one that will keep him working for Laban in the land of Mesopotamia for a long time.
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