Verse

Genesis 29:30

ESV So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah, and served Laban for another seven years.
NIV Jacob made love to Rachel also, and his love for Rachel was greater than his love for Leah. And he worked for Laban another seven years.
NASB So Jacob had relations with Rachel also, and indeed he loved Rachel more than Leah, and he served with Laban for another seven years.
CSB Jacob slept with Rachel also, and indeed, he loved Rachel more than Leah. And he worked for Laban another seven years.
NLT So Jacob slept with Rachel, too, and he loved her much more than Leah. He then stayed and worked for Laban the additional seven years.
KJV And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.
NKJV Then Jacob also went in to Rachel, and he also loved Rachel more than Leah. And he served with Laban still another seven years.

What does Genesis 29:30 mean?

Here, Jacob consummates his second marriage in a week, this time with Rachel. His prior marriage, to her older sister Leah, was the result of outrageous deception on the part of the sisters' father, Laban (Genesis 29:18–27). Now in debt for a marriage he had thought was paid for, Jacob continues his work for Laban. His apparent inaction and passivity in response to Laban's manipulation gives us a clue to Jacob's personality and character. He can't seem to stand up to Laban in any meaningful way, to the point of being married to both the man's daughters, one without his own consent.

The text hardly needs to tell us that Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah. Given the circumstances of their marriages, it would be hard to imagine anything else. It will also not surprise us when that imbalance of love between the two couples will create sibling rivalry, jealousy, and hurt feelings. At first, Leah will bear the brunt of that pain. In fact, the Lord Himself will intervene on Leah's behalf.
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