King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him [but] a few days, for the love he had to her.
Complete Jewish Bible:
So Ya'akov worked seven years for Rachel, and it seemed only a few days to him, because he was so much in love with her.
Berean Standard Bible:
So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, yet it seemed but a few days because of his love for her.
American Standard Version:
And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And Jacob{H3290} served{H5647} seven{H7651} years{H8141} for Rachel{H7354}; and they seemed{H5869} unto him but a few{H259} days{H3117}, for the love he had{H160} to her.
Cross-References (KJV):
1 Corinthians 13:7
- Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Ephesians 5:2
- And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
Hosea 12:12
- And Jacob fled into the country of Syria, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept [sheep].
Song of Solomon 8:6
- Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love [is] strong as death; jealousy [is] cruel as the grave: the coals thereof [are] coals of fire, [which hath a] most vehement flame.
Song of Solomon 8:7
- Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if [a] man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.
Genesis 24:67
- And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's [death].
2 Corinthians 5:14
- For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Genesis 29:20
Genesis 29:20 is a verse that captures a poignant moment in the narrative of Jacob, one of the patriarchs in the Hebrew Bible. The verse is part of the broader story of Jacob's journey to Haran, where he meets his uncle Laban and falls in love with his cousin Rachel. The historical context of this verse is set within the ancestral narratives of the Israelites, which describe the early lineage of the nation of Israel.
In the verse, Jacob agrees to serve Laban for seven years in order to marry Rachel, whom he has come to love deeply. The theme of servitude for a bride is significant, as it reflects ancient Near Eastern marriage customs where a bridegroom would often pay a bride price or serve the bride's family to obtain her hand in marriage. The verse emphasizes the depth of Jacob's affection for Rachel, as the seven years of service felt to him like only a few days due to his intense love for her.
This passage highlights themes of love, commitment, and the passage of time, as well as the importance of family ties and the negotiations that often accompanied marital unions in that cultural and historical setting. It also foreshadows the complex family dynamics that will unfold, as Jacob's love for Rachel will lead to a series of events involving deception, rivalry, and ultimately, the birth of key figures in the Israelite lineage, including Joseph and Benjamin. Jacob's experience with Laban will also serve as a backdrop for the later themes of divine providence and the fulfillment of God's promises, despite human schemes and challenges.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H3290
There are 319 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יַעֲקֹב
Transliteration: Yaʻăqôb
Pronunciation: yah-ak-obe'
Description: from עָקַב; heel-catcher (i.e. supplanter); Jaakob, the Israelitish patriarch; Jacob. - Strong's Number: H5647
There are 263 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָבַד
Transliteration: ʻâbad
Pronunciation: aw-bad'
Description: a primitive root; to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc.; [idiom] be, keep in bondage, be bondmen, bond-service, compel, do, dress, ear, execute, [phrase] husbandman, keep, labour(-ing man, bring to pass, (cause to, make to) serve(-ing, self), (be, become) servant(-s), do (use) service, till(-er), transgress (from margin), (set a) work, be wrought, worshipper, - Strong's Number: H7651
There are 345 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שֶׁבַע
Transliteration: shebaʻ
Pronunciation: sheh'-bah
Description: or (masculine) (שִׁבְעָה); from שָׁבַע; a primitive cardinal number; seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week; by extension, an indefinite number; ([phrase] by) seven(-fold),-s, (-teen, -teenth), -th, times). Compare שִׁבְעָנָה. - Strong's Number: H8141
There are 647 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁנֶה
Transliteration: shâneh
Pronunciation: shaw-neh'
Description: (in plural or (feminine) שָׁנָה; from שָׁנָה; a year (as a revolution of time); [phrase] whole age, [idiom] long, [phrase] old, year([idiom] -ly). - Strong's Number: H7354
There are 44 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רָחֵל
Transliteration: Râchêl
Pronunciation: raw-khale'
Description: the same as רָחֵל; Rachel, a wife of Jacob; Rachel. - Strong's Number: H5869
There are 830 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עַיִן
Transliteration: ʻayin
Pronunciation: ah'-yin
Description: probably a primitive word; an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape); affliction, outward appearance, [phrase] before, [phrase] think best, colour, conceit, [phrase] be content, countenance, [phrase] displease, eye((-brow), (-d), -sight), face, [phrase] favour, fountain, furrow (from the margin), [idiom] him, [phrase] humble, knowledge, look, ([phrase] well), [idiom] me, open(-ly), [phrase] (not) please, presence, [phrase] regard, resemblance, sight, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them, [phrase] think, [idiom] us, well, [idiom] you(-rselves). - Strong's Number: H259
There are 801 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶחָד
Transliteration: ʼechâd
Pronunciation: ekh-awd'
Description: a numeral from אָחַד; properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first; a, alike, alone, altogether, and, any(-thing), apiece, a certain, (dai-) ly, each (one), [phrase] eleven, every, few, first, [phrase] highway, a man, once, one, only, other, some, together, - Strong's Number: H3117
There are 1931 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יוֹם
Transliteration: yôwm
Pronunciation: yome
Description: from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb); age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger. - Strong's Number: H160
There are 100 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אַהֲבָה
Transliteration: ʼahăbâh
Pronunciation: a-hab-aw
Description: feminine of אַהַב and meaning the same; {affection (in a good or a bad sense)}; love.