Genesis 29:20

29:20 So Jacob worked for seven years to acquire Rachel. ¹  But they seemed like only a few days to him ²  because his love for her was so great. ³ 

Genesis 30:26

30:26 Let me take my wives and my children whom I have acquired by working for you. ⁴  Then I’ll depart, ⁵  because you know how hard I’ve worked for you.” ⁶ 

¹ tn Heb “in exchange for Rachel.”

² sn But they seemed like only a few days to him. This need not mean that the time passed quickly. More likely it means that the price seemed insignificant when compared to what he was getting in the bargain.

³ tn Heb “because of his love for her.” The words “was so great” are supplied for stylistic reasons.

⁴ tn Heb “give my wives and my children, for whom I have served you.” In one sense Laban had already “given” Jacob his two daughters as wives (Gen 29:21, 28). Here Jacob was asking for permission to take his own family along with him on the journey back to Canaan.

⁵ tn Following the imperative, the cohortative with the prefixed conjunction indicates purpose or result.

⁶ tn Heb “for you, you know my service [with] which I have served you.”