Genesis 29:18-21

29:18 Since Jacob had fallen in love with ¹  Rachel, he said, “I’ll serve you seven years in exchange for your younger daughter Rachel.” 29:19 Laban replied, “I’d rather give her to you than to another man. ²  Stay with me.” 29:20 So Jacob worked for seven years to acquire Rachel. ³  But they seemed like only a few days to him ⁴  because his love for her was so great. ⁵ 

29:21 Finally Jacob said ⁶  to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my time of service is up. ⁷  I want to have marital relations with her.” ⁸ 

Genesis 29:28

29:28 Jacob did as Laban said. ⁹  When Jacob ¹⁰  completed Leah’s bridal week, ¹¹  Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife. ¹² 

[29:18]  ¹ tn Heb “Jacob loved.”

[29:19]  ² tn Heb “Better my giving her to you than my giving her to another man.”

[29:20]  ³ tn Heb “in exchange for Rachel.”

[29:20]  ⁴ 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.

[29:20]  ⁵ tn Heb “because of his love for her.” The words “was so great” are supplied for stylistic reasons.

[29:21]  ⁶ tn Heb “and Jacob said.”

[29:21]  ⁷ tn Heb “my days are fulfilled.”

[29:21]  ⁸ tn Heb “and I will go in to her.” The verb is a cohortative; it may be subordinated to the preceding request, “that I may go in,” or it may be an independent clause expressing his desire. The verb “go in” in this context refers to sexual intercourse (i.e., the consummation of the marriage).

[29:28]  ⁹ tn Heb “and Jacob did so.” The words “as Laban said” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.

[29:28]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “and he”; the referent (Jacob) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[29:28]  ¹¹ tn Heb “the seven of this one.” The referent of “this one” has been specified in the translation as Leah to avoid confusion with Rachel, mentioned later in the verse.

[29:28]  ¹² tn Heb “and he gave to him Rachel his daughter for him for a wife.” The referent of the pronoun “he” (Laban) has been specified in the translation for clarity.