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 29:31

The Family of Jacob

29:31 When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, ⁴  he enabled her to become pregnant ⁵  while Rachel remained childless.

[29:20]  ¹ tn Heb “in exchange for Rachel.”

[29:20]  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.

[29:20]  ³ tn Heb “because of his love for her.” The words “was so great” are supplied for stylistic reasons.

[29:31]  ⁴ tn Heb “hated.” The rhetorical device of overstatement is used (note v. 30, which says simply that Jacob loved Rachel more than he did Leah) to emphasize that Rachel, as Jacob’s true love and the primary object of his affections, had an advantage over Leah.

[29:31]  ⁵ tn Heb “he opened up her womb.”