Genesis 29:27 - Fulfill the week of this one, and we will give you the other also for the service which you will serve with me yet seven other years.”

Generated Verse: Genesis 29:27

What does "Genesis 29:27" mean?


This verse is from the story of Jacob and Laban in Genesis chapter 29. It's a pivotal moment in a deceptive agreement between the two. Here's a breakdown of the meaning:

Context: Jacob is in Haran, working for his uncle Laban to earn the hand of Rachel, whom he loves. He had agreed to work for seven years to marry her. However, Laban tricks him on their wedding night by substituting Leah (Rachel's older sister) for Rachel.

"Fulfill the week of this one...": This refers to fulfilling the customary wedding week with Leah. In that culture, a newly married couple celebrated their wedding for a full week. Laban is telling Jacob to complete the seven days of feasting and celebration with Leah as his wife.

"...and we will give you the other also...": This is the second part of Laban's proposition. He's saying that after Jacob completes the wedding week with Leah, Laban will also give him Rachel as a wife.

"...for the service which you will serve with me yet seven other years.”: This is the condition for Jacob getting Rachel. Laban is demanding that Jacob work for him for another seven years in order to earn Rachel's hand in marriage. Jacob will be marrying Rachel, but he will still need to work another 7 years for her.

In essence, the verse reveals Laban's deceptive plan: He's manipulated Jacob into marrying Leah and then leveraged Jacob's desire for Rachel to bind him into another seven years of servitude. Jacob is now obligated to two wives.

Key takeaways:

Deception: Laban's character is shown to be deceitful and manipulative.
Exploitation: Laban exploits Jacob's love for Rachel for his own gain.
Obligation: Jacob is now bound to two wives and fourteen years of labor.
Divine Justice/Irony: Some see this as a form of divine justice against Jacob, who had previously deceived his own father, Isaac, to gain his brother Esau's birthright. Now, Jacob is experiencing deception himself.

This verse sets the stage for a complex and difficult period in Jacob's life, filled with familial tension and hard labor.

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