Genesis 29:20
in Genesis 29So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, yet it seemed but a few days because of his love for her.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.
KJV
And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.
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This verse in Genesis 29
Commentary
6 notes on this verseAnd Jacob served seven years for Rachel - In ancient times it appears to have been a custom among all nations that men should give dowries for their wives; and in many countries this custom still prevails. When Shechem asked Dinah for wife, he said, Ask me never so much - dowry and gift, and I will give according as ye shall say unto me.
This site's exposition
I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel
on Genesis 29:18-20
Jacob names the daughter twice, by her name and by her birth order. He has no herds for a bride price, so he offers seven years of his labour. The years seemed but a few days to him, out of love for Rachel, and Laban's substitution follows in verse 23.
This site's exposition
it seemed but a few days
Jacob served seven years for Rachel, yet his love made the years seem but a few days. Adam Clarke notes that a man gave a price for a wife in many ancient nations, and Jacob's price was his work. John Wesley applies the few days to those who love God.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
They seemed to him but a few days for the love he had to her - An age of work will be but as a few days to those that love God, and long for Christ's appearing.
And Jacob served seven years for Rachel,.... The whole term of time, diligently, faithfully, and patiently.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
he abode a month--Among pastoral people a stranger is freely entertained for three days; on the fourth day he is expected to tell his name and errand; and if he prolongs his stay after that time, he must set his hand to work in some way, as may be agreed upon.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
The words behind it
11 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיַּעֲבֹ֧ד | vaiyaavod | and he served | H5647 → | 288 times |
| יַעֲקֹ֛ב | yaako | Jacob | H3290 → | 350 times |
| בְּרָחֵ֖ל | berachel | for Rachel | H7354 → | 47 times |
| שֶׁ֣בַע | sheva' | seven | H7651 → | 394 times |
| שָׁנִ֑ים | shanim | years | H8141 → | 877 times |
| וַיִּהְי֤וּ | vaiyihyu | and they were | H1961 → | 3559 times |
| בְעֵינָיו֙ | veeinav | in view his | H5869 → | 887 times |
| כְּיָמִ֣ים | keyamim | like days | H3117 → | 2304 times |
| אֲחָדִ֔ים | ʾachadim | one<s> | H259 → | 971 times |
| בְּאַהֲבָת֖וֹ | beahavato | in love his | H160 → | |
| אֹתָֽהּ׃ | ʾotah | <obj.> her | H853 → | 10935 times |
וַיַּעֲבֹ֧דand he served
vaiyaavodH5647 →288 times
יַעֲקֹ֛בJacob
yaakoH3290 →350 times
בְּרָחֵ֖לfor Rachel
berachelH7354 →47 times
שֶׁ֣בַעseven
sheva'H7651 →394 times
שָׁנִ֑יםyears
shanimH8141 →877 times
וַיִּהְי֤וּand they were
vaiyihyuH1961 →3559 times
בְעֵינָיו֙in view his
veeinavH5869 →887 times
כְּיָמִ֣יםlike days
keyamimH3117 →2304 times
אֲחָדִ֔יםone<s>
ʾachadimH259 →971 times
בְּאַהֲבָת֖וֹin love his
beahavatoH160 →
אֹתָֽהּ׃<obj.> her
ʾotahH853 →10935 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Corinthians 13:7It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
it leads to
- 1 Peter 4:8
Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
- 1 Corinthians 13:4
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
- 1 Peter 2:24
He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. “By His stripes you are healed.”
- 2 Timothy 2:24
And a servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome, but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, and forbearing.
- Proverbs 10:12
Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all transgressions.
- 1 Peter 4:8
Through
Ephesians 5:2and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God.
it leads to
- John 13:34
A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another.
- Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved…
- Colossians 3:14
And over all these virtues put on love, which is the bond of perfect unity.
- John 13:34
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies2
On this verse
On this chapter
About Genesis
Who and where
2 names in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament.