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27 Complete my older daughter’s bridal week.[a] Then we will give you the younger one[b] too, in exchange for seven more years of work.”[c]

28 Jacob did as Laban said.[d] When Jacob[e] completed Leah’s bridal week,[f] Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife.[g] 29 (Laban gave his female servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her servant.)[h]

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 29:27 tn Heb “fulfill the period of seven of this one.” The referent of “this one” has been specified in the translation as “my older daughter” for clarity.sn Bridal week. An ancient Hebrew marriage ceremony included an entire week of festivities (cf. Judg 14:12).
  2. Genesis 29:27 tn Heb “this other one.”
  3. Genesis 29:27 tn Heb “and we will give to you also this one in exchange for labor which you will work with me, still seven other years.”sn In exchange for seven more years of work. See C. H. Gordon, “The Story of Jacob and Laban in the Light of the Nuzi Tablets,” BASOR 66 (1937): 25-27; and J. Van Seters, “Jacob’s Marriages and Ancient Near Eastern Customs: A Reassessment,” HTR 62 (1969): 377-95.
  4. Genesis 29:28 tn Heb “and Jacob did so.” The words “as Laban said” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
  5. Genesis 29:28 tn Heb “and he”; the referent (Jacob) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  6. Genesis 29:28 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.
  7. Genesis 29:28 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.
  8. Genesis 29:29 tn Heb “and Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his female servant, for her for a servant.”

27 Finish this daughter’s bridal week;(A) then we will give you the younger one also, in return for another seven years of work.(B)

28 And Jacob did so. He finished the week with Leah, and then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife.(C) 29 Laban gave his servant Bilhah(D) to his daughter Rachel as her attendant.(E)

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