Genesis 29:17
15 Laban said to him, “Just because you are my relative, should you work for nothing? Tell me what your wages should be.”
16 Now Laban had two daughters; the older was named Leah, and the younger was named Rachel.
Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel was shapely and beautiful.
18 Since Jacob loved Rachel, he answered, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.”
19 Laban replied, “Better that I give her to you than to another. Stay here with me.”
Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel was shapely and beautiful.
- KJV
- Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.
- WEB
- Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and attractive.
- ASV
- And Leah`s eyes were tender. But Rachel was beautiful and well favored.
- DARBY
- And the eyes of Leah were tender; but Rachel was of beautiful form and beautiful countenance.
- BLB
- And Leah’s eyes [were] tender, and Rachel was beautiful of form and beautful of appearance.
- ÅB
- Lea hadde matte øyne; men Rakel var vakker av skapning og vakker å se til.
- OTB
- Lea hadde svake øyne, mens Rakel var vakker i form og utseende.
- B1930
- Lea hadde matte øine; men Rakel var vakker av skapning og vakker å se til.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Genesis 12:11
As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “Look, I know that you are a beautiful woman,
Read in contextGenesis 35:19–20
So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).
Read in contextGenesis 29:18
Since Jacob loved Rachel, he answered, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.”
Read in context1 Samuel 10:2
When you leave me today, you will find two men at Rachel’s tomb in Zelzah on the border of Benjamin. They will say to you, ‘The donkeys you seek have been found, and now your father has stopped worrying about the donkeys and started worrying about you, asking, “What should I do about my son?”’
Read in contextGenesis 35:24
The sons of Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin.
Read in contextGenesis 39:6
So Potiphar left all that he owned in Joseph’s care; he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate. Now Joseph was well-built and handsome,
Read in contextProverbs 31:30
Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Read in contextGenesis 29:6–12
“Is he well?” Jacob inquired. “Yes,” they answered, “and here comes his daughter Rachel with his sheep.”
Read in context