The Meaning of Genesis 29:20 Explained

Genesis 29:20

KJV: And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.

YLT: and Jacob serveth for Rachel seven years; and they are in his eyes as some days, because of his loving her.

Darby: And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they were in his eyes as single days, because he loved her.

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 Reverse Interlinear

And Jacob  served  seven  years  for Rachel;  and they seemed  unto him [but] a few  days,  for the love he had  to her. 

What does Genesis 29:20 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 29:1-20 - Jacob In Laban's Home
Well might Jacob lift up his feet! See margin. When we are sure of God we receive strength that enables us to run with patience the race that is set before us. The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and we have a special claim on His guidance in our matrimonial alliances-the most solemn and momentous step of all. There were many good qualities in Rachel, fitting her to be a good wife. Her humility and industry, her patience under the oppression of the unmannerly shepherds, her haste to share her joy with her father-all these elicited Jacob's love. What a touch of old-world and new-world poetry is in those words of Genesis 29:20! Where Love is queen time is too short, labor never hard, distance never long, sacrifice unheard of! Oh, that we so loved our Lord, that for the missionary toiling through long years, and the invalid condemned to a life of pain, affliction might appear light and but for a moment. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 29

1  Jacob comes to the well of Haran
9  He becomes acquainted with Rachel
13  Laban entertains him
18  Jacob covenants for Rachel
23  He is deceived by Laban with Leah
28  He marries also Rachel, and serves for her seven years more
32  Leah bears Reuben;
33  Simeon;
34  Levi;
35  and Judah

What do the individual words in Genesis 29:20 mean?

So served Jacob for Rachel seven years and they seemed to him days a few because of his love for her
וַיַּעֲבֹ֧ד יַעֲקֹ֛ב בְּרָחֵ֖ל שֶׁ֣בַע שָׁנִ֑ים וַיִּהְי֤וּ בְעֵינָיו֙ כְּיָמִ֣ים אֲחָדִ֔ים בְּאַהֲבָת֖וֹ אֹתָֽהּ

וַיַּעֲבֹ֧ד  So  served 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָבַד  
Sense: to work, serve.
יַעֲקֹ֛ב  Jacob 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יַעֲקֹב  
Sense: son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham, and father of the 2 patriarchs of the tribes of Israel.
בְּרָחֵ֖ל  for  Rachel 
Parse: Preposition-b, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: רָחֵל  
Sense: daughter of Laban, wife of Jacob, and mother of Joseph and Benjamin.
שֶׁ֣בַע  seven 
Parse: Number, feminine singular
Root: שֶׁבַע  
Sense: seven (cardinal number).
שָׁנִ֑ים  years 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: שָׁנָה  
Sense: year.
וַיִּהְי֤וּ  and  they  seemed 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
בְעֵינָיו֙  to  him 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, cdc, third person masculine singular
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.
כְּיָמִ֣ים  days 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, masculine plural
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
אֲחָדִ֔ים  a  few 
Parse: Number, masculine plural
Root: אֶחָד  
Sense: one (number).
בְּאַהֲבָת֖וֹ  because  of  his  love  for 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אָהַב  
Sense: to love.
אֹתָֽהּ  her 
Parse: Direct object marker, third person feminine singular
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.