The Meaning of Genesis 29:30 Explained

Genesis 29:30

KJV: And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.

YLT: And he goeth in also unto Rachel, and he also loveth Rachel more than Leah; and he serveth with him yet seven other years.

Darby: And he went in also to Rachel; and he loved also Rachel more than Leah. And he served with him yet seven other years.

ASV: And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And he went in  also unto Rachel,  and he loved  also Rachel  more than Leah,  and served  with him yet seven  other  years. 

What does Genesis 29:30 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 29:21-35 - Jacob Marries Leah And Rachel
The chief lesson of this paragraph is its illustration of the awful nemesis which accompanies wrongdoing. No thoughtful person can watch the events of history or experience without realizing that we are already standing before the judgment-seat of God, and that His sentences are in process of being executed. Jacob deceived his father, and was himself deceived. "With what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again." What disappointments there are in life! We think that we are to be dowered with Rachel, and lo! Leah is substituted; but in after-days Jacob spoke of Reuben as his might, the beginning of his dignity and excellency. The names of Leah's sons suggest the blessings that accrue through heartbreak. For the Leahs of the world there are great compensations. God remembers and hears them. Brokenhearted and forsaken, they live again in the lives of those whom they have borne either naturally or spiritually. [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 29:30 mean?

And [Jacob] went in also to Rachel and he loved also - Rachel more than Leah and he served with Laban still seven years another
וַיָּבֹא֙ גַּ֣ם אֶל־ רָחֵ֔ל וַיֶּאֱהַ֥ב גַּֽם־ אֶת־ רָחֵ֖ל מִלֵּאָ֑ה וַיַּעֲבֹ֣ד עִמּ֔וֹ ע֖וֹד שֶֽׁבַע־ שָׁנִ֥ים אֲחֵרֽוֹת

וַיָּבֹא֙  And  [Jacob]  went  in 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
גַּ֣ם  also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: גַּם  
Sense: also, even, indeed, moreover, yea.
רָחֵ֔ל  Rachel 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: רָחֵל  
Sense: daughter of Laban, wife of Jacob, and mother of Joseph and Benjamin.
וַיֶּאֱהַ֥ב  and  he  loved 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָהַב  
Sense: to love.
גַּֽם־  also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: גַּם  
Sense: also, even, indeed, moreover, yea.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
רָחֵ֖ל  Rachel 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: רָחֵל  
Sense: daughter of Laban, wife of Jacob, and mother of Joseph and Benjamin.
מִלֵּאָ֑ה  more  than  Leah 
Parse: Preposition-m, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: לֵאָה  
Sense: daughter of Laban, first wife of Jacob, and mother of Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, and Dinah.
וַיַּעֲבֹ֣ד  and  he  served 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָבַד  
Sense: to work, serve.
עִמּ֔וֹ  with  Laban 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: עִם  
Sense: with.
ע֖וֹד  still 
Parse: Adverb
Root: עֹוד  
Sense: a going round, continuance adv.
שֶֽׁבַע־  seven 
Parse: Number, feminine singular
Root: שֶׁבַע  
Sense: seven (cardinal number).
שָׁנִ֥ים  years 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: שָׁנָה  
Sense: year.
אֲחֵרֽוֹת  another 
Parse: Adjective, feminine plural
Root: אַחֵר  
Sense: another, other, following.