The Meaning of Genesis 29:18 Explained

Genesis 29:18

KJV: And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.

YLT: And Jacob loveth Rachel, and saith, 'I serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter:'

Darby: And Jacob loved Rachel, and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.

ASV: And Jacob loved Rachel. And he said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Jacob  loved  Rachel;  and said,  I will serve  thee seven  years  for Rachel  thy younger  daughter. 

What does Genesis 29:18 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 29:18 mean?

And loved Jacob - Rachel so he said I will serve you seven years for Rachel your daughter younger
וַיֶּאֱהַ֥ב יַעֲקֹ֖ב אֶת־ רָחֵ֑ל וַיֹּ֗אמֶר אֶֽעֱבָדְךָ֙ שֶׁ֣בַע שָׁנִ֔ים בְּרָחֵ֥ל בִּתְּךָ֖ הַקְּטַנָּֽה

וַיֶּאֱהַ֥ב  And  loved 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָהַב  
Sense: to love.
יַעֲקֹ֖ב  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.
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.
רָחֵ֑ל  Rachel 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: רָחֵל  
Sense: daughter of Laban, wife of Jacob, and mother of Joseph and Benjamin.
וַיֹּ֗אמֶר  so  he  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אֶֽעֱבָדְךָ֙  I  will  serve  you 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular, second person masculine singular
Root: עָבַד  
Sense: to work, serve.
שֶׁ֣בַע  seven 
Parse: Number, feminine singular
Root: שֶׁבַע  
Sense: seven (cardinal number).
שָׁנִ֔ים  years 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: שָׁנָה  
Sense: year.
בְּרָחֵ֥ל  for  Rachel 
Parse: Preposition-b, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: רָחֵל  
Sense: daughter of Laban, wife of Jacob, and mother of Joseph and Benjamin.
בִּתְּךָ֖  your  daughter 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: בַּת  
Sense: daughter.
הַקְּטַנָּֽה  younger 
Parse: Article, Adjective, feminine singular
Root: קָטָן 
Sense: young, small, insignificant, unimportant.