Genesis 29:20
New International Version
So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.

New Living Translation
So Jacob worked seven years to pay for Rachel. But his love for her was so strong that it seemed to him but a few days.

English Standard Version
So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her.

Berean Standard Bible
So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, yet it seemed but a few days because of his love for her.

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

New King James Version
So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed only a few days to him because of the love he had for her.

New American Standard Bible
So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him like only a few days because of his love for her.

NASB 1995
So Jacob served seven years for Rachel and they seemed to him but a few days because of his love for her.

NASB 1977
So Jacob served seven years for Rachel and they seemed to him but a few days because of his love for her.

Legacy Standard Bible
So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they were in his sight but a few days because of his love for her.

Amplified Bible
So Jacob served [Laban] for seven years for [the right to marry] Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.

Christian Standard Bible
So Jacob worked seven years for Rachel, and they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So Jacob worked seven years for Rachel, and they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.

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

Contemporary English Version
Jacob worked seven years for Laban, but the time seemed like only a few days, because he loved Rachel so much.

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

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Jacob worked seven years in return for Rachel, but the years seemed like only a few days to him because he loved her.

Good News Translation
Jacob worked seven years so that he could have Rachel, and the time seemed like only a few days to him, because he loved her.

International Standard Version
Jacob served seven years for Rachel, but it seemed like only a few days because of his love for her.

Majority Standard Bible
So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, yet it seemed but a few days because of his love for her.

NET Bible
So Jacob worked for seven years to acquire Rachel. But they seemed like only a few days to him because his love for her was so great.

New Heart English Bible
Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and it seemed only a few days to him because of his love for her.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed to him but a few days, for the love he had to her.

World English Bible
Jacob served seven years for Rachel. They seemed to him but a few days, for the love he had for her.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and Jacob serves for Rachel seven years; and they are in his eyes as some days, because of his loving her.

Young's Literal Translation
and Jacob serveth for Rachel seven years; and they are in his eyes as some days, because of his loving her.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Jacob will serve for Rachel seven years, and they will be in his eyes as a few days in his loving her.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
So Jacob served seven years for Rachel: and they seemed but a few days, because of the greatness of his love.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Therefore, Jacob served for seven years for Rachel. And these seemed like only a few days, because of the greatness of love.

New American Bible
So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, yet they seemed to him like a few days because of his love for her.

New Revised Standard Version
So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Thus Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed to him but a few days because he was in love with her.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Yaquuv worked for Rakhyl seven years, and they were in his eyes as a few days, because he loved her.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Jacob served for Rachel seven years, and they were before him as a few days, by reason of his loving her.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel
19Laban replied, “Better that I give her to you than to another. Stay here with me.” 20So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, yet it seemed but a few days because of his love for her. 21Finally Jacob said to Laban, “Grant me my wife, for my time is complete, and I want to sleep with her.”…

Cross References
Hosea 12:12
Jacob fled to the land of Aram and Israel worked for a wife—for a wife he tended sheep.

Genesis 24:67
And Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah and took Rebekah as his wife. And Isaac loved her and was comforted after his mother’s death.

Genesis 30:26
Give me my wives and children for whom I have served you, that I may go on my way. You know how hard I have worked for you.”

Genesis 31:41
Thus for twenty years I have served in your household—fourteen years for your two daughters and six years for your flocks—and you have changed my wages ten times!

Exodus 21:2
If you buy a Hebrew servant, he is to serve you for six years. But in the seventh year, he shall go free without paying anything.

Judges 14:12
“Let me tell you a riddle,” Samson said to them. “If you can solve it for me within the seven days of the feast, I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothes.

1 Samuel 18:25-27
Saul replied, “Say to David, ‘The king desires no other dowry but a hundred Philistine foreskins as revenge on his enemies.’” But Saul intended to cause David’s death at the hands of the Philistines. / When the servants reported these terms to David, he was pleased to become the king’s son-in-law. Before the wedding day arrived, / David and his men went out and killed two hundred Philistines. He brought their foreskins and presented them as payment in full to become the king’s son-in-law. Then Saul gave his daughter Michal to David in marriage.

1 Samuel 18:17
Then Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab. I will give her to you in marriage. Only be valiant for me and fight the LORD’s battles.” But Saul was thinking, “I need not raise my hand against him; let the hand of the Philistines be against him.”

Ruth 4:11
“We are witnesses,” said the elders and all the people at the gate. “May the LORD make the woman entering your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you be prosperous in Ephrathah and famous in Bethlehem.

Song of Solomon 8:7
Mighty waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away. If a man were to give all the wealth of his house for love, his offer would be utterly scorned.

Song of Solomon 8:6
Set me as a seal over your heart, as a seal upon your arm. For love is as strong as death, its jealousy as unrelenting as Sheol. Its sparks are fiery flames, the fiercest blaze of all.

Proverbs 31:10
A wife of noble character, who can find? She is far more precious than rubies.

Matthew 13:44
The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and in his joy he went and sold all he had and bought that field.

Matthew 20:1-16
“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. / He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. / About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. ...

Luke 15:25-32
Meanwhile the older son was in the field, and as he approached the house, he heard music and dancing. / So he called one of the servants and asked what was going on. / ‘Your brother has returned,’ he said, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has him back safe and sound.’ ...


Treasury of Scripture

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

A.

Genesis 30:26
Give me my wives and my children, for whom I have served thee, and let me go: for thou knowest my service which I have done thee.

Hosea 12:12
And Jacob fled into the country of Syria, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep.

for the love.

Genesis 24:67
And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.

Song of Solomon 8:6,7
Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame…

1 Corinthians 13:7
Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

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Eyes Few Jacob Love Loving Rachel Seemed Served Serveth Seven Single Time Work
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Eyes Few Jacob Love Loving Rachel Seemed Served Serveth Seven Single Time Work
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.














So Jacob served seven years
The Hebrew word for "served" is עָבַד (avad), which implies labor or work, often with a sense of devotion or dedication. Jacob's service was not merely a contractual obligation but a labor of love. In the ancient Near Eastern context, it was common for a suitor to offer a bride price or service to the bride's family. Jacob's willingness to serve for seven years reflects a deep commitment and a cultural understanding of marriage as a covenantal relationship. The number seven often symbolizes completeness or perfection in the Bible, suggesting that Jacob's service was a complete and perfect expression of his love and commitment.

for Rachel
Rachel, רָחֵל (Rachel) in Hebrew, means "ewe," symbolizing purity and beauty. She was the younger daughter of Laban and is described as beautiful in form and appearance. Rachel's name and character are significant in the biblical narrative, as she becomes one of the matriarchs of Israel. Jacob's love for Rachel is a central theme in his life story, illustrating the personal and relational dynamics that God uses to fulfill His covenant promises. Rachel's role in the lineage of Israel highlights the importance of individual relationships in the broader scope of God's redemptive plan.

yet it seemed but a few days to him
The phrase "seemed but a few days" captures the essence of love's transformative power. The Hebrew word for "seemed" is הָיָה (hayah), which means "to be" or "to become." This suggests that Jacob's perception of time was altered by his love for Rachel. In a spiritual sense, this reflects how love can transcend the mundane and temporal, offering a glimpse of eternity. The brevity of the seven years in Jacob's eyes underscores the depth of his affection and the joy found in serving for love's sake.

because of his love for her
The Hebrew word for "love" is אַהֲבָה (ahavah), which encompasses a range of meanings from affection to deep, covenantal love. Jacob's love for Rachel is portrayed as selfless and enduring, a model of true love that is willing to sacrifice and serve. This love is not merely emotional but is demonstrated through action and commitment. In the broader biblical narrative, love is a central theme, reflecting God's love for His people and the love that believers are called to embody. Jacob's love for Rachel serves as an inspirational example of how love can motivate and sustain us through life's challenges.

(20) They seemed unto him but a few days.--Jacob was at least fifty-seven years of age, but the late marriages hitherto of the patriarchs show that they only slowly arrived at manhood. We need not be surprised, then, at the warmth of his affection, nor was it a passing emotion, but lasted all his life through. This, however, is the last of these late marriages; for Jacob's sons married when young.

Verse 20. - And Jacob served - hard service (Genesis 31:40, 41), in keeping sheep (Hosea 12:12) - seven years for Rachel. The purity and intensity of Jacob's affection was declared not alone by the proposal of a seven years' term of servitude, - a long period of waiting for a man of fifty-seven, if not seventy-seven, years of age, - but also by the spirit in which he served his avaricious relative. Many as the days were that required to intervene before he obtained possession of his bride, they were rendered happy by the sweet society of Rachel. And they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her. "Words breathing the purest tenderness, and expressing more emphatically than the flowery hyperboles of romantic phraseology the deep attachment of an affectionate heart" (Kalisch); words too which show the lofty appreciation Jacob had of the personal worth of his future bride.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So Jacob
יַעֲקֹ֛ב (ya·‘ă·qōḇ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3290: Jacob -- a son of Isaac, also his desc

served
וַיַּעֲבֹ֧ד (way·ya·‘ă·ḇōḏ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5647: To work, to serve, till, enslave

seven
שֶׁ֣בַע (še·ḇa‘)
Number - feminine singular
Strong's 7651: Seven, seven times, a week, an indefinite number

years
שָׁנִ֑ים (šā·nîm)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 8141: A year

for Rachel,
בְּרָחֵ֖ל (bə·rā·ḥêl)
Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 7354: Rachel -- a wife of Jacob

yet it seemed
בְעֵינָיו֙ (ḇə·‘ê·nāw)
Preposition-b | Noun - cdc | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain

[but] a few
אֲחָדִ֔ים (’ă·ḥā·ḏîm)
Number - masculine plural
Strong's 259: United, one, first

days
כְּיָמִ֣ים (kə·yā·mîm)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3117: A day

because of his love
בְּאַהֲבָת֖וֹ (bə·’a·hă·ḇā·ṯōw)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 157: To have affection f

for her.
אֹתָֽהּ׃ (’ō·ṯāh)
Direct object marker | third person feminine singular
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case


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OT Law: Genesis 29:20 Jacob served seven years for Rachel (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 29:19
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