The "Wages of Jacob" refers to the compensation and agreements made between Jacob and his uncle Laban during Jacob's sojourn in Paddan-aram, as recorded in the Book of Genesis. This narrative highlights themes of divine providence, human cunning, and the fulfillment of God's promises.

Background

Jacob, the son of Isaac and Rebekah, fled to his uncle Laban's household to escape the wrath of his brother Esau, whom he had deceived to obtain the birthright and blessing. Upon arrival in Paddan-aram, Jacob fell in love with Laban's younger daughter, Rachel, and agreed to serve Laban for seven years in exchange for her hand in marriage (Genesis 29:18).

The Deception and First Agreement

After the seven years, Laban deceived Jacob by giving him his elder daughter Leah instead of Rachel. When Jacob confronted Laban, he was told, "It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older" (Genesis 29:26). Laban then offered Rachel to Jacob in return for another seven years of service, to which Jacob agreed (Genesis 29:27-30).

The Second Agreement and Prosperity

After fulfilling his fourteen years of service, Jacob sought to return to his homeland. Laban, recognizing that the LORD had blessed him because of Jacob, asked Jacob to name his wages for staying. Jacob proposed a new agreement: he would continue to tend Laban's flocks, and as his wages, he would take every speckled and spotted sheep and every dark-colored lamb, as well as every spotted and speckled goat (Genesis 30:31-33).

Laban agreed, but he attempted to manipulate the outcome by removing all the speckled and spotted animals from the flock and placing them under the care of his sons, leaving Jacob with only the solid-colored animals. However, through a combination of selective breeding and divine intervention, Jacob's flocks increased significantly. The text notes, "Thus Jacob became exceedingly prosperous. He owned large flocks, maidservants and menservants, and camels and donkeys" (Genesis 30:43).

Divine Intervention and Departure

Jacob's prosperity caused tension with Laban's sons, who accused Jacob of taking what belonged to their father. The LORD then instructed Jacob to return to the land of his fathers, promising to be with him (Genesis 31:3). Jacob recounted to his wives how God had appeared to him in a dream, showing him that He had seen all that Laban had done to him and had blessed him despite Laban's attempts to cheat him (Genesis 31:10-12).

Jacob's departure from Laban's household was marked by a secretive escape, taking his family and possessions with him. Laban pursued Jacob, but God warned Laban in a dream not to harm Jacob. The two eventually made a covenant at Mizpah, setting up a boundary between them and agreeing not to harm each other (Genesis 31:24, 44-49).

Significance

The account of Jacob's wages underscores the themes of divine faithfulness and human ingenuity. Despite Laban's repeated attempts to exploit Jacob, God's providence ensured Jacob's prosperity and the continuation of the Abrahamic covenant. This narrative serves as a testament to God's ability to fulfill His promises, even amidst human deceit and adversity.Genesis 29:15-30
And Laban said to Jacob, Because you are my brother, should you therefore serve me for nothing? tell me, what shall your wages be?
Nave's Topical Index

Genesis 30:28-34
And he said, Appoint me your wages, and I will give it.
Nave's Topical Index

Genesis 31:7,41
And your father has deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me.
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Abraham's Faith was Identical with Ours; this Faith was Prefigured ...
... Various coloured sheep were allotted to this Jacob as his wages; and the wages of
Christ are human beings, who from various and diverse nations come together ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xxi abrahams faith was identical.htm

At Jacob's Well
... She perceived that it was not the water of Jacob's well to which He referred; for
of this she used ... "He that reapeth," He said, "receiveth wages, and gathereth ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 19 at jacobs well.htm

The Deceiver Deceived
... Then Laban said to Jacob, "Should you serve me for nothing simply because you are
related to me? Tell me what shall be your wages?" Now Laban had two daughters ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/the deceiver deceived.htm

Jacob and Esau
... bad as the other. Then, the device that Jacob used, when he endeavoured
to get his wages was most extraordinary. Why did he not ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/jacob and esau.htm

A Man Expects to Reap the Same Kind as He Sows.
... and during that time his wages were changed ten times. He worked seven years for
the lovely Rachel, and then had another woman put upon him. Jacob had by ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/sowing and reaping/chapter iv a man expects.htm

A Dialogue with God
... for which he threatens to cut off the transgressors out of the tents of Jacob, and
to ... not of anger that comes to warn us of the death which is the wages of sin ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/a dialogue with god 2.htm

Chapter xxx
... The bargain relative to Jacob's wages, as it was originally made, was actually
an act of faith on Jacob's part. But when Laban's ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxx.htm

The Shepherd of Our Souls.
... camels, and asses[25]," and he was visited by supernatural favours, and had a new
name given him"Israel for Jacob. ... and thou hast changed my wages ten times[26 ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol viii/sermon xvi the shepherd of.htm

Jesus Talks with a Samaritan Woman
... Are you greater than our father Jacob who gave us the well and himself drank ... Already
the reaper is receiving his wages and gathering in a crop for eternal life ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/jesus talks with a samaritan.htm

And Jesus Went Out Again from the Borders of Tyre and Sidon...
... [1496] Can it be that thou art greater than our father Jacob, who gave us this ... [1523]
[1524] And he that reapeth receiveth his wages, and gathereth the fruit ...
/.../hogg/the diatessaron of tatian/section xxi and jesus went.htm

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