Finally Jacob said to Laban, “Grant me my wife, for my time is complete, and I want to sleep with her.”
Parallel translations
- WEB Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her.”
- KJV And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.
- NKJV Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her.”
- NASB Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my time is completed, that I may have relations with her.”
- NLT Finally, the time came for him to marry her. “I have fulfilled my agreement,” Jacob said to Laban. “Now give me my wife so I can sleep with her.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
With his term completed, Jacob asks Laban to give him Rachel as his wife.
Overview
Jacob rightfully claims the bride he has earned through seven years of faithful service. His direct request shows his eagerness after the long wait. The stage is now set for Laban's deceit, which will turn Jacob's joy into a hard lesson.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Judg 15:1Later on, at the time of the wheat harvest, Samson took a young goat and went to visit his wife. “I want to go to my wife in her room,” he said. But her father would not let him enter.
- Gen 29:20So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, yet it seemed but a few days because of his love for her.
- Gen 31:41Thus 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!
- Matt 1:18This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged in marriage to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.
- Gen 29:18Since Jacob loved Rachel, he answered, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.”
- Gen 4:1And Adam had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain. “With the help of the LORD I have brought forth a man,” she said.
- Gen 38:16Not realizing that she was his daughter-in-law, he went over to her and said, “Come now, let me sleep with you.” “What will you give me for sleeping with you?” she inquired.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
From the first promise that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent (3:15), through Abraham's blessing to all nations and Judah's coming ruler, Genesis sows every seed that flowers in Christ — the true offspring, the better Adam, the ram caught for Isaac.
How Genesis 29:21 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.