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.
Parallel translations
- WEB Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served you, and let me go; for you know my service with which I have served you.”
- BSB 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.”
- NKJV Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served you, and let me go; for you know my service which I have done for you.”
- NASB Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served you, and let me go; for you yourself know my service which I have rendered you.”
- NLT Let me take my wives and children, for I have earned them by serving you, and let me be on my way. You certainly know how hard I have worked for you.”
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
Jacob asks for his wives and children and freedom to leave, having faithfully served Laban for them. He appeals to his years of honest labor.
Overview
Jacob's twenty years of service, including fourteen for his wives, are the backdrop of his request. His appeal to his diligent service highlights the integrity of his work despite Laban's repeated deceit. The exchange sets the stage for the new wage agreement and Jacob's eventual prosperity by God's hand.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Gen 29:30And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.
- Hos 12:12And Jacob fled into the country of Syria, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep.
- Gen 29:19–20And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me.
- Gen 31:26And Laban said to Jacob, What hast thou done, that thou hast stolen away unawares to me, and carried away my daughters, as captives taken with the sword?
- Gen 31:31And Jacob answered and said to Laban, Because I was afraid: for I said, Peradventure thou wouldest take by force thy daughters from me.
- Gen 31:38–41This twenty years have I been with thee; thy ewes and thy she goats have not cast their young, and the rams of thy flock have I not eaten.
- Gen 31:6And ye know that with all my power I have served your father.
- Gen 30:29–30And he said unto him, Thou knowest how I have served thee, and how thy cattle was with me.
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 30:26 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.