And he added, “Name your wages, and I will pay them.”
Parallel translations
- WEB He said, “Appoint me your wages, and I will give it.”
- KJV And he said, Appoint me thy wages, and I will give it.
- NKJV Then he said, “Name me your wages, and I will give it.”
- NASB He continued, “Name me your wages, and I will give them.”
- NLT Tell me how much I owe you. Whatever it is, I’ll pay it.”
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
Laban invites Jacob to name his wages, willing to pay to keep him. He seeks to retain the prosperity Jacob brings.
Overview
Laban's offer reflects his eagerness to continue benefiting from Jacob's God-given success. The open invitation to set his own wages gives Jacob the opening to propose the unusual arrangement that follows. Behind Laban's calculation, God is positioning Jacob to leave Laban with great wealth, fulfilling his promise to provide for him.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 2
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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 30:28 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
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