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Mar 21, 2007 · Jacob Falls in Love. Genesis 29:13–20. “So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her” (Gen. 29:20).
- What The Story Means to Us Today
- Additional Thoughts and Considerations
- The Science and History Behind The Story
- Notes on Biblical Translation
- Bible Text
Preview to a “what goes around comes around” lesson for Jacob
Jacob will soon learn a lesson, “what goes around comes around”. After Jacob’s role of deception, the tables are about to be turned. However, before Jacob experiences the receiving end of a deceitful maneuver, he will fall in love – with Rachel.
Not chance, but God’s guiding hand
Many of the events in this story could be identified as “chance” – the lucky discovery of one of Laban’s wells, meeting Rachel (his future wife) at the well, Rachel approaching the well just as Jacob was talking with the shepherds, etc. However, you should recognize God’s guiding hand in each of the events. Jacob may not immediately appreciate the ultimate outcome of his arrival at the well that his uncle owned, the meeting of Rachel at the well, or Laban’s upcoming trickery, but upon complet...
Why did Jacob tell the shepherds to take their flock back to the pasture?
The Bible tells us that Jacob suggested the shepherds take their flock back to the pasture. This verse may seem oddly out-of-place. Why would Jacob tell the shepherds how to do their job? This verse may pointedly show us that Jacob is a ambitious, driven, hardworking man. His instructions can be construed as directions to “stop standing around and get back to work”. His ethic is further demonstrated after the shepherds reply that they cannot water the sheep until the stone is rolled away from...
Rachel, a female role in ancient times
Although the mention that Rachel approached the well “with some sheep” may be mere decoration, a more likely explanation may be the unique circumstances. In ancient times, it was likely unusual for Israelite women to tend to the sheep. The innocuous injection of this brief explanation paints the picture of Rachel as a strong woman. Also note that the description of the events imply Rachel was not wearing a veil either, potentially another indicator of her unique character.
We met Laban in an earlier story
You may remember Laban from an earlier story. In Genesis 24:1-61, Abraham’s servant was sent to find a wife for Abraham’s son, Isaac (Jacob’s father). Similar to the events in this story, Abraham’s servant met Rebekah (Jacob’s mother) at a well in Nahor. Her brother, the same Laban who met Jacob at the well, went to the well to greet the servant and offer him a place to stay for the night. Later Laban agreed to allow Rebekah to become Isaac’s wife. Despite Laban’s gracious consideration for h...
Kisses in ancient times
Although Jacob did eventually fall in love with Rachel, his greeting with a kiss should not be construed as a sign of romantic love (further supported by the statement, “Laban, the brother of his mother”, emphasizing the familial relations between Jacob and Laban). In the ancient Near East, greeting with a kiss, for both men and women, was a normal greeting. In fact, when Laban meets Jacob, the Bible notes that he embraced and kissed him too. Regardless, this is the only instance in the Bible...
The covering of wells
Modern readers may wonder why the well was covered with a stone in the first place. Safety of people and animals as well as protecting the water from contamination are certainly valid reasons but remember, this is a dry, arid region where water is a scarce commodity. To save water, wells were covered to eliminate wasteful evaporation. In fact, herds were gathered around the well first, and then the well would be uncovered. In ancient times, a flat, thick stone was placed over the well with a...
Jacob “lifted his feet”
The story begins by noting that Jacob continued his journey into the land of the eastern peoples. In some translations, the Hebrew is more accurately translated to “lifted up his feet”, painting a picture of a high-stepping Jacob who now has a new lease on life after God promised him blessingshe had so desperately tried to gain by his own vain efforts.
Land of the “eastern peoples”
The Bible says Jacob journeyed to the “land of the eastern peoples”. The Hebrew word used to describe the area is a generic designation for any location east of the promised land of Canaan(beyond the border of the Jordan River).
The name “Rachel”
The name “Rachel” means “to journey as a ewe that is a good traveler”.
NIV
The New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011. Print.
The Message
Peterson, Eugene H. The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language. Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2005. Print.
The NET Bible
Biblical Studies Press. The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible. Biblical Studies Press, 2006. Print.
He managed to locate his uncle, Laban, and fall in love with the younger of Laban's two daughters, Rachel (Genesis 29:16–17). After a month of work, Laban had asked what wages Jacob expected, and Jacob offered much more than he needed to in order to secure Rachel's hand in marriage.
Jacob's interview with Rachel, and hospitable reception by Laban. Rachel's approach awakens all Jacob's warmth of feeling. He rolls away the stone, waters the sheep, kisses Rachel, and bursts into tears. The remembrance of home and of the relationship of his mother to Rachel overpowers him.
Feb 15, 2019 · Soon after his arrival in Harran, Jacob fell in love with the “beautiful and lovely” Rachel, daughter of his cousin Laban (Genesis 29:17).
Jun 28, 2004 · Jacob waited, and his romantic love at first sight grew to become a deep bond of spirit and a total commitment of soul. There is an old saying that goes, “True love never runs smoothly.” That’s the way it was with Jacob and Rachel.
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Feb 26, 2024 · Jacob loved Rachel and worked for seven years in order to pay the bride price set by her father. But then, on the morning after their wedding, he discovered, due to Laban’s deception, that he had actually married Leah instead.
