Genesis 29:19 Laban replied, "Better that I give her to you than to another. Stay here with me."

◄ Genesis 29:19 ►

New International Version
Laban said, “It’s better that I give her to you than to some other man. Stay here with me.”

New Living Translation
“Agreed!” Laban replied. “I’d rather give her to you than to anyone else. Stay and work with me.”

English Standard Version
Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to any other man; stay with me.”

Berean Standard Bible
Laban replied, “Better that I give her to you than to another. Stay here with me.”

King James Bible
And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me.

New King James Version
And Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to another man. Stay with me.”

New American Standard Bible
Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than to give her to another man; stay with me.”

NASB 1995
Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than to give her to another man; stay with me.”

NASB 1977
And Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to another man; stay with me.”

Legacy Standard Bible
And Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than to give her to another man; stay with me.”

Amplified Bible
Laban said, “It is better that I give her [in marriage] to you than give her to another man. Stay and work with me.”

Christian Standard Bible
Laban replied, “Better that I give her to you than to some other man. Stay with me.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Laban replied, “Better that I give her to you than to some other man. Stay with me.”

American Standard Version
And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me.

Contemporary English Version
Laban replied, "It's better for me to let you marry Rachel than for someone else to have her. So stay and work for me."

English Revised Version
And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Laban responded, "It's better that I give her to you than to any other man. Stay with me."

Good News Translation
Laban answered, "I would rather give her to you than to anyone else; stay here with me."

International Standard Version
"It's better that I give her to you than to another man," Laban replied, "so stay with me."

Majority Standard Bible
Laban replied, ?Better that I give her to you than to another. Stay here with me.?

NET Bible
Laban replied, "I'd rather give her to you than to another man. Stay with me."

New Heart English Bible
Laban said, "It is better that I give her to you, than that I should give her to another man. Stay with me."

Webster's Bible Translation
And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me.

World English Bible
Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you, than that I should give her to another man. Stay with me.”

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
and Laban says, “It is better for me to give her to you than to give her to another man; dwell with me”;

Young's Literal Translation
and Laban saith, 'It is better for me to give her to thee than to give her to another man; dwell with me;'

Smith's Literal Translation
And Laban will say, Good for me to give her to thee rather than for me to give her to another man. Dwell with me.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
Lahan answered: It is better that I give her thee than to another man; stay with me.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Laban responded, “It is better that I give her to you than to another man; remain with me.”

New American Bible
Laban replied, “It is better to give her to you than to another man. Stay with me.”

New Revised Standard Version
Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to any other man; stay with me.”

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And Laban said to him, It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to another man; abide with me.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Laban said to him, “Better that I give her to you than that I give her to another man. Stay with me.”

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And Laban said: 'It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man; abide with me.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Laban said to him, It is better that I should give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man; dwell with me.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel
…18Since Jacob loved Rachel, he answered, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.” 19Laban replied, “Better that I give her to you than to another. Stay here with me.” 20So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, yet it seemed but a few days because of his love for her.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Genesis 24:51
Rebekah is here before you. Take her and go, and let her become the wife of your master’s son, just as the LORD has decreed.”

Genesis 24:58-60
They called Rebekah and asked her, “Will you go with this man?” “I will go,” she replied. / So they sent their sister Rebekah on her way, along with her nurse and Abraham’s servant and his men. / And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, “Our sister, may you become the mother of thousands upon thousands. May your offspring possess the gates of their enemies.”

Genesis 28:2
“Go at once to Paddan-aram, to the house of your mother’s father Bethuel, and take a wife from among the daughters of Laban, your mother’s brother.

Genesis 24:67
And Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah and took Rebekah as his wife. And Isaac loved her and was comforted after his mother’s death.

Genesis 31:15
Are we not regarded by him as outsiders? Not only has he sold us, but he has certainly squandered what was paid for us.

Genesis 2:24
For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.

Genesis 34:12
Demand a high dowry and an expensive gift, and I will give you whatever you ask. Only give me the girl as my wife!”

Exodus 2:21
Moses agreed to stay with the man, and he gave his daughter Zipporah to Moses in marriage.

Ruth 4:10
Moreover, I have acquired Ruth the Moabitess, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, to raise up the name of the deceased through his inheritance, so that his name will not disappear from among his brothers or from the gate of his home. You are witnesses today.”

1 Samuel 18:17
Then Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab. I will give her to you in marriage. Only be valiant for me and fight the LORD’s battles.” But Saul was thinking, “I need not raise my hand against him; let the hand of the Philistines be against him.”

1 Samuel 18:27
David and his men went out and killed two hundred Philistines. He brought their foreskins and presented them as payment in full to become the king’s son-in-law. Then Saul gave his daughter Michal to David in marriage.

1 Samuel 25:40-41
When his servants came to Abigail at Carmel, they said, “David has sent us to take you as his wife.” / She arose, bowed facedown, and said, “Here is your servant, ready to serve and to wash the feet of my lord’s servants.”

2 Samuel 3:14
Then David sent messengers to say to Ish-bosheth son of Saul, “Give me back my wife, Michal, whom I betrothed to myself for a hundred Philistine foreskins.”

Matthew 1:18-20
This 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. / Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and was unwilling to disgrace her publicly, he resolved to divorce her quietly. / But after he had pondered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to embrace Mary as your wife, for the One conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 22:2
“The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son.

Treasury of Scripture

And Laban said, It is better that I give her to you, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me.

Psalm 12:2
They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.

Isaiah 6:5,11
Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts…

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Abide Better Dwell Laban

Genesis 29

1. Jacob comes to the well of Haran.
9. He becomes acquainted with Rachel.
13. Laban entertains him.
18. Jacob covenants for Rachel.
23. He is deceived by Laban with Leah.
28. He marries also Rachel, and serves for her seven years more.
32. Leah bears Reuben;
33. Simeon;
34. Levi;
35. and Judah.

Berean Study Bible

Laban replied
The name "Laban" in Hebrew means "white" or "shining." Laban is a significant figure in the Genesis narrative, representing a complex character who is both a family member and a shrewd negotiator. His reply here is indicative of his pragmatic approach to familial and social relationships. In the ancient Near Eastern context, family alliances were crucial, and Laban's response reflects his desire to maintain control and influence within his family circle.

Better that I give her to you
The phrase "better that I give her to you" reveals Laban's preference for Jacob as a son-in-law over other potential suitors. This preference is not necessarily based on affection but rather on the benefits that Jacob, as a family member, could bring. In the Hebrew culture of the time, marriages were often arranged to strengthen family ties and ensure the continuation of the family lineage. Laban's decision is strategic, ensuring that his daughter remains within the extended family, which would have been seen as advantageous.

than to another
The mention of "another" highlights the competitive nature of marriage arrangements in ancient times. Daughters were often seen as valuable assets in forming alliances, and Laban's statement underscores the importance of choosing a son-in-law who would contribute positively to the family's status and wealth. This phrase also subtly indicates Laban's awareness of the potential suitors and his calculated decision to favor Jacob.

Stay here with me
Laban's invitation for Jacob to "stay here with me" is both hospitable and self-serving. In the ancient world, hospitality was a highly valued virtue, and inviting someone to stay was a sign of acceptance and goodwill. However, Laban's invitation also serves his interests, as keeping Jacob close ensures that he can benefit from Jacob's labor and skills. This phrase reflects the cultural norms of the time, where extended family living arrangements were common, and labor was often exchanged for room and board.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(19) It is better that I give her to thee.--It is still the custom among the Arabs to prefer a relative as the husband of a daughter, and on giving a moderato dowry the elder cousins can claim the elder daughters in marriage, and the younger the younger. Thus Jacob, as the second son, had a claim upon Rachel. The Rabbins even say that Leah's eyes were weak from weeping, because Esau had not come to marry her. This absurd idea bears witness, nevertheless, to the custom of the intermarriage of cousins being an established rule, and gives a reason for Laban's acceptance of Jacob as the husband of his younger child. As Jacob offered seven years' service for Rachel, and gave a second seven years' service for her after he had been tricked into taking Leah, we may conclude that the length of time was not unreasonable.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 19. - And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man. Orientals commonly prefer alliances within the circle of their own relatives. Burckhardt, Volney, Layard, and Lane testify that this is still the case among the Bedouins, the Druses, and other Eastern tribes. Abide with me - a formal ratification of the compact on the part of Laban.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

Laban
לָבָ֗ן (lā·ḇān)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3837: Laban -- father-in-law of Jacob

replied,
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Better
ט֚וֹב (ṭō·wḇ)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good

that I give
תִּתִּ֣י (tit·tî)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | first person common singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

her
אֹתָ֣הּ (’ō·ṯāh)
Direct object marker | third person feminine singular
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

to you
לָ֔ךְ (lāḵ)
Preposition | second person feminine singular
Strong's Hebrew

than
מִתִּתִּ֥י (mit·tit·tî)
Preposition-m | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | first person common singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

to another.
אַחֵ֑ר (’a·ḥêr)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 312: Hinder, next, other

Stay here
שְׁבָ֖ה (šə·ḇāh)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry

with me.”
עִמָּדִֽי׃ (‘im·mā·ḏî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 5978: Against, by, from, me, mine, of, that I take, unto,

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OT Law: Genesis 29:19 Laban said It is better that (Gen. Ge Gn)