Genesis 29 · Verse 21

Genesis 29:21

And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.
Genesis 29:21, King James Version

Genesis 29:21 in other translations

BSBFinally Jacob said to Laban, “Grant me my wife, for my time is complete, and I want to sleep with her.”
WEBJacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her.”
ASVAnd Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.
YLTAnd Jacob saith unto Laban, ‘Give up my wife, for my days have been fulfilled, and I go in unto her;'
DARBYAnd Jacob said to Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her.
BBEThen Jacob said to Laban, Give me my wife so that I may have her, for the days are ended.
WebsterAnd Jacob said to Laban, Give me my wife (for my days are fulfilled) that I may go in to her.

What does Genesis 29:21 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
21. Jacob said, Give me my wife--At the expiry of the stipulated term the marriage festivities were held. But an infamous fraud was practised on Jacob, and on his showing a righteous indignation, the usage of the country was pleaded in excuse. No plea of kindred should ever be allowed to come in opposition to the claim of justice. But this is often overlooked by the selfish mind of man, and fashion or custom rules instead of the will of God. This was what Laban did, as he said, "It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the first-born." But, then, if that were the prevailing custom of society at Haran, he should have apprized his nephew of it at an early period in an honorable manner. This, however, is too much the way with the people of the East still. The duty of marrying an elder daughter before a younger, the tricks which parents take to get off an elder daughter that is plain or deformed and in which they are favored by the long bridal veil that entirely conceals her features all the wedding day, and the prolongation for a week of the marriage festivities among the greater sheiks, are accordant with the habits of the people in Arabia and Armenia in the present day.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 21 My days are fulfilled - My seven years are now completed, let me have my wife, for whom I have given this service as a dowry.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Genesis 29:15-30

During the month that Jacob spent as a guest, he was not idle. Wherever we are, it is good to employ ourselves in some useful business. Laban was desirous that Jacob should continue with him. Inferior relations must not be imposed upon; it is our duty to reward them. Jacob made known to Laban the affection he had for his daughter Rachel. And having no wordly goods with which to endow her, he promises seven years'…

Read the full comment on Genesis 29:15-30 →

Genesis 29:21 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merand he saidH559
יַעֲקֹ֤בya.'a.KoJacobH3290
אֶל\־'el-toH413
לָבָן֙la.VanLabanH3837
הָבָ֣הha.Vahgive !H3051
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
אִשְׁתִּ֔י'ish.Tiwife myH802
כִּ֥יkiforH3588
מָלְא֖וּmal.'Uthey have been completedH4390
יָמָ֑יya.Maidays myH3117
וְאָב֖וֹאָהve.'a.Vo.'ahso I may goH935
אֵלֶֽיהָ\׃'e.Lei.hainto herH413

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Genesis 29:21

  • Judges 15:1

    But it came to pass within a while after, in the time of wheat harvest, that Samson visited his wife with a kid; and he said, I will go in to my wife into the chamber. But her father would not suffer him to go in.

  • Genesis 4:1

    And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord.

  • Genesis 38:16

    And he turned unto her by the way, and said, Go to, I pray thee, let me come in unto thee; (for he knew not that she was his daughter in law.) And she said, What wilt thou give me, that thou mayest come in unto me?

  • Matthew 1:18

    Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

  • Genesis 31:41

    Thus have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle: and thou hast changed my wages ten times.

  • Genesis 29:20

    And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.

  • Genesis 29:18

    And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Give me.
Mt 1:18
my days.
18,20; 31:41
go in.
4:1; 38:16; Jud 15:1

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Genesis 29:20

    And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.

  • Genesis 29:21

    And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.

  • Genesis 29:22

    And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.

Read all of Genesis 29

Genesis 29:21 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y dijo Jacob á Labán: Dame mi mujer, porque mi tiempo es cumplido, para que cohabite con ella.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et Jacob dit à Laban: Donne-moi ma femme; car mes jours sont accomplis, et je viendrai vers elle.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und Jakob sprach zu Laban: Gib mir mein Weib; denn meine Tage sind erfüllt, daß ich zu ihr eingehe.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Dixitque ad Laban: Da mihi uxorem meam: quia jam tempus impletum est, ut ingrediar ad illam.