English Standard Version
Genesis 29:17
17Leah's eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance.
Genesis 29:17 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.
- New International Version (NIV)Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel had a lovely figure and was beautiful.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Leah’s eyes were delicate, but Rachel was beautiful of form and appearance.
- New Living Translation (NLT)There was no sparkle in Leah’s eyes, but Rachel had a beautiful figure and a lovely face.
Context of Genesis 29:17
15Then Laban said to Jacob, "Because you are my kinsman, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?" 16Now Laban had two daughters. The name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah's eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance. 18Jacob loved Rachel. And he said, "I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel." 19Laban said, "It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to any other man; stay with me."
Read all of Genesis 29Genesis 29:17 word by word
וְעֵינֵ֥י לֵאָ֖ה רַכּ֑וֹת וְרָחֵל֙ הָֽיְתָ֔ה יְפַת־תֹּ֖אַר וִיפַ֥ת מַרְאֶֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Genesis 29:17
- Genesis 29:6He said to them, "Is it well with him?" They said, "It is well; and see, Rachel his daughter is coming with the sheep!"
- Genesis 30:1When Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, she envied her sister. She said to Jacob, "Give me children, or I shall die!"
- Genesis 35:19So Rachel died, and she was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem),
- Genesis 46:19The sons of Rachel, Jacob's wife: Joseph and Benjamin.
- Genesis 48:7As for me, when I came from Paddan, to my sorrow Rachel died in the land of Canaan on the way, when there was still some distance to go to Ephrath, and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem)."
- 1 Samuel 10:2When you depart from me today, you will meet two men by Rachel's tomb in the territory of Benjamin at Zelzah, and they will say to you, 'The donkeys that you went to seek are found, and now your father has ceased to care about the donkeys and is anxious about you, saying, "What shall I do about my son?"'
- Jeremiah 31:15Thus says the Lord: "A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more."
- Matthew 2:18"A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more."
- Genesis 12:11When he was about to enter Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, "I know that you are a woman beautiful in appearance,
- Genesis 24:16The young woman was very attractive in appearance, a maiden whom no man had known. She went down to the spring and filled her jar and came up.
- Genesis 39:6So he left all that he had in Joseph's charge, and because of him he had no concern about anything but the food he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.
- Proverbs 31:30Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Commentaries on Genesis 29:17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17Leah was tender-eyed - רכות raccoth, soft, delicate, lovely. I believe the word means just the reverse of the signification generally given to it. The design of the inspired writer is to compare both the sisters together, that the balance may appear to be greatly in favor of Rachel. The chief recommendation of Leah was her soft and beautiful eyes; but Rachel was תאר יפת yephath toar, beautiful in her shape, person, mien, and gait, and מראה יפת yephath…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-35Verses 1-35 - Jacob‘s Marriage 6. רחל rāchēl Rachel, “a ewe.” 16. לאה lê'âh Leah, “wearied.” 24. זלפה zı̂lpâh Zilpah, “drop?” 29. בלהה bı̂lhâh Bilhah, “timidity.” 32. ראוּבן re'uvbēn Reuben, “behold a son.” A paronomasia in allusion to the phrase בעניי ראה be‛ānyı̂y rā'âh Derivatives and compounds, being formed by the common speaker, are sometimes founded upon resemblance in sound, and not always on precise forms of the original sentence which…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-30Verses 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' service Love makes long and…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 14-30Jacob looked forward with joy to marrying Rachel, but this hope became a time of testing. Laban acted with shrewdness (clever but not honest behavior), and Jacob was disciplined (corrected and trained). Jacob and his mother had deceived his father and brother to gain the blessing. Now Laban, his mother’s brother, deceived him. Jacob experienced the results of his own dishonesty through 20 years of hard work, suffering, and being misled while serving Laban…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 14-2014-20. he abode a month--Among pastoral people a stranger is freely entertained for three days; on the fourth day he is expected to tell his name and errand; and if he prolongs his stay after that time, he must set his hand to work in some way, as may be agreed upon. A similar rule obtained in Laban's establishment, and the wages for which his nephew engaged to continue in his employment was the hand of Rachel.Read the comment
Topics related to Genesis 29:17
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Genesis 29
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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Commentaries