God’s Word Translation
Genesis 29:17
17Leah had attractive eyes, but Rachel had a beautiful figure and beautiful features.
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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Leah's eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Leah’s eyes were delicate, but Rachel was beautiful of form and appearance.
Context of Genesis 29:17
15Then Laban said to him, “Just because you’re my relative doesn’t mean that you should work for nothing. Tell me what your wages should be.” 16Laban had two daughters. The name of the older one was Leah, and the name of the younger one was Rachel. Leah had attractive eyes, but Rachel had a beautiful figure and beautiful features. 18Jacob loved Rachel. So he offered, “I’ll work seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel.” 19Laban responded, “It’s better that I give her to you than 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 29:6“How is he doing?” Jacob asked them. “He’s fine,” they answered. “Here comes his daughter Rachel with the sheep.”
- Genesis 30:1Rachel saw that she could not have children for Jacob, and she became jealous of her sister. She said to Jacob, “Give me children, or I’ll die!”
- Genesis 35:19Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).
- Genesis 46:19The sons of Jacob’s wife Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin.
- Genesis 48:7As I was coming back from Paddan, Rachel died in Canaan when we were still some distance from Ephrath. So I buried her there on the way to Ephrath” (that is, Bethlehem).
- 1 Samuel 10:2When you leave me today, two men will be at Rachel’s grave on the border of Benjamin at Zelzah. They’ll tell you, ‘We’ve found the donkeys you went looking for. Your father no longer cares about them. Instead, he’s worried about you. He keeps asking, “What can I do ⌞to find⌟ my son?” ’
- Jeremiah 31:15This is what the Lord says: A sound is heard in Ramah, the sound of crying in bitter grief. Rachel is crying for her children. She refuses to be comforted, because they are dead.
- Matthew 2:18“A sound was heard in Ramah, the sound of crying in bitter grief. Rachel was crying for her children. She refused to be comforted because they were dead.”
- Genesis 12:11When he was about to enter Egypt, Abram said to his wife Sarai, “I know that you’re a beautiful woman.
- Genesis 24:16The girl was a very attractive virgin. No man had ever had sexual intercourse with her. She went down to the spring, filled her jar, and came back.
- Genesis 39:6So he left all that he owned in Joseph’s care. He wasn’t concerned about anything except the food he ate. Joseph was well-built and handsome.
- Proverbs 31:30“Charm is deceptive, and beauty evaporates, ⌞but⌟ a woman who has the fear of the Lord should 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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries