New English Translation
Genesis 29:17
17Leah’s eyes were tender, but Rachel had a lovely figure and beautiful 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.
- 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 Jacob, “Should you work for me for nothing because you are my relative? Tell me what your wages should be.” 16(Now Laban had two daughters; the older one was named Leah, and the younger one Rachel. Leah’s eyes were tender, but Rachel had a lovely figure and beautiful appearance.) 18Since Jacob had fallen in love with Rachel, he said, “I’ll serve you seven years in exchange for your younger daughter Rachel.” 19Laban replied, “I’d rather give her to you than to another 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“Is he well?” Jacob asked. They replied, “He is well. Now look, here comes his daughter Rachel with the sheep.”
- Genesis 30:1When Rachel saw that she could not give Jacob children, she became jealous of her sister. She said to Jacob, “Give me children or I’ll die!”
- Genesis 35:19So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).
- Genesis 46:19The sons of Rachel the wife of Jacob: Joseph and Benjamin.
- Genesis 48:7But as for me, when I was returning from Paddan, Rachel died – to my sorrow – in the land of Canaan. It happened along the way, 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, you will find two men near Rachel’s tomb at Zelzah on Benjamin’s border. They will say to you, ‘The donkeys you have gone looking for have been found. Your father is no longer concerned about the donkeys but has become anxious about you two! He is asking, “What should I do about my son?”’
- Jeremiah 31:15The Lord says, “A sound is heard in Ramah, a sound of crying in bitter grief. It is the sound of Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because her children are gone.”
- Matthew 2:18“A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud wailing, Rachel weeping for her children, and she did not want to be comforted, because they were gone.”
- Genesis 12:11As he approached Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “Look, I know that you are a beautiful woman.
- Genesis 24:16Now the young woman was very beautiful. She was a virgin; no man had ever had sexual relations with her. She went down to the spring, filled her jug, and came back up.
- Genesis 39:6So Potiphar left everything he had in Joseph’s care; he gave no thought to anything except the food he ate. Now Joseph was well built and good-looking.
- Proverbs 31:30Charm is deceitful and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord will 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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