Genesis 29:15

Genesis 29:15, in plain English

Laban asks Jacob what fair wages he should offer for his work, recognizing that family relationship doesn't mean Jacob should work for nothing.

Why it's here

Laban is being genuinely fair. He wants to compensate his nephew properly. He's treating Jacob as someone with dignity and worth, not as a poor relative who should just be grateful for shelter. This is honor being shown.

Who's speaking

Laban asking Jacob about his wages

Where it sits in the story

This is the setup for everything that follows. Jacob is about to answer, and his answer will set him on a path of labor and heartbreak, but also growth. What he names as his desire will define his next seven years.

The scholarly reading

Laban asks Jacob what his wages should be, recognizing that even kinship ought not to render service without compensation.

Language and setting

Laban's question—הִשָּׁמְרֵנִי מַה־מְשׂכֻּרְתְּךָ (hishshomru mi mah meskurtecha—"Tell me what your wages should be")—establishes that kinship recognition does not obviate economic fairness. Laban demonstrates shrewd business sense: rather than imposing terms, he invites Jacob to name his price. This rhetorical strategy binds Jacob to whatever terms he accepts and transforms the relationship into a contractual one. Medieval commentators including Ibn Ezra recognized this as Laban's financial cunning: he extracts Jacob's commitment before the terms are clarified.

Voice

Laban, immediately transitioning from emotional welcome to economic negotiation.

Significance

The question pivots from kinship recognition to contractual service: the stage is now set for the negotiation that will define Jacob's Mesopotamian years and test whether his character—already compromised by deception—will mature or further deteriorate.

13When Laban heard the news about his sister’s son Jacob, he ran out to meet him. He embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his home, where Jacob told him all that had happened.

14Then Laban declared, “You are indeed my own flesh and blood.”

15Laban said to him, “Just because you are my relative, should you work for nothing? Tell me what your wages should be.”

16Now Laban had two daughters; the older was named Leah, and the younger was named Rachel.

17Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel was shapely and beautiful.

Read all of Genesis 29 — The deceiver gets deceived. Jacob works seven years for Rachel, wakes up married to Leah, and learns what it feels like to be tricked.