Genesis 30:29

Then Jacob answered, “You know how I have served you and how your livestock have thrived under my care.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Jacob addresses Laban immediately after his father-in-law offers to name his wages. He grounds his response in their shared history of labor and livestock management.

The words — יָדַ֔עְתָּ (ya.Da'.ta) translates literally as "you know," while עֲבַדְתִּ֑י/ךָ ('a.vad.Ti./kha) means "I have served you." These terms anchor Jacob's appeal in witnessed labor rather than abstract negotiation.

The thread — The pattern of faithful service meeting divine blessing reappears in Genesis 31:6 and Genesis 31:38, where Jacob again details his twenty years of labor for Laban. The New Testament applies the servant-master dynamic to Christian conduct in 1 Peter 2:18.

Why it lands — The text demands recognition that faithful work precedes fair compensation. It challenges readers to evaluate agreements based on documented results rather than unproven promises.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וַיֹּ֣אמֶרva/i.Yo.merand/ he said אֵלָ֔יו'e.La/vto/ him אַתָּ֣ה'a.Tahyou יָדַ֔עְתָּya.Da'.tayou know אֵ֖ת'et<obj.>אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.Sherhow עֲבַדְתִּ֑יךָ'a.vad.Ti./khaI have served/ you וְאֵ֛תve./'Etand/ <obj.>אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-how הָיָ֥הha.Yahit has been מִקְנְךָ֖mik.ne./Chalivestock/ your אִתִּֽי׃'i.T/iwith/ me

King James Version

And he said unto him, Thou knowest how I have served thee, and how thy cattle was with me.

Cross-references

Genesis 31:6 You know that I have served your father with all my strength.
Genesis 31:38 I have been with you for twenty years now. Your sheep and goats have not miscarried, nor have I eaten the rams of your flock.
1 Peter 2:18 Servants, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but even to those who are unreasonable.
Genesis 30:5 and Bilhah conceived and bore him a son.
Matthew 24:45 Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of his household, to give the others their food at the proper time?
Ephesians 6:5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear and sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.
Colossians 3:22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything, not only to please them while they are watching, but with sincerity of heart and fear of the Lord.
Titus 2:9 Slaves are to submit to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not argumentative,
1 Peter 2:15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorance of foolish men.