And he said, Appoint me your wages, and I will give it.
Genesis 29:15,19 And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be? …
Laban continued the negotiation after acknowledging that the Lord had blessed him because of Jacob’s presence. Though he recognized God’s favor on Jacob, Laban still sought to secure that blessing for himself by keeping Jacob in his household.
1Ki 5:6 Now therefore, order that cedars of Lebanon be cut down…
Gen 29:15 Just because you are my relative, should you work…
Mat 20:2 He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day…
“Name your wages,
Jacob had already served Laban fourteen years for Rachel, and Laban now invited him to state the terms for further service. The offer sounded generous, yet Laban’s earlier deception in giving Leah to Jacob and his later changes to Jacob’s wages revealed a pattern of self-interest. Jacob would need wisdom to deal honestly with a man who repeatedly sought his own advantage.
2Ch 2:10 I will pay your servants, the woodcutters,…
Gen 31:7 And although he has cheated me and changed my wages…
Gen 31:41 Thus for twenty years I have served in your household—…
and I will pay them.”
Laban promised payment, likely in livestock, the chief measure of wealth in the pastoral economy of that region. God used the arrangement that followed to increase Jacob’s flocks despite Laban’s attempts to limit him. Jacob’s growing prosperity fulfilled the Lord’s covenant purpose and showed that human manipulation could not overturn God’s blessing upon the family through whom He would bring His promises to the nations.
Mat 20:8 When evening came, the owner of the vineyard…
Deu 24:15 You are to pay his wages each day before sunset…
Lev 19:13 You must not defraud your neighbor or rob him.…
- Laban has just confessed, “The LORD has blessed me because of you” (Genesis 30:27). His next words build on that admission, showing he knows the blessing is ongoing and tied to Jacob’s continued presence.
- Scripture often records someone “adding” or “continuing” to speak when a crucial point is being pressed (cf. Genesis 18:32; 24:20). Here, the narrative highlights that Laban is eager—almost anxious—to secure Jacob’s continued labor.
- God’s faithfulness to His covenant line shines through: just as He prospered Abraham (Genesis 24:35) and Isaac (Genesis 26:12–14), He is unmistakably prospering Jacob. Laban can’t miss it, and he speaks accordingly.
- This sounds generous, yet Genesis 29:15 shows Laban used the same phrase when Jacob first arrived, and Genesis 31:7 reveals he later “changed Jacob’s wages ten times.” The invitation is real, but Laban’s track record cautions us against taking it at face value.
- The Bible repeatedly affirms the principle of fair compensation: “You shall not oppress your neighbor or rob him. The wages of a hired worker must not remain with you until morning” (Leviticus 19:13). See also Deuteronomy 24:15; Luke 10:7; 1 Timothy 5:18.
- For Jacob, naming his wages will become the means God uses to multiply the flock supernaturally (Genesis 30:37–43). What looks like ordinary negotiation is, in God’s hands, a stage for covenant blessing.
- Lessons echoed in Proverbs 16:3 (“Commit your works to the LORD”) remind us that trusting God’s oversight, not human promises, ultimately secures our provision.
- Laban vows to meet whatever terms Jacob sets. Scripture stresses the moral weight behind such promises: “Do not withhold good from the one to whom it is due” (Proverbs 3:27–28) and “Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair” (Colossians 4:1).
- Yet Laban’s later behavior (Genesis 31:41–42) shows the emptiness of his pledge. James 5:4 warns of “the wages you failed to pay” crying out against unjust employers—a sober contrast to Laban’s claim here.
- God protects His servant despite human duplicity. When Laban later chases Jacob, God intervenes in a dream: “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad” (Genesis 31:24), underscoring divine oversight in every business dealing.
The single verse, “And he added, ‘Name your wages, and I will pay them’” (Genesis 30:28), spotlights Laban’s eagerness to keep the blessing flowing through Jacob. His words affirm the biblical expectation of fair pay, yet his later conduct exposes human unreliability. Behind the scene, God’s steadfast commitment to Jacob turns a simple wage discussion into an avenue for covenant prosperity. Trusting the Lord, not fallible promises, remains the surest refuge for every believer.
Verse 28. - And he said, Appoint me thy wages. Literally, distinctly specify (from a root signifying to bore, hence to declare accurately) thy hire upon me, i.e. which I will take upon me as binding. Laban's caution to be clear and specific in defining the terms of any engagement he might enter into was much needed, and would doubtless not be neglected by Jacob, whose past experience must have taught him he was dealing with one who, in respect of covenants and contracts, was eminently treacherous. And I will give it.Genesis 30:28 NIV
Genesis 30:28 NLT
Genesis 30:28 ESV
Genesis 30:28 NASB
Genesis 30:28 KJV
Genesis 30:28 Study Bible
Genesis 30:28 Biblia Paralela
Genesis 30:28 Chinese Bible
Genesis 30:28 French Bible
Genesis 30:28 Catholic Bible
OT Law: Genesis 30:28 He said Appoint me your wages (Gen. Ge Gn)