Verse Lens · Concise explanation
Genesis 30:28 Explained in Context
Use this verse as a doorway into the larger passage—not as an isolated saying.
Verse 28. 28And he said, Appoint me thy wages, and I will give it.
King James Version — public domain in the United States · Bible text and permissions
Quick Meaning
Laban tells Jacob to name his wages and promises to pay. The offer keeps the negotiation open because Laban still wants Jacob's profitable service.
Read It With
- Genesis 30:25–43
Read verses 27–33. Laban first states why he wants Jacob to stay; Jacob recalls the flock's growth; then he proposes the marked-animal arrangement. Without those verses, the wage offer can look more generous and complete than it is.
Why This Verse Appears Here
The wage offer converts Laban's desire to keep Jacob into a new economic negotiation.
Read Genesis 30:27–30 together
Why these verses belong together: Laban recognizes benefit through Jacob, offers wages, and Jacob recalls the increase while asking to provide for his own household.
Verse 27. 27 And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favour in thine eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the LORD hath blessed me for thy sake.
Verse 28. 28 And he said, Appoint me thy wages, and I will give it.
Verse 29. 29 And he said unto him, Thou knowest how I have served thee, and how thy cattle was with me.
Verse 30. 30 For it was little which thou hadst before I came, and it is now increased unto a multitude; and the LORD hath blessed thee since my coming: and now when shall I provide for mine own house also?
What Remains True
Fair compensation requires more than an attractive promise; terms must be clear and honored in practice.
How It Can Shape Life
- Define compensation before more work is performed, and evaluate later conduct rather than assuming that a verbal offer proves fairness.
Continue in Context
The full thought-unit study remains the final contextual authority for this Verse Lens.
Read Genesis 30:25–43 — Jacob's Flocks Increase Under a New AgreementSources used for this Verse Lens
How certain is this explanation? very strong
These are the sources used directly for this lens. Language, grammar, disagreements, and the complete source shelf remain attached to the full thought-unit research record.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: Displayed wording, unit boundary, negotiation, flock procedure, wealth summary, later divine explanation, and return movement.
Exact location: Genesis 30:25–43 in the pinned eng-kjv2006 source; compared with Genesis 28:10–22; 29:31–30:24; 31:1–16, 36–42; 32:9–12; and 33:1–17
Open source ↗hebrew text morphology and lemma data
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible — Genesis
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible Project
Open Scriptures, Version 2.2 released 2021; repository inspected 2026
Supports: Hebrew vocabulary, participant tracking, animal-color uncertainty, wordplays, syntax, and breeding language.
Exact location: Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible, wlc/Gen.xml, Genesis 30:25–43; morphology and wording for divined, blessed, wages, righteousness, speckled, spotted, dark, streaked, rods, peeled, troughs, mating, stronger, weaker, and increased
Open source ↗Translation and textual notes
NET Bible — Genesis with translators' notes
Biblical Studies Press
Biblical Studies Press, Digital edition accessed 2026
Supports: Divination translation, wage grammar, animal terms, tree names, mating verbs, strong and weak terminology, and translation alternatives.
Exact location: NET Bible, Genesis 30:25–43 and translator notes, especially notes on 30:27, 30:30, 30:32–33, 30:35–43; compared with 31:6–12
Open NET Genesis 30 ↗