And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me.
And Laban said, 'It would be better for me to give her to you than to give her to some other man. Stay here with me.'
Laban is telling Jacob that he'd rather have him marry his daughter Rachel than let her marry a stranger, but Jacob needs to stay and work for him.
📚 Historical Context
This takes place when Jacob has asked to marry Rachel, Laban's daughter, after working for him for seven years. In ancient Middle Eastern culture, fathers had complete authority over whom their daughters married, and marriage arrangements often involved negotiations about bride prices and family alliances. Laban sees an advantage in keeping Jacob, a skilled shepherd and his own nephew, close to the family.
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