Thus have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle: and thou hast changed my wages ten times.
I have been in your household for twenty years now. I worked fourteen years to earn your two daughters as my wives, and six years to build up your livestock. During all this time, you have changed what you promised to pay me ten different times.
Jacob is confronting his father-in-law Laban about twenty years of unfair treatment, including broken promises about his wages.
📚 Historical Context
In the biblical narrative, Jacob fled from his brother Esau and sought refuge with his uncle Laban in Haran, where he agreed to work seven years to marry Rachel, but Laban tricked him by giving him Leah instead, requiring another seven years for Rachel and six more for livestock. This totaled twenty years of service, during which Laban repeatedly changed Jacob's wages, illustrating the ongoing tension and deceit in their relationship as part of God's larger plan to fulfill His promises to Jacob. The story reflects the cultural practices of ancient Near Eastern societies, where family alliances through marriage often involved labor agreements that could be manipulated for personal gain.
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