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
In the biblical narrative of Genesis, Jacob had fled from his brother Esau after deceiving him to obtain the birthright and blessing, seeking refuge with his uncle Laban in Haran. There, Jacob met Laban's daughters, Leah and Rachel, and fell in love with Rachel, agreeing to work for Laban for seven years to marry her. This verse shows Laban responding to Jacob's commitment by affirming that it's preferable to give Rachel to him rather than to another man, highlighting the cultural practice of arranged marriages and family alliances in ancient Near Eastern societies.
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