KJV ORIGINAL
And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
Laban said, 'In our country, we don't do things that way—we don't give the younger daughter in marriage before the older one.'
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
Laban is explaining to Jacob that their custom requires the older daughter to marry first before the younger one can be given in marriage.
📚 Historical Context
This occurs after Jacob worked seven years for Laban to marry Rachel, but Laban tricked him by giving him Leah (the older daughter) instead on the wedding night. When Jacob confronted Laban the next morning, Laban used this cultural custom as his justification for the deception, though he had never mentioned this rule during their original agreement.
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