John Calvin Commentary Genesis 29:18

"And Jacob loved Rachel. And he said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter." — Genesis 29:18 (ASV)

I will serve thee seven years. The iniquity of Laban betrays itself in a moment, for it is a shameful barbarity to give his daughter as a reward in exchange for Jacob’s services, making her the subject of a kind of barter. He ought, on the other hand, not only to have assigned a portion to his daughter but also to have acted more liberally toward his future son-in-law.

But under the pretext of affinity, he defrauds him of the reward of his labor, the very thing which he had previously acknowledged to be unjust. We therefore perceive still more clearly what I have previously alluded to: that although from their mother’s womb men have a general notion of justice, yet as soon as their own advantage presents itself to view, they become actually unjust, unless the Lord reforms them by His Spirit.

Moses does not here relate something rare or unusual, but what is a most common occurrence. For though men do not sell their daughters, yet the desire for gain hurries the greater part of them so far away that they prostitute their honor and sell their souls.

Furthermore, it is not altogether to be deemed a fault that Jacob was rather inclined to love Rachel. This might have been because Leah, on account of her tender eyes, was less beautiful, or perhaps she was pleasing only by the comeliness of her eyes, while Rachel excelled her altogether in elegance of form.

For we see how naturally a secret kind of affection produces mutual love. Only excess is to be guarded against, and all the more diligently because it is difficult to restrain affections of this kind so that they do not prevail to the stifling of reason. Therefore, one who is induced to choose a wife because of the elegance of her form will not necessarily sin, provided reason always maintains the ascendancy and holds the wantonness of passion in subjection.

Yet perhaps Jacob sinned in being too self-indulgent when he desired Rachel, the younger sister, to be given to him, to the injury of the elder. He may also have sinned when, yielding to the desire of his own eyes, he undervalued the virtues of Leah. For this is a very culpable lack of self-control, when anyone chooses a wife only for her beauty, whereas excellence of disposition ought to be deemed of the first importance.

But the strength and ardor of his attachment manifests itself in this: he felt no weariness in the labor of seven years. Chastity was also joined with it, so that he persevered during this long period with a patient and quiet mind in the midst of so many labors.

And here again the integrity and continence of that age is apparent: though dwelling under the same roof and accustomed to familiar interaction, Jacob still conducted himself with modesty and abstained from all impropriety. Therefore, at the close of the appointed time he said, Give me my wife, that I may go in unto her, by which he implies that she had been a pure virgin until then.