and Laban said to him, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh!” And he stayed with him a month.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Laban's immediate declaration, "Surely you are my bone and my flesh!" isn't just a warm welcome; it's his formal acceptance of Jacob's identity and lineage. This profound statement, spoken right before Jacob stays for a month, underscores the ancient understanding that blood ties were the ultimate measure of belonging and trustworthiness.
and Laban said to him, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh!” And he stayed with him a month.
English Standard Version (ESV)
After Jacob reveals his identity and his relationship to Laban, Laban embraces him warmly and brings him into his home. This declaration of kinship, "Surely you are my bone and my flesh," signifies Laban's acceptance, and Jacob then stays with him for a full month, during which time the arrangement for his continued service in exchange for Rachel's hand is made.
Jacob has just revealed his identity to Laban, his uncle. Laban's response is immediate and deeply emotional. What does this phrase truly signify beyond just a biological link?
When Laban exclaims, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh!” (Genesis 29:14), he's expressing a profound sense of kinship. This isn't just a casual acknowledgement; it’s a declaration of shared identity and deep connection.
A Bond of Nature
After the warm embrace, Jacob stays with Laban for a month. This period wasn't just downtime; it was a crucial assessment before any commitment was made.
Ask a follow-up
The month Jacob spends with Laban after his arrival is more than just a waiting period; it's a time of observation and subtle negotiation.
From Guest to Worker
Understand the original words
etsem u basar · Hebrew Noun phrase
An idiom emphasizing close consanguinity or blood relationship. It functions as a declaration of shared identity, shared destiny, and the duties of kinship.
Laban's immediate, warm embrace of Jacob as 'bone of my bone' stems from a deep cultural value placed on kinship and the confirmation of Jacob's identity as his sister's son. This established relationship forms the basis for the month-long stay before formal agreements about service and marriage are made.
c. 1800-1700 BC
Jacob flees to Haran
Jacob flees his homeland after deceiving his brother Esau and father Isaac, seeking refuge with his uncle Laban in Haran. This sets the stage for his encounter with Rachel.
c. 1800-1700 BC
Jacob meets Rachel at the well
Jacob arrives at a well near Haran and encounters Rachel, his uncle Laban's daughter, while she is tending her father's sheep. He is immediately taken with her.
c. 1800-1700 BC— this verse
Jacob reveals his identity to Laban
Rachel brings Jacob to her father, Laban. Jacob reveals he is Laban's nephew, the son of Rebekah, and Laban warmly welcomes him.
c. 1800-1700 BC
Jacob agrees to serve for Rachel
After staying a month and witnessing Jacob's character and capability, Laban proposes a formal agreement: Jacob will serve him for seven years in exchange for Rachel's hand in marriage.
c. 1800-1700 BC
The deception of Leah
After Jacob serves the seven years, Laban tricks him into marrying Leah, the elder daughter, on their wedding night, substituting her for Rachel.
c. 1800-1700 BC
Jacob serves another seven years
Jacob then serves an additional seven years to marry Rachel, leading to a complex family dynamic marked by sibling rivalry and polygamy.
This passage uses the same expression 'bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh' to describe a strong kinship and tribal connection, highlighting the deep familial bond Laban felt upon recognizing Jacob.
2 Samuel 5:1Here, the elders of Israel use the phrase 'bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh' when anointing David as king, showing how this expression signifies the closest possible relationship and unity, which Laban is invoking with Jacob.
Genesis 37:27Joseph's brothers use this phrase when deciding not to kill him, stating 'he is our brother, our own flesh,' which echoes the sentiment in Genesis 29:14 of recognizing a shared humanity and blood relation.
1 Corinthians 12:27Paul describes believers as 'the body of Christ' and individually 'members of the body,' which, while a spiritual concept, relates to the profound interconnectedness and unity that Laban expresses when he calls Jacob 'my bone and my flesh.'
calvinGenesis 29:1-35: "Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east."
And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother.
Fuit autem quando vidit Iahacob Rachel filiam Laban fratris matris suae, et pecudes Laban fratris matris suae, accessit Iahacob, et revolv…
gillGenesis 29:14: "And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month."
And Laban said to him, surely thou art my bone and my flesh,.... Nearly allied in blood, being his sister's son: and he abode with him the space of a month; or "a month of days" (m), a full month to a day; all this while feeding his flocks, and doing whatsoever service he had for him to do. (m) "mensem dierum", Pagninus, Montanus, Drusius, Schmidt.
Laban's immediate declaration, "Surely you are my bone and my flesh!" isn't just a warm welcome; it's his formal acceptance of Jacob's identity and lineage. This profound statement, spoken right before Jacob stays for a month, underscores the ancient understanding that blood ties were the ultimate measure of belonging and trustworthiness.
After Jacob reveals his identity and his relationship to Laban, Laban embraces him warmly and brings him into his home. This declaration of kinship, "Surely you are my bone and my flesh," signifies Laban's acceptance, and Jacob then stays with him for a full month, during which time the arrangement for his continued service in exchange for Rachel's hand is made.
After Jacob reveals his identity and his relationship to Laban, Laban embraces him warmly and brings him into his home. This declaration of kinship, "Surely you are my bone and my flesh," signifies Laban's acceptance, and Jacob then stays with him for a full month, during which time the arrangement for his continued service in exchange for Rachel's hand is made.
"and Laban said to him, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh!” And he stayed with him a month." — Laban's immediate declaration, "Surely you are my bone and my flesh!" isn't just a warm welcome; it's his formal acceptance of Jacob's identity and lineage. This profound statement, spoken right befo…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026