Genesis 29:26
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.
American King James Version (AKJV)
And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.
American Standard Version (ASV)
And Laban said, It is not so done in our place, to give the younger before the first-born.
Basic English Translation (BBE)
And Laban said, In our country we do not let the younger daughter be married before the older.
Webster's Revision
And Laban said, it must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the first-born.
World English Bible
Laban said, "It is not done so in our place, to give the younger before the firstborn.
English Revised Version (ERV)
And Laban said, It is not so done in our place, to give the younger before the firstborn.
Clarke's Genesis 29:26 Bible Commentary
It must not be so done in our country - It was an early custom to give daughters in marriage according to their seniority; and it is worthy of remark that the oldest people now existing, next to the Jews, I mean the Hindoos, have this not merely as a custom, but as a positive law; and they deem it criminal to give a younger daughter in marriage while an elder daughter remains unmarried. Among them it is a high offense, equal to adultery, "for a man to marry while his elder brother remains unmarried, or for a man to give his daughter to such a person, or to give his youngest daughter in marriage while the eldest sister remains unmarried." - Code of Gentoo Laws, chap. xv., sec. 1, p. 204. This was a custom at Mesopotamia; but Laban took care to conceal it from Jacob till after he had given him Leah. The words of Laban are literally what a Hindoo would say on such a subject.
Wesley's Genesis 29:26 Bible Commentary
29:26 It must be so done in our country - We have reason to think there was no such custom in his country; but if there was, and that he resolved to observe it, he should have told Jacob so, when he undertook to serve him for his younger daughter.