Genesis 29:26Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Laban crafted a reasonable justification. Aware of Jacob's affection for the young woman, he remarked, ‘Do not take offense; I have acted this way because it is our custom to marry off the eldest daughter first.’

Had Laban desired to uphold proper protocols and conventions, he ought to have communicated his intentions to Jacob prior to the agreement involving seven years of work. However, the trickery he employed reveals that his primary aim was not to honor his firstborn daughter, but to secure a cost-effective laborer in Jacob for an additional seven years.