Genesis 31:42

42 In fact, if the God of my father had not been on my side—the God of Abraham and the fearsome God of Isaac —you would have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen your abuse and my hard work. That is why he appeared to you last night and rebuked you!”

Genesis 31:42 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 31:42

Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear
of Isaac, had been with me
One and the same God is meant, who was the God of his father Isaac, and before him the God of Abraham, and now the fear of Isaac, whom he feared and served with reverence and godly fear, being at this present time a worshipper of him: now Jacob suggests, that unless his father's God had been on his side, and had protected and preserved him, as well as before blessed and prospered him, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty:
coming with such force upon him, he would have stripped him of all he had, of his wives and children, and servants and cattle: God hath seen my affliction, and the labour of my hands;
what hardships he endured in Laban's service, and what pains he took in feeding his flocks: and rebuked [thee] yesternight;
in a dream, charging him to say neither good nor evil to Jacob, which he himself had confessed, ( Genesis 31:29 ) .

Genesis 31:42 In-Context

40 “I worked for you through the scorching heat of the day and through cold and sleepless nights.

41 Yes, for twenty years I slaved in your house! I worked for fourteen years earning your two daughters, and then six more years for your flock. And you changed my wages ten times!

42 In fact, if the God of my father had not been on my side—the God of Abraham and the fearsome God of Isaac —you would have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen your abuse and my hard work. That is why he appeared to you last night and rebuked you!”

43 Then Laban replied to Jacob, “These women are my daughters, these children are my grandchildren, and these flocks are my flocks—in fact, everything you see is mine. But what can I do now about my daughters and their children?

44 So come, let’s make a covenant, you and I, and it will be a witness to our commitment.”

Footnotes

• [a]. Or and the Fear of Isaac.