Genesis 31:5-15

5 He said to them, “I see that your father’s attitude toward me is not what it was before, but the God of my father has been with me.
6 You know that I’ve worked for your father with all my strength,
7 yet your father has cheated me by changing my wages ten times. However, God has not allowed him to harm me.
8 If he said, ‘The speckled ones will be your wages,’ then all the flocks gave birth to speckled young; and if he said, ‘The streaked ones will be your wages,’ then all the flocks bore streaked young.
9 So God has taken away your father’s livestock and has given them to me.
10 “In breeding season I once had a dream in which I looked up and saw that the male goats mating with the flock were streaked, speckled or spotted.
11 The angel of God said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob.’ I answered, ‘Here I am.’
12 And he said, ‘Look up and see that all the male goats mating with the flock are streaked, speckled or spotted, for I have seen all that Laban has been doing to you.
13 I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and where you made a vow to me. Now leave this land at once and go back to your native land.’ ”
14 Then Rachel and Leah replied, “Do we still have any share in the inheritance of our father’s estate?
15 Does he not regard us as foreigners? Not only has he sold us, but he has used up what was paid for us.

Genesis 31:5-15 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 31

This chapter relates how that Jacob observing that Laban and his sons envied his prosperity, and having a call from God to return to his own country, acquaints his wives with it; and reports to them Laban's ill usage of him, and the wonderful appearance of God to him, and for him, and his orders to him to depart from thence, Ge 31:1-13; to which they agreed, knowing full well their father's unkindness, and that they had nothing to expect from him, and therefore judged it best to go off with what they had got through the gift of God unto them, Ge 31:14-16; upon which Jacob set out privately, with all he had, towards his own country, while Laban was shearing his sheep, Ge 31:17-21; three days after, Laban, being informed of it, pursued after Jacob, and overtook him at Mount Gilead; but was warned by the way to be cautious what he said to him, Ge 31:22-25; yet nevertheless he warmly expostulated with him about his secret flight, not giving him the opportunity of taking his leave of his children, and especially for taking away his gods, Ge 31:26-30; to which Jacob gave an answer, Ge 31:31-35; and in his turn was warm likewise, and chided Laban severely for his hot pursuit of him, his charge of stealth, when he could find nothing on him, his hard labour for the space of twenty years with him, and his ill requital of him for it, Ge 31:36-42; however, upon the whole, an amicable agreement was made between them, and they parted in a friendly manner, Ge 31:43-55.

Cross References 24

  • 1. ver 29,42,53; Genesis 43:23; Daniel 2:23
  • 2. ver 2
  • 3. S Genesis 21:22; S Genesis 26:3
  • 4. Genesis 30:29
  • 5. Leviticus 6:2; Amos 8:5
  • 6. S Genesis 29:15
  • 7. ver 41; Numbers 14:22; Job 19:3
  • 8. ver 52; S Genesis 24:50; Psalms 37:28; Psalms 105:14
  • 9. S Genesis 30:32
  • 10. Job 39:2; Ezekiel 31:6
  • 11. ver 1,16; S Genesis 30:42
  • 12. S Genesis 20:3
  • 13. S Genesis 16:7; Genesis 48:16
  • 14. S Genesis 20:3
  • 15. S Genesis 22:1; S Exodus 3:4
  • 16. S Genesis 30:32
  • 17. Exodus 3:7
  • 18. Genesis 28:10-22
  • 19. S Genesis 28:18
  • 20. S Genesis 28:20
  • 21. S ver 3; Genesis 32:9
  • 22. 2 Samuel 20:1; 1 Kings 12:16
  • 23. Deuteronomy 15:3; Deuteronomy 23:20; Ruth 2:10; 2 Samuel 15:19; 1 Kings 8:41; Obadiah 1:11
  • 24. S Genesis 29:20
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