Genesis 31:41

41 These twenty years I've been in your house - I served you fourteen years for your two daughters and six years for your flock; and you changed my wages ten times!

Genesis 31:41 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 31:41

Thus have I been twenty years in thy house
Attended with these difficulties, inconveniencies, and hardships; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters;
Rachel and Leah; first seven years for Rachel; and having Leah imposed upon him instead of her, was obliged to serve seven years more, which he did for her sake; whereas he ought to have given them, and a dowry with them, to one who was heir to the land of Canaan, and not have exacted servitude of him: and six years for thy cattle,
to have as many of them for his hire, as were produced from a flock of white sheep, that were speckled, spotted, or ringstraked, or brown: and thou hast changed my wages ten times; (See Gill on Genesis 31:7);

Genesis 31:41 In-Context

39 If one of your flock was destroyed by a wild animal, I didn't bring the carcass to you but bore the loss myself. You demanded that I compensate you for any animal stolen, whether by day or by night.

40 Here's how it was for me: during the day thirst consumed me, and at night the cold - my sleep fled from my eyes.

41 These twenty years I've been in your house - I served you fourteen years for your two daughters and six years for your flock; and you changed my wages ten times!

42 If the God of my father, the God of Avraham, the one whom Yitz'chak fears, had not been on my side, by now you would certainly have already sent me away with nothing! God has seen how distressed I've been and how hard I've worked, and last night he passed judgment in my favor."

43 Lavan answered Ya'akov, "The daughters are mine, the children are mine, the flocks are mine, and everything you see is mine! But what can I do today about these daughters of mine or the children they have borne?