Génesis 31:1-11

1 Pero Jacob oyó las palabras de los hijos de Labán, que decían: Jacob se ha apoderado de todo lo que era de nuestro padre, y de lo que era de nuestro padre ha hecho toda esta riqueza.

2 Y Jacob observó la actitud de Labán, y he aquí, ya no era amigable para con él como antes.

3 Entonces el SEÑOR dijo a Jacob: Vuelve a la tierra de tus padres y a tus familiares, y yo estaré contigo.

4 Jacob, pues, envió a llamar a Raquel y a Lea al campo, donde estaba su rebaño,

5 y les dijo: Veo que el semblante de vuestro padre, no es amigable para conmigo como antes; pero el Dios de mi padre ha estado conmigo.

6 Y vosotras sabéis que he servido a vuestro padre con todas mis fuerzas.

7 No obstante vuestro padre me ha engañado, y ha cambiado mi salario diez veces; Dios, sin embargo, no le ha permitido perjudicarme.

8 Si él decía: "Las moteadas serán tu salario", entonces todo el rebaño paría moteadas; y si decía: "Las rayadas serán tu salario", entonces todo el rebaño paría rayadas.

9 De esta manera Dios ha quitado el ganado a vuestro padre y me lo ha dado a mí.

10 Y sucedió que por el tiempo cuando el rebaño estaba en celo, alcé los ojos y vi en sueños; y he aquí, los machos cabríos que cubrían las hembras eran rayados, moteados y abigarrados.

11 Entonces el ángel de Dios me dijo en el sueño: "Jacob"; y yo respondí: "Heme aquí."

Génesis 31:1-11 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.