Genesis 31:6-16

6 And ye know that with all my power I have served your father.
7 And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times, but God did not suffer him to hurt me.
8 If he said thus: `The speckled shall be thy wages,' then all the animals bore speckled; and if he said thus: `The ringstreaked shall be thy hire,' then all the animals bore ringstreaked.
9 Thus God hath taken away the flocks of your father, and given them to me.
10 And it came to pass at the time that the animals conceived, that I lifted up mine eyes and saw in a dream, and behold, the rams which leaped upon the animals were ringstreaked, speckled, and grizzled.
11 And the angel of God spoke unto me in a dream, saying, `Jacob!' And I said, `Here am I.'
12 And he said, `Lift up now thine eyes and see: all the rams which leap upon the animals are ringstreaked, speckled, and grizzled; for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee.
13 I am the God of Bethel, where thou anointed the pillar, and where thou vowed a vow unto Me. Now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred.'"
14 And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him, "Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father's house?
15 Are we not counted by him strangers? For he hath sold us, and hath quite devoured also our money.
16 For all the riches which God hath taken from our father, that is ours and our children's. Now then, whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do."

Genesis 31:6-16 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.

Third Millennium Bible (TMB), New Authorized Version, Copyright 1998 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc., Gary, SD 57237. All rights reserved.