Genesis 31:43

43 Laban answered ad sayde vnto Iacob: the doughters are my doughters and the childern ar my childern and the shepe are my shepe ad all that thou seist is myne. And what can I do this daye vnto these my doughters or vnto their childern which they haue borne?

Genesis 31:43 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 31:43

And Laban answered and said unto Jacob
Not denying the truth of what he had said, nor acknowledging any fault he had been guilty of, or asking forgiveness for it, though he seemed to be convicted in his own conscience of it: [these] daughters [are] my daughters:
though thy wives, they are my own flesh and blood, and must be dear to me; so pretending strong natural affections for them: and [these] children [are] my children;
his grandchildren, for whom also he professed great love and affection: and [these] cattle [are] my cattle;
or of my cattle, as the Targum of Jonathan, sprung from them, as indeed they did: and all that thou seest [is] mine;
all this he observed in a bragging way, that it might be thought that he was generous in not insisting upon having it, but giving all back to Jacob again: and what can I do this day unto these my daughters, or unto their
children which they have born?
I cannot find in my heart to do them any hurt, or wrong them of anything, and am therefore willing all should be theirs.

Genesis 31:43 In-Context

41 Thus haue I bene .xx. yere in thi house and serued the .xiiij. yeres forthy .ij. doughters and vi. yere for thi shepe and thou hast changed my rewarde .x. tymes.
42 And excepte the God of my father the God of Abraha and the God whome Isaac feareth had bene with me: surely thou haddest sent me awaye now all emptie. But God behelde my tribulation and the laboure of my handes: and rebuked the yester daye.
43 Laban answered ad sayde vnto Iacob: the doughters are my doughters and the childern ar my childern and the shepe are my shepe ad all that thou seist is myne. And what can I do this daye vnto these my doughters or vnto their childern which they haue borne?
44 Now therfore come on let us make a bonde I and thou together and let it be a wytnesse betwene the and me.
45 Than toke Iacob a stone and sett it vp an ende
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