Genesis 31:12

12 Which said, Raise [up] thine eyes, and see all [the] males (that be) diverse, [and] besprinkled, and spotty (and spotted), going [up] on [the] females; for I have seen all things which Laban hath done to thee;

Genesis 31:12 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 31:12

And he said, lift up now thine eyes, and see
This was all visionary, Jacob was still in a dream; but it was so impressed upon his mind, that he was spoke to, and bid to observe, and take notice, as follows: that all the rams that leap upon the cattle [are] ringstraked, speckled,
and grisled;
thereby assuring him, that such would be those the ewes would bring forth, which would be right in him to agree with Laban for as his hire; and it is probable that there was some distance of time, at least a night, between the first motion of Laban's to Jacob to settle his wages, ( Genesis 30:28 ) ; and his repeating that, and being urgent to have it done, ( Genesis 31:31 ) ; and in this interval of time might be the night Jacob had this dream and vision in, for his direction; or if it was after the bargain made, since it is said to be at the time the cattle conceived, he had it to assure him of God's approbation of it, and of his success in it: for I have seen all that Laban doeth to thee;
had took notice how he had made him serve fourteen years for his wives, and had given him nothing for his service; and how he now was taking advantage of Jacob's modesty to get him to fix his own wages, which he supposed would be lower than he could have the face to, offer him.

Genesis 31:12 In-Context

10 For after that the time of conceiving of sheep came, I raised [up] mine eyes, and saw in sleep males diverse, and spotty, and of diverse colours, going up on females. (For when the time of conceiving for the sheep came, I raised up my eyes, and saw in my sleep males diverse, and spotted, and of diverse colours, going up on the females.)
11 And the angel of the Lord said to me in sleep, Jacob! and I answered, I am ready (I am here).
12 Which said, Raise [up] thine eyes, and see all [the] males (that be) diverse, [and] besprinkled, and spotty (and spotted), going [up] on [the] females; for I have seen all things which Laban hath done to thee;
13 I am (the) God of Bethel, where thou anointedest a stone, and madest a vow to me. Now therefore rise thou (up), and go out of this land, and turn again into the land of thy birth (and return to the land of thy birth).
14 And Rachel and Leah answered, Whether we have anything residue, or left, in the chattels, and heritage of our father? (And Rachel and Leah asked, Is there anything left here for us, among our father's possessions, yea of our inheritance?)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.