Genesis 31:10 kjv

And it came to pass at the time that the cattle conceived, that I lifted up mine eyes, and saw in a dream, and, behold, the rams which leaped upon the cattle were ring-streaked, speckled, and grizzled.

Genesis 31:10 nkjv

"And it happened, at the time when the flocks conceived, that I lifted my eyes and saw in a dream, and behold, the rams which leaped upon the flocks were streaked, speckled, and gray-spotted.

Genesis 31:10 niv

"In breeding season I once had a dream in which I looked up and saw that the male goats mating with the flock were streaked, speckled or spotted.

Genesis 31:10 esv

In the breeding season of the flock I lifted up my eyes and saw in a dream that the goats that mated with the flock were striped, spotted, and mottled.

Genesis 31:10 nlt

"One time during the mating season, I had a dream and saw that the male goats mating with the females were streaked, speckled, and spotted.

Genesis 31 verses

Genesis 31 10 Meaning

This verse reveals Jacob's divine dream during the critical mating season of Laban's flocks. In this vision, Jacob observed specific, marked rams (striped, spotted, and speckled) mating with the ewes. This dream provided crucial divine insight and confirmation to Jacob, clarifying that his increasing wealth and the specific characteristics of his flock (striped, spotted, and speckled offspring) were not merely the result of his own clever breeding methods with the rods, but rather a direct, miraculous intervention of God. God ensured that the prime breeding males responsible for these desired traits were, in fact, present and mating. The vision assured Jacob that his prosperity was supernaturally granted by God as a fulfillment of His covenantal promise and a corrective measure against Laban's deceit.

Genesis 31 10 Context

Genesis chapter 31 marks a significant turning point in Jacob's life, signaling his departure from Laban after twenty years. Prior to this verse, Jacob had grown exceedingly prosperous in Laban's service, primarily due to his flocks. Laban, however, repeatedly manipulated their wage agreement, changing it ten times (Gen 31:7, 41). Jacob's "breeding methods" with the striped rods in chapter 30 were his human attempt to gain an advantage in this manipulative relationship. This immediate context of economic dispute and Laban's deception sets the stage for God's divine intervention. Verse 10 initiates Jacob's defense for leaving Laban, explaining that God had directly shown him the true source of his prosperity in a dream, thereby validating his wealth and his imminent departure. The chapter continues with Jacob's detailed account to his wives (Gen 31:4-13), his secret departure, Laban's pursuit, and their eventual covenant at Gilead.

Genesis 31 10 Word analysis

• And it came to pass (וַיְהִי - va-y'hi): This common Hebrew narrative opener signifies a significant event unfolding, drawing the reader's attention to the crucial nature of what follows. It emphasizes that these are events orchestrated by divine will, not random occurrences.
• at the time (בְּעֵת - bəʿêṯ): Indicates a specific moment, highlighting the opportune and deliberate timing of the dream. This timing aligns with the crucial mating season, directly relating to the issue of the flock's increase.
• that the flocks conceived (הַצֹּאן מְיַחֲמוֹת - haṣ-ṣōʾn məyaḥămôṯ): "Flocks" (tsōʾn) refers generally to sheep and goats. "Conceived" (məyaḥămôṯ, from yaḥam) means "to be hot," "to be in heat," or "to conceive." It explicitly points to the mating season, the period of fertility and reproduction, making the dream's content about breeding particularly relevant and impactful.
• that I lifted my eyes (וָאֶשָּׂא עֵינַי - wāʾesśāʾ ʿênay): A common Hebrew idiom for looking or paying close attention. In a dream context, it implies a vivid and active perception within the spiritual encounter, rather than a passive observation.
• and saw (וָאֵרֶא - wāʾereʾ): "And I saw." This verb indicates direct visual perception within the dream, making the details of the vision clear and concrete to Jacob.
• in a dream (בַּחֲלוֹם - baḥălôm): Clearly states the medium of divine revelation. Dreams were a significant mode of communication between God and His chosen servants in the Old Testament, confirming the message's divine authority.
• and behold (וְהִנֵּה - wəhinnêh): An exclamatory particle that serves to emphasize the startling or significant nature of what is about to be revealed. It acts like a "lo and behold!" drawing Jacob's and the audience's attention to the specific visual.
• the rams (הָעַתֻּדִים - hāʿattūḏîm): Literally "the he-goats" but often used generally for the prime, lead males of a flock, including rams. This indicates the primary breeders, the strongest and most virile animals essential for procreation.
• males of the flock (הַצֹּאן הָעֹלִים עַל־הַצֹּאן - haṣ-ṣōʾn hāʿōlîm ʿal-haṣ-ṣōʾn): This phrase clarifies the action: "the flock (masculine form indicating male) that are going up upon the flock (feminine form indicating females)." This is a euphemism for the act of mating.
• were mating with the striped, spotted, and speckled (עֲקֻדִּים נְקֻדִּים וּבְרֻדִּים - ʿăquddîm nəquddîm ûvəruddîm): This crucial part describes the specific markings of the males that were doing the mating.
  • striped (עֲקֻדִּים - ʿăquddîm): From a root meaning "to bind," referring to bands or streaks, perhaps like rings.
  • spotted (נְקֻדִּים - nəquddîm): From a root meaning "to mark with dots," indicating individual spots.
  • and speckled (וּבְרֻדִּים - ûvəruddîm): From a root suggesting "hail," indicating variegated or mottled marks, like those left by hail.
  • This directly links back to the terms used in the wage agreement with Laban in Gen 30:32-35. The dream reveals that it was not Jacob's rods making the ordinary rams produce marked offspring, but rather God supernaturally causing the male breeders themselves to possess these distinct marks, ensuring the outcome and validating God's active hand in Jacob's prosperity against Laban's trickery. God effectively provided these special males.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And it came to pass, at the time that the flocks conceived": Establishes the divine orchestration and perfect timing of the revelation. It emphasizes the direct connection between God's timing and Jacob's material well-being, specifically related to the biological cycle of the animals. This precise timing underscored God's active hand in Jacob's prosperity and validated the method used.
• "that I lifted my eyes and saw in a dream, and behold": Describes the direct, clear, and divinely authorized nature of the revelation. The "lifting of eyes" suggests focused observation within the spiritual realm, making the vision impactful and undeniable for Jacob. "Behold" signifies the surprising and emphatic nature of what was shown.
• "the rams, males of the flock, were mating with the striped, spotted, and speckled": This is the core revelation. It directly addresses the source of Jacob's wealth. The dream reveals that the sires themselves were marked, ensuring the desired offspring for Jacob. This divine revelation shifts the focus from Jacob's potentially superstitious method of using rods (Gen 30:37-43) to God's direct, sovereign control over genetics and reproduction to secure Jacob's rightful prosperity. It highlights that Jacob's blessing was solely from God's hand.

Genesis 31 10 Bonus section

This dream is a crucial theological statement about divine sovereignty versus human instrumentality. In Genesis 30, Jacob's strategy of using striped rods was perhaps a blend of folk belief, early understanding of sympathetic magic, or an act of desperate faith. The subsequent divine revelation in Genesis 31:10-12 demonstrates that while Jacob performed certain actions, God was ultimately working supernaturally through the animals' actual genetic makeup and breeding behavior. The dream reasserts that the miraculous increase was not a result of a physical phenomenon influenced by rods, but of God's direct intervention in controlling which rams would be productive. This emphasizes that God can fulfill His promises through means beyond human comprehension, sometimes appearing to confirm human methods while revealing a deeper, divine orchestration at play. It safeguards against interpreting Jacob's success as purely due to his own "magic" or cleverness, firmly rooting it in God's providential care.

Genesis 31 10 Commentary

Genesis 31:10 is a pivotal verse because it offers a divine explanation for Jacob's surprising prosperity, clarifying that God, not Jacob's cunning or even the effect of the stripped rods, was the ultimate cause. At a time when Jacob was clearly being exploited by Laban, God chose the very moment of animal conception—a time critical to Jacob’s wealth—to grant a dream. The vision showed that the prime male breeders were supernaturally marked, bearing the traits of stripes, spots, and speckles that were designated as Jacob's wages. This implied God was manipulating the very genetics and mating behavior of the flock, guiding the "undesirable" marked rams to reproduce, effectively ensuring Jacob received his due compensation. This divine intervention served multiple purposes: it assured Jacob of God's direct involvement in his affairs, validated his future actions in leaving Laban, and corrected any notion that his wealth came solely from his human cleverness or pagan-like practices with the rods. It underscored God's faithfulness to His covenant promises (Gen 28:15) even in the face of human injustice. It’s a powerful statement of God's detailed care for His servants and His justice against oppressors.

• Example for practical usage: When we rely on our own efforts and strategies to navigate difficult situations, God might use unexpected circumstances to reveal that He has been working behind the scenes all along, accomplishing His purpose even when our own plans fall short. This verse encourages us to trust in God's hidden provision and justice, rather than only in our visible efforts.