Genesis 31:18 kjv

And he carried away all his cattle, and all his goods which he had gotten, the cattle of his getting, which he had gotten in Padanaram, for to go to Isaac his father in the land of Canaan.

Genesis 31:18 nkjv

And he carried away all his livestock and all his possessions which he had gained, his acquired livestock which he had gained in Padan Aram, to go to his father Isaac in the land of Canaan.

Genesis 31:18 niv

and he drove all his livestock ahead of him, along with all the goods he had accumulated in Paddan Aram, to go to his father Isaac in the land of Canaan.

Genesis 31:18 esv

He drove away all his livestock, all his property that he had gained, the livestock in his possession that he had acquired in Paddan-aram, to go to the land of Canaan to his father Isaac.

Genesis 31:18 nlt

and he drove all his livestock in front of him. He packed all the belongings he had acquired in Paddan-aram and set out for the land of Canaan, where his father, Isaac, lived.

Genesis 31 verses

Genesis 31 18 Meaning

This verse describes Jacob's departure from Paddan Aram, consolidating his substantial acquired wealth, including all his livestock and possessions, to return to his father Isaac in the promised land of Canaan, in obedience to the Lord's command.

Genesis 31 18 Context

Genesis chapter 31 describes the culmination of Jacob's twenty-year service under Laban. Jacob had been repeatedly deceived by Laban, who changed his wages ten times. However, through divine intervention, God caused Jacob's flocks to prosper disproportionately, accumulating vast wealth. In Genesis 31:3, the Lord explicitly commanded Jacob to "Return to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you." Jacob then consulted with Leah and Rachel, who supported his decision to leave their father Laban, whom they felt had treated them like foreigners and sold them. This verse (31:18) marks the precise moment of Jacob's secretive departure, following God's instruction and the unanimous consent of his family, bringing all that God had given him. The act is secretive because Jacob feared Laban's reaction and probable interference, given Laban's exploitative nature.

Historically, in the ancient Near East, wealth was primarily measured in livestock, land, servants, and portable goods. Pastoral nomadic life was common, and moving entire households, including vast flocks and families, was a significant logistical undertaking. The "land of Canaan" held immense theological significance as the land promised by God to Abraham, Isaac, and their descendants. Jacob's return to Canaan was not merely a change of location but a crucial step in the unfolding of God's covenant plan.

Genesis 31 18 Word analysis

• and he carried away (וַיִּנְהַג – vayyin'hag): The root nahag (נָהַג) means to drive, lead, conduct, or guide. In this context, it implies driving livestock and transporting goods. It suggests an active, deliberate, and perhaps hurried effort to move a substantial collection of assets, indicating Jacob's initiative and the urgency of his departure from Laban's domain. It highlights the large scale of his exodus.
• all his livestock (אֶת־כָּל־מִקְנֵהוּ – et-kol-miqnehu):
  • kol (כֹּל): "all," emphasizing the completeness of what he took; nothing was left behind.
  • miqneh (מִקְנֶה): refers specifically to acquired property, usually flocks and herds (sheep, goats, cattle), which was the primary form of wealth and capital in ancient agrarian societies. This directly reflects the blessing of God detailed in Gen 30, where Jacob's wealth grew immensely through God's intervention.
• and all his property (וְאֶת־כָּל־רְכֻשׁוֹ – v'et-kol-rekhusho):
  • rekhush (רְכוּשׁ): A broader term than miqneh, encompassing all acquired goods, possessions, and even servants. This signifies the totality of Jacob's wealth, beyond just his animals, acquired over twenty years of service. It indicates his overall financial standing.
• which he had gained (אֲשֶׁר רָכַשׁ – asher rakash): From the verb rakash (רָכַשׁ), "to acquire, get, collect, obtain." This emphasizes that his possessions were accumulated through effort and labor, but critically, also through divine blessing. It underscores that his wealth was legitimately "his" despite Laban's attempts to diminish it.
• the livestock of his acquired possessions (מִקְנֵה קִנְיָנוֹ – miqneh qinyano): This phrase contains a significant repetition. Qinyan (קִנְיָן) is from the root qanah (קָנָה), meaning "to acquire, buy, get." The construct state "livestock of his acquired possessions" functions to intensify the previous "livestock" and "property," underscoring the legal and divine validity of Jacob's ownership. It serves to emphatically state that this wealth was truly his.
• which he had gained in Paddan Aram (אֲשֶׁר רָכַשׁ בְּפַדַּן אֲרָם – asher rakash b'Paddan Aram):
  • "Paddan Aram" (פַּדַּן אֲרָם): A geographical region in Mesopotamia where Laban lived and where Jacob spent two decades. It literally means "field of Aram" or "plain of Aram." This specifies the location where God's promises of blessing for Jacob's prosperity came to fruition despite oppressive conditions. It is the place of his exile.
• to go to Isaac his father (לָבוֹא אֶל־יִצְחָק אָבִיו – lavo el Yitskhaq aviv): This clearly states the purpose and direction of his journey: returning to his immediate family patriarch. It highlights the continuity of the covenant lineage, as Isaac represents the ongoing covenant with Abraham. This makes the journey not merely a relocation but a return to familial and covenantal roots.
• in the land of Canaan (אֶרֶץ כְּנָעַן – erets Kena'an):
  • "Land of Canaan" (אֶרֶץ כְּנָעַן): The divinely promised land to Abraham, Isaac, and now Jacob. This explicitly names the destination as the covenant land. The ultimate goal is the fulfillment of God's promise and the establishment of His people in their designated place. It is not merely any land but the promised land.

Genesis 31 18 Bonus section

The vast wealth Jacob took from Paddan Aram, specifically gained despite Laban's changing of wages, is a clear sign of divine intervention and a divine vindication of Jacob. It demonstrates God's sovereign control over seemingly mundane affairs like livestock breeding and ensures that His chosen one, Jacob, receives what is rightfully his. This departure also prefigures the greater exodus of Israel from Egypt, where they too left with acquired wealth after a long period of servitude. The detailed listing of his possessions emphasizes that Jacob was not a solitary fugitive but a burgeoning patriarch, with a significant household and immense resources necessary to continue the covenant line and begin settling the Promised Land. This substantial transfer of wealth indicates the shift of divine blessing from Laban's house (who initially prospered through Jacob, Gen 30:27) to Jacob's own lineage, ensuring that the covenant legacy could flourish independently.

Genesis 31 18 Commentary

Genesis 31:18 marks a pivotal moment in Jacob's life: his long-awaited departure from Laban and Paddan Aram, the place of his twenty-year sojourn and considerable hardship. The verse meticulously details that Jacob did not leave empty-handed but carried away the totality of his wealth—his extensive flocks and all his acquired possessions. This immense fortune was not solely the result of Jacob's cleverness or diligence, but demonstrably God's providential blessing and vindication against Laban's repeated deceptions (Gen 31:7, 9). God's command to return (Gen 31:3) signaled that Jacob's work in Paddan Aram was complete, and he was to gather all the fruit of his labor and divine favor to journey back to the land promised to his forefathers.

The act of "carrying away" underscores a full, complete retrieval, symbolizing God's faithfulness in enabling Jacob to exit his oppressive situation with abundance. The specification of "Paddan Aram" highlights that his prosperity blossomed in a foreign land and under challenging circumstances, showcasing God's power to bless anywhere. The deliberate destination, "to Isaac his father in the land of Canaan," firmly anchors this event within the patriarchal narrative of God's covenant promises concerning land and lineage. It signifies the reunion of the covenant bearers and the return to the land chosen by God for His people, emphasizing the Lord's hand in guiding His chosen one back to the path of destiny and fulfillment of promise.

Practically, this can be seen as an illustration that God not only directs us but also equips us abundantly, even when we depart from difficult or unjust situations (much like Israel leaving Egypt with wealth). It highlights the importance of returning to our spiritual roots or covenant obligations when God calls, taking with us the blessings He has bestowed along the way.