Genesis 31:3 kjv

And the LORD said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee.

Genesis 31:3 nkjv

Then the LORD said to Jacob, "Return to the land of your fathers and to your family, and I will be with you."

Genesis 31:3 niv

Then the LORD said to Jacob, "Go back to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you."

Genesis 31:3 esv

Then the LORD said to Jacob, "Return to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you."

Genesis 31:3 nlt

Then the LORD said to Jacob, "Return to the land of your father and grandfather and to your relatives there, and I will be with you."

Genesis 31 verses

Genesis 31 3 Meaning

This verse marks a direct divine command from the Lord to Jacob, instructing him to leave Laban and Haran and return to Canaan, the ancestral land promised to his forefathers. It reassures Jacob of God's continuous presence and protection during this significant journey and transition, indicating divine initiative in guiding Jacob's path and ensuring the fulfillment of His covenant promises.

Genesis 31 3 Context

Genesis chapter 31 finds Jacob in a strained and precarious situation with Laban. Over the years, Jacob had amassed significant wealth, flocks, servants, wives, and children, despite Laban's continuous efforts to exploit him by changing his wages ten times (Gen 31:7, 41). Jacob's prosperity, a result of God's blessing, fueled the envy and resentment of Laban's sons (Gen 31:1) and caused Laban's countenance toward Jacob to change (Gen 31:2). Jacob himself recognized this shift in attitude (Gen 31:5). Jacob was contemplating his departure, having received a divine command to return in a dream concerning his flocks (Gen 31:10-13), which paralleled the divine instruction given earlier at Bethel (Gen 28:15).

In this specific verse (Gen 31:3), the direct command from the Lord serves as the authoritative trigger for Jacob's definitive departure. It transforms his growing internal desire and a prior dream's guidance into an explicit, immediate, and direct imperative, providing divine legitimacy and urgency for him to leave Laban's household. The historical and cultural context of the patriarchal age highlights the immense significance of God's direct intervention in family matters, inheritance, and the dangers of long-distance travel, especially when leaving a powerful family figure like Laban. It underscored the importance of divine protection and guidance for journeys involving significant resources and dependents.

Genesis 31 3 Word analysis

• Then the Lord said: (Heb. וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה - vayyo'mer Yahweh) This opening phrase is crucial. It signifies a direct, authoritative divine communication. Yahweh (LORD) is the personal covenant God, revealing Himself to Jacob as the faithful God of his fathers, indicating that this instruction is rooted in His long-standing promises. It marks a moment of direct intervention and often heralds a new phase in the narrative.
• to Jacob: (Heb. אֶל-יַעֲקֹב - 'el Ya'aqov) The communication is personal and specific. God addresses Jacob directly, reaffirming His individual relationship with the patriarch chosen to continue the covenant line.
• 'Return: (Heb. שׁוּב - shuv) This imperative verb signifies a commanded action of turning back. It implies Jacob had left the promised land, a departure blessed by God but meant to be temporary. The command fulfills God's earlier promise in Gen 28:15, "I will bring you back to this land." It's not merely "go" but to go "back," emphasizing the preordained nature of his life's trajectory toward the covenant land.
• to the land of your fathers: (Heb. אֶל-אֶרֶץ אֲבֹתֶיךָ - 'el 'eretz 'avotekha) This designates the specific destination: Canaan, the Promised Land. This phrase explicitly links Jacob's journey to the divine covenant given to Abraham (Gen 12:1, 7) and reaffirmed to Isaac (Gen 26:3) and Jacob himself (Gen 28:13). It highlights ancestral inheritance and the continuity of God's promises through generations. This underscores the theological importance of the land in God's redemptive plan, not merely as real estate but as the arena of His covenant.
• and to your kindred: (Heb. וּלְמוֹלַדְתְּךָ - u'lmoladtakha) This phrase further specifies the return, not just to a geographical place, but also to his paternal family line and their sphere of influence within the promised land. While Abraham was commanded to leave his kindred (Gen 12:1), Jacob is now commanded to return to the true "kindred" of the covenant (those in the land of promise), symbolically distinguishing them from Laban's household which practiced idol worship (evident in Rachel stealing the household gods later in this chapter).
• and I will be with you.': (Heb. וְאֶהְיֶה עִמָּךְ - ve'ehyeh 'immakh) This is a foundational promise of divine presence and protection, common throughout Scripture for those called to difficult tasks. It alleviates fears associated with the journey, Laban's potential pursuit, and future uncertainties. This solemn assurance guarantees God's sustained favor, provision, and intervention on Jacob's behalf, echoing earlier promises made to Jacob (Gen 28:15) and his forefathers (Gen 26:3). This specific promise emphasizes God's faithfulness and sufficiency, implying that Jacob’s safety and success are secured by divine power, not by his own cunning or strength.

Genesis 31 3 Bonus section

• This verse signifies the conclusion of Jacob's disciplinary exile and growth period under Laban, during which his character was shaped through hardship, and he learned reliance on God. It marks a shift from his outward struggle with Laban to internal challenges, especially concerning Esau upon his return.
• The phrase "I will be with you" becomes a thematic promise repeated throughout the Bible to key figures commissioned for significant tasks, such as Moses (Exod 3:12), Joshua (Josh 1:5), Jeremiah (Jer 1:8), and even the disciples of Jesus (Matt 28:20). It indicates God's enablement and divine blessing for the chosen.
• This specific instruction to return is the first explicit command to Jacob in Genesis since his vision at Bethel, highlighting the direct engagement of the covenant God with Jacob's practical decisions and future.
• God's intervention preempts any potential human justification for Jacob's departure, such as Laban's shifting wages or the sons' envy. The command comes from the Lord, validating Jacob's subsequent actions as divinely ordained and not merely an escape from an uncomfortable situation.

Genesis 31 3 Commentary

Genesis 31:3 encapsulates a moment of critical divine intervention, marking the culmination of Jacob's servitude under Laban and initiating his return to the Promised Land. God's clear, direct command "Return to the land of your fathers and to your kindred" leaves no room for ambiguity. It reveals God's perfect timing, addressing Jacob's unspoken desires to leave Laban while simultaneously fulfilling the oath God made to Jacob at Bethel: "I will bring you back to this land" (Gen 28:15).

This instruction goes beyond a simple travel order; it is a summons to align Jacob's life trajectory once more with the covenant promises given to Abraham and Isaac. Returning to the "land of your fathers" reaffirms the spiritual and physical inheritance of the Abrahamic covenant. The addition of "and to your kindred" specifies that this return is not just geographical but familial, restoring Jacob to the true spiritual heritage that differentiates him from Laban's more idolatrous household.

The profound assurance, "and I will be with you," is central to the verse. This powerful statement removes all basis for fear or hesitation, providing divine authority and confidence for a potentially dangerous journey. It is the unwavering guarantee of divine protection, guidance, and sustaining favor. For Jacob, who had relied heavily on his cunning to survive, this promise underscored that his future success and security rested entirely on God's omnipotence and faithfulness, rather than human wit. It transformed a fraught escape into a divinely ordained mission, underscoring that obedience to God's specific call is always met with His faithful, powerful presence.