Genesis 31:38 kjv

This twenty years have I been with thee; thy ewes and thy she goats have not cast their young, and the rams of thy flock have I not eaten.

Genesis 31:38 nkjv

These twenty years I have been with you; your ewes and your female goats have not miscarried their young, and I have not eaten the rams of your flock.

Genesis 31:38 niv

"I have been with you for twenty years now. Your sheep and goats have not miscarried, nor have I eaten rams from your flocks.

Genesis 31:38 esv

These twenty years I have been with you. Your ewes and your female goats have not miscarried, and I have not eaten the rams of your flocks.

Genesis 31:38 nlt

"For twenty years I have been with you, caring for your flocks. In all that time your sheep and goats never miscarried. In all those years I never used a single ram of yours for food.

Genesis 31 verses

Genesis 31 38 Meaning

Genesis 31:38 presents Jacob's forceful declaration of his integrity and diligence during his two decades of service to Laban. He meticulously recounts his faithful stewardship, emphasizing that Laban's ewes and female goats never miscarried under his care, signifying divine favor and Jacob's devoted management that preserved and prospered Laban's assets. Furthermore, Jacob asserts he never took personal advantage by consuming Laban's rams, even when he might have been entitled, highlighting his unwavering honesty and self-denial despite Laban's deceitful practices. This verse serves as a powerful testament to Jacob's uprightness in stark contrast to Laban's exploitative nature.

Genesis 31 38 Context

Genesis chapter 31 describes Jacob's departure from Laban after 20 years of service, instigated by divine instruction (Gen 31:3). This specific verse, 31:38, is part of Jacob's impassioned and long-overdue confrontation with Laban (Gen 31:36-42), who has pursued Jacob after discovering his secret departure and the apparent theft of his household gods. After Laban fails to find his idols, Jacob, driven by the Holy Spirit's conviction, seizes the opportunity to finally express the deep resentment and sense of injustice he had endured. He lists his unparalleled dedication and hard labor as a shepherd for two decades, detailing the specific burdens he bore and the sacrifices he made, all while Laban repeatedly changed his wages and cheated him. The historical context for this encounter is the patriarchal period, where nomadic pastoralism was the primary livelihood, and wealth was measured by the size and health of one's flocks. Agreements, while sometimes verbal, often had understood terms, and honesty was crucial for societal function, though frequently transgressed, as exemplified by Laban. Jacob's complaint implicitly contrasts the honest shepherd, vital to a household's wealth, with the exploitative master, demonstrating YHWH's justice.

Genesis 31 38 Word analysis

• These twenty years (עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה – ‘esrim shanah):

  • Word: "Twenty" (עֶשְׂרִים - ‘esrim) indicates a complete, significant, and long period, specifically twice the common labor agreement of seven years. It underscores the immense duration of Jacob's patience and Laban's exploitation. This duration points to Jacob's extreme commitment and resilience under duress.
  • Significance: Represents a prolonged period of injustice and servanthood, amplifying the moral weight of Jacob's complaint against Laban's repeated deceits.

• I have been with you (אָנֹכִי עִמָּךְ – anokhi ‘immach):

  • Word: "With you" (‘immach) highlights Jacob's close, continuous physical presence and direct responsibility. It emphasizes his personal, hands-on care for Laban's interests, contrasting with Laban's absentee exploitation.
  • Significance: Expresses intimate involvement and consistent dedication to Laban's prosperity, going beyond mere contractual obligation.

• your ewes (רְחֵלֶיךָ – reḥēleyḵā) and your female goats (וְעִזֵּיךָ – wə‘izēyḵā):

  • Words: Specific mention of female animals. Reḥēl (ewe) and ‘êz (female goat) are the primary breeding stock. These were the most valuable assets of a pastoralist, essential for the increase of the flock and wealth generation.
  • Significance: By naming them specifically, Jacob emphasizes that he diligently protected and fostered the most crucial part of Laban's livelihood, ensuring its reproductive success.

• have not miscarried (לֹא שַׁכְּלוּ – lo’ šakkəlu):

  • Word: Shakhal (miscarry/bereave) indicates an unnatural loss or barrenness. The negative states that under Jacob's watch, the normal occurrences of flock miscarriage, which would be a financial loss, did not happen. This implies excellent animal husbandry, God's blessing, or a combination.
  • Significance: This is a direct testament to Jacob's exceptional care and potentially divine blessing on his labor. Preventing miscarriage among livestock in that era was a sign of great skill and even providential favor, especially important for increasing wealth.

• nor have I eaten the rams of your flock (וְאֵילֵי צֹאנְךָ לֹא אָכָלְתִּי – wə’êlê ṣō’nəḵā lo’ ‘akhalteeti):

  • Words: "Rams" (’êlê) were mature male sheep, often kept for breeding, sacrifice, or special feasts. "Eaten" (‘ākal): While shepherds could sometimes claim an allowance in meat, Jacob insists he did not, implying self-restraint and dedication even when opportunity might have permitted.
  • Significance: This statement emphasizes Jacob's scrupulous honesty and self-denial. He did not partake of Laban's resources for his personal consumption, demonstrating that his service was solely for Laban's benefit, further highlighting his integrity against Laban's dishonesty. This likely refers to eating a ram that died from an accident or natural causes (not torn by beasts) for which the shepherd was generally held accountable unless he could prove otherwise (Exod 22:10-13), which was a way to avoid liability, but Jacob never even claimed that much.

Genesis 31 38 Bonus section

The statement about miscarriages could be a subtle polemic against any pagan fertility rituals or beliefs prevalent in Aram (like the cult of household gods such as Laban’s teraphim). Jacob's diligence and YHWH's providence, not human rituals, are presented as the true source of a flock's prosperity. This specific detail of the flock's health underlines Jacob's extraordinary competence as a herdsman in a nomadic culture where livestock constituted the primary form of wealth and sustenance. Any losses from miscarriage directly impacted the master's fortune. Thus, Jacob is declaring his absolute freedom from blame for any reduction in Laban's wealth, further indicting Laban for his unfair treatment and altered wages despite Jacob's faultless stewardship.

Genesis 31 38 Commentary

Genesis 31:38 is a concise yet profound statement of integrity and patient endurance in the face of exploitation. Jacob, finally given an opening by divine providence, lays bare the injustices he suffered. The verse is not merely an accounting of services but a declaration of his moral superiority over Laban. His careful management ensured the reproductive success of Laban's most valuable livestock, demonstrating stewardship that exceeded common expectations. Preventing miscarriage points to not only exceptional care but also implicitly to God's blessing on his labor, in contrast to any misfortunes Laban might have experienced independently. Furthermore, his refusal to consume Laban's rams, even in permissible circumstances, powerfully underscores his selflessness and complete honesty. This conduct exemplifies a laborer whose work ethics reflect faithfulness to God's principles, standing in stark contrast to the deceit and greed characteristic of his uncle. It reveals the cost of serving the unrighteous and the silent, long-suffering testimony that eventually finds its voice through divine enabling.