Genesis 31:39 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Genesis 31:39 kjv
That which was torn of beasts I brought not unto thee; I bare the loss of it; of my hand didst thou require it, whether stolen by day, or stolen by night.
Genesis 31:39 nkjv
That which was torn by beasts I did not bring to you; I bore the loss of it. You required it from my hand, whether stolen by day or stolen by night.
Genesis 31:39 niv
I did not bring you animals torn by wild beasts; I bore the loss myself. And you demanded payment from me for whatever was stolen by day or night.
Genesis 31:39 esv
What was torn by wild beasts I did not bring to you. I bore the loss of it myself. From my hand you required it, whether stolen by day or stolen by night.
Genesis 31:39 nlt
If any were attacked and killed by wild animals, I never showed you the carcass and asked you to reduce the count of your flock. No, I took the loss myself! You made me pay for every stolen animal, whether it was taken in broad daylight or in the dark of night.
Genesis 31 39 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 22:10-13 | "If a man delivers to his neighbor... if it is torn by beasts... he shall bring it as evidence..." | Establishes the legal norm for animal loss, showing Jacob exceeded it. |
| Lev 6:2-7 | "If anyone sins and commits a breach of faith against the LORD... or deceives his neighbor... he shall restore..." | Principles of restitution and accountability, reflecting a similar spirit of obligation. |
| Num 14:34 | "You shall bear your iniquity for forty years..." | Concept of bearing consequences for actions, though in this case Jacob bears an unjust loss. |
| 1 Sam 17:34-36 | "When a lion or a bear came... I would go after him... and rescue it." | David as a shepherd protecting his flock, echoing the danger Jacob would have faced. |
| Prov 27:23 | "Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds..." | The responsibility of a shepherd for his charge. |
| Isa 40:11 | "He will tend His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs..." | Depicts God as the Good Shepherd, a contrast to negligent shepherds and Laban. |
| Isa 53:4-6 | "Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows... and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all." | Christ's bearing of sin and loss for others, the ultimate act of taking responsibility. |
| Ezek 34:2-4 | "Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! ... You have not brought back the strayed..." | Condemns negligent shepherds, highlighting Jacob's diligence by contrast. |
| Jn 10:11-13 | "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep... The hired hand flees because he is a hired hand..." | Christ as the ultimate good shepherd, demonstrating a willingness to bear ultimate loss for His sheep. |
| Rom 5:8 | "But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." | Christ's bearing the loss/consequences of sin on our behalf. |
| 2 Cor 5:21 | "For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God." | Christ taking the burden of sin upon Himself, similar to Jacob bearing unjust losses. |
| Gal 6:2 | "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." | Principle of empathy and bearing another's burden, though Jacob's burden was imposed. |
| Heb 7:27 | "He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily... He did this once for all when He offered up Himself." | Christ bearing the full requirement for salvation, akin to Jacob fulfilling Laban's full demand. |
| 1 Pet 2:24 | "He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree..." | Direct parallel to bearing consequences/loss. |
| Jas 2:8 | "If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself,' you do well." | Jacob's integrity fulfills a high standard of neighborly conduct, despite Laban's poor treatment. |
| Luke 16:10 | "One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much..." | Jacob's faithfulness in small details of his service. |
| Tit 2:10 | "...so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior." | Jacob's work ethic, even under duress, glorifies God's principles. |
| Phil 2:6-8 | "Who, though He was in the form of God... He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death..." | Christ's selfless service and bearing of consequences, reflecting a deeper divine principle seen in Jacob's actions. |
| Ps 40:8 | "I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart." | Jacob's deep commitment reflects a devotion to principles, not just contract. |
| Prov 11:3 | "The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them." | Contrast between Jacob's integrity and Laban's treachery. |
| Col 3:23-24 | "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men... you are serving the Lord Christ." | Applies to Jacob's dedicated labor, despite the human master. |
Genesis 31 verses
Genesis 31 39 meaning
Genesis 31:39 expresses Jacob's steadfast diligence and integrity in his service to Laban as a shepherd. It details his extreme commitment to accountability, taking personal financial responsibility for any sheep lost due to natural predation (torn by beasts) or theft, whether by day or night. This goes beyond the typical contractual obligations of the time, demonstrating Jacob's remarkable dedication in the face of Laban's unreasonable and exploitative demands. He absorbed the full loss, not presenting any proofs of animal attacks for exemption, as was the legal custom, showcasing his exceptional reliability and the heavy burden he carried.
Genesis 31 39 Context
Genesis 31:39 is part of Jacob's impassioned and detailed rebuke of Laban, delivered twenty years into Jacob's servitude (Gen 31:41). Jacob has just fled Laban's household with his wives, children, and possessions, and Laban has pursued him, accusing him of stealing his household gods (teraphim) and running away with his daughters. In this specific verse, Jacob passionately defends his blameless service, contrasting his integrity with Laban's exploitative and changing wage practices (Gen 31:41). The context highlights Jacob's faithfulness as a steward and Laban's unreasonable demands, which pushed Jacob beyond ordinary obligations. This passage is Jacob's justification for leaving and an exposé of Laban's greed and treachery. It underscores Jacob's enduring hardship and the miraculous provision and protection of God despite human injustice.
Genesis 31 39 Word analysis
- That which was torn of beasts (טֶרֶף / ṭereph): Refers to animals killed or injured by wild animals like lions, bears, or wolves. Under ancient Near Eastern law and later in Mosaic Law (Ex 22:13), a shepherd was often excused from responsibility if he could present evidence (e.g., the torn carcass or parts thereof) that the animal was indeed killed by a predator. Jacob explicitly states he "brought not unto thee," implying he did not use this legal defense but rather bore the loss himself. This demonstrates an extraordinary level of personal responsibility, far exceeding what was legally or contractually required. It contrasts with lazy or fraudulent shepherds.
- I brought not unto thee: Emphasizes Jacob's choice not to utilize the standard legal loophole. He bore the loss personally.
- I bare the loss of it (אֲנִ֤י חִטֵּאתִיו֙ / ani chitte'tiw): The Hebrew verb root means "to make a sin offering," "to cleanse," or more generally, "to bear the loss," "to make atonement." Here, it specifically denotes "to bear the loss" or "to cover the deficit." Jacob is declaring that he took full financial responsibility, effectively absorbing the debt himself. This phrase underscores Jacob's profound financial commitment and sacrifice under Laban's exploitative contract, even for incidents that were not his fault. This prefigures the ultimate "bearing the loss" for sin.
- of my hand didst thou require it (מִיָּדִי֙ תְּבַקְשֶׁנּוּ / miyadi tevaqšennu): "Of my hand" means directly from me, personally. "Require" implies a demanding expectation, an imposition. This reveals Laban's character—he placed a demanding, unconditional liability on Jacob. Laban's approach was harsh and disregarded customary norms that allowed for exemptions due to acts of God or unforeseen circumstances. It emphasizes the one-sided nature of their arrangement, with all risk shifted to Jacob.
- whether stolen by day, or stolen by night (גְּנֻֽבְתִי־יוֹם֮ וּגְנֻבְתִי־לָיְלָה֒ / genuvat yom ugenuvat laylah): This phrase indicates comprehensive and relentless liability. It means that whether a theft occurred in broad daylight or under the cover of darkness, Jacob was held responsible and had to compensate Laban for the loss. There was no distinction for circumstance; Jacob was held liable for every single lost animal. This shows the all-encompassing nature of Laban's demands and the complete lack of empathy or flexibility he offered Jacob, highlighting Laban's greedy and unjust character.
Genesis 31 39 Bonus section
The extended narrative (Gen 31:6-42) reveals Laban's character: deceitful, manipulative, and avaricious, having changed Jacob's wages ten times (Gen 31:7, 41). Jacob's recitation in Gen 31:39-42 functions as a detailed "performance review" or defense, showcasing his unwavering fidelity even under duress, a trait essential for the future patriarch. His willingness to "bear the loss" (chitte'tiw) can be seen as an early foreshadowing of the concept of substitutionary atonement, albeit on a vastly different scale, where one bears the burden or penalty rightfully due to another. While Jacob bore a financial burden unjustly, Christ bore the spiritual burden of humanity's sin willingly and perfectly. This period of intense hardship under Laban forged Jacob's character, refining his trust in God's providence, and prepared him for his destiny as the father of the twelve tribes of Israel. The harsh terms of Jacob's service also highlight the distinction between divine promise and human expectation; despite his service to Laban, his blessings truly came from God (Gen 31:42).
Genesis 31 39 Commentary
Genesis 31:39 serves as a powerful testament to Jacob's integrity and diligence, while simultaneously exposing the relentless greed and exploitation of Laban. Jacob recounts a contractual period spanning twenty years where he absorbed all losses for livestock, whether due to predator attacks or theft, conditions far exceeding any legal or cultural expectations of a hired shepherd. Normally, proof of animal attack or diligent guarding against theft could alleviate responsibility (Ex 22:13). Yet, Jacob consistently bore these burdens personally, signifying his complete devotion to his task and an uncompromising sense of stewardship. This extreme accountability, imposed by Laban and willingly accepted by Jacob, underscores the immense hardship and injustice Jacob endured. The passage, therefore, portrays Jacob not as a crafty deceiver, but as a long-suffering and extraordinarily faithful servant, making his later flight from Laban justifiable in the eyes of God. It sets a high standard for faithfulness in one's responsibilities, even when those in authority are unjust. Practically, it exemplifies persevering with excellence in labor, knowing that ultimate recompense comes from God, not unjust masters.