Genesis 31 42

Genesis 31:42 kjv

Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty. God hath seen mine affliction and the labor of my hands, and rebuked thee yesternight.

Genesis 31:42 nkjv

Unless the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. God has seen my affliction and the labor of my hands, and rebuked you last night."

Genesis 31:42 niv

If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been with me, you would surely have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen my hardship and the toil of my hands, and last night he rebuked you."

Genesis 31:42 esv

If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been on my side, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. God saw my affliction and the labor of my hands and rebuked you last night."

Genesis 31:42 nlt

In fact, if the God of my father had not been on my side ? the God of Abraham and the fearsome God of Isaac ? you would have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen your abuse and my hard work. That is why he appeared to you last night and rebuked you!"

Genesis 31 verses

Genesis 31 42 meaning

Genesis 31:42 is Jacob's powerful declaration to Laban, attributing his preservation, prosperity, and Laban's inability to exploit him to the direct intervention of God. Jacob asserts that without God's covenant faithfulness and watchful care, he would have been sent away destitute. It highlights God's justice in seeing Jacob's suffering and labor, and His direct rebuke of Laban's deceitful intentions.

Genesis 31 42 Context

Genesis chapter 31 describes Jacob's departure from Laban after 20 years of service. During this time, Laban repeatedly deceived Jacob, changing his wages ten times and manipulating their agreements to his own benefit. Jacob, however, shrewdly increased his own flocks through selective breeding, guided by divine instruction (31:9-12). Under the Lord's command, Jacob decided to secretly leave Laban's household to return to his homeland. When Laban pursued him and caught up, accusing Jacob of theft (regarding the household gods, teraphim) and questioning his abrupt departure, this verse serves as Jacob's climactic defense. He boldly confronts Laban, highlighting the injustices he suffered and emphatically crediting God's direct intervention for his well-being and for restraining Laban from harming him further, thus underscoring divine justice over human deceit.

Genesis 31 42 Word analysis

• Unless: Implies a strong condition, that what happened would not have occurred if not for divine action.
• the God of my father: Identifies God personally to Jacob through his ancestry, connecting Him to his immediate lineage. This emphasizes the continuous, living faith handed down.
• the God of Abraham: Establishes the connection to the foundational covenant, highlighting God's faithfulness to His promises made generations prior.
• and the Fear of Isaac (פַּחַד יִצְחָק - Pachad Yitzchak): A unique and powerful divine epithet. Pachad can mean "fear," "terror," "awe," or "reverence." This refers to God as the One whom Isaac held in reverential awe, or the object of Isaac's worship, or even God as the One who instilled dread in Isaac's enemies, or the powerful one protecting him. It speaks to a specific manifestation or relationship Isaac had with God, highlighting God's majestic and awe-inspiring presence and protection, perhaps even acknowledging Isaac's more quiet, meditative nature. It differentiates the God of Jacob from any regional or pagan deity, showcasing a distinct, living, and active God.
• had been with me (עִמָּדִי - immadi): Signifies divine presence, active companionship, and enabling support. It means God was not just an observer but an active participant and protector.
• surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed (רֵיקָם - reqam): Reiqam means "empty," "destitute," "unladen." This expresses Laban's true, unfulfilled intention: to completely strip Jacob of all his earnings and send him off with nothing, reinforcing Laban's greedy and deceptive character.
• God has seen (רָאָה - ra'ah): Indicates God's full knowledge and observant awareness. It is not a passive seeing but implies recognition that leads to action; God took note of Jacob's situation.
• my affliction (עָנְיִי - onyi): Refers to Jacob's hardship, suffering, oppression, and ill-treatment under Laban.
• and the labor of my hands (יְגִיעַ כַּפַּי - yegi'a kappay): Points to Jacob's diligent, hard, and honest work, contrasting it with Laban's deceptive practices. God recognized Jacob's righteous toil.
• and rebuke you (יוֹכַח - yokhiach) last night: Yokhiach means "to argue," "to adjudge," "to convict," "to settle a dispute," or "to rebuke." This is a strong term for divine intervention, signifying God's direct judgment and legal pronouncement against Laban. God acted as Jacob's advocate, directly confronting Laban through the dream in 31:24.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Unless the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the Fear of Isaac, had been with me": This phrase powerfully grounds Jacob's survival and prosperity not in his own cunning or strength, but in the faithful, covenant-keeping God of his ancestors. It is an affirmation of multi-generational divine commitment and unique familial divine experience. It contrasts sharply with Laban's belief in idols or worldly fortune.
• "surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed": This highlights Laban's true, ungodly intent of total exploitation and deprivation. It sets up the immediate benefit of God's presence as preventing Jacob's utter ruin and fulfilling God's promise to make him fruitful.
• "God has seen my affliction and the labor of my hands, and rebuke you last night": This segment provides the direct explanation for God's intervention. It emphasizes God's omniscience (He sees injustice), His righteousness (He acknowledges honest toil), and His active, just nature (He rebukes the wrongdoer and defends the oppressed). This divine judgment contrasts with human conniving.

Genesis 31 42 Bonus section

The divine name "Fear of Isaac" is exceptional, not reappearing in the Bible as a standard divine title. This specificity adds to its profoundness, reflecting a unique, personal aspect of God's revelation to Isaac or how Isaac perceived God. It speaks to the relational nature of God, engaging with each patriarch distinctively yet consistently. The entire exchange between Jacob and Laban serves as a testament to God's overarching providence, working His purposes even through human conflict and deceit. It reassures believers that God watches over their diligent labor and takes notice of their afflictions, acting on their behalf against injustice.

Genesis 31 42 Commentary

Genesis 31:42 is a profound testimony to God's active involvement in the lives of His covenant people. It is Jacob's bold assertion of God's sovereignty over human greed and injustice. Jacob reveals that his success was not a result of chance or his own ingenuity alone, but God's direct preservation. This verse showcases God as faithful to His promises to the patriarchs, continually protecting His chosen one and upholding justice. He sees every hidden hardship and every honest effort. The unique epithet, "the Fear of Isaac," not only distinguishes the God of the patriarchs from local deities but also subtly suggests the reverential awe due to such a powerfully intervening God. God's "rebuke" of Laban was not merely a warning but a definitive judgment that ensured Laban could not further harm or exploit Jacob, thereby affirming God's protective love and righteous judgment on behalf of His servants.