Genesis 31:6 kjv

And ye know that with all my power I have served your father.

Genesis 31:6 nkjv

And you know that with all my might I have served your father.

Genesis 31:6 niv

You know that I've worked for your father with all my strength,

Genesis 31:6 esv

You know that I have served your father with all my strength,

Genesis 31:6 nlt

You know how hard I have worked for your father,

Genesis 31 verses

Genesis 31 6 Meaning

Genesis 31:6 conveys Jacob's declaration to his wives, Rachel and Leah, asserting that he has served their father Laban with absolute diligence and maximum effort. It is a factual statement highlighting his faithfulness and unwavering commitment during his twenty years of labor, despite Laban's deceitful and exploitative practices. This declaration serves to justify his impending departure from Laban and underscores that any prosperity he gained was due to God's intervention rather than Laban's fair treatment.

Genesis 31 6 Context

Genesis chapter 31 finds Jacob at a critical juncture in his life. After serving Laban for twenty years—seven for Rachel, then seven for Leah due to Laban's deceit, and an additional six years tending Laban's flocks under various unjust wage conditions (Gen 29:15-30:43)—Jacob perceives that Laban's attitude towards him has changed for the worse (Gen 31:1-2). Furthermore, God instructs Jacob to return to the land of his fathers (Gen 31:3). This verse (31:6) is part of Jacob's detailed explanation to his wives, Leah and Rachel, justifying why they must depart from their father's house. He emphasizes his tireless devotion and faithfulness as a worker, which stands in stark contrast to Laban's repeated deceptions and exploitations. Jacob underscores that any success he achieved was not through Laban's generosity or fair dealing, but through divine intervention (Gen 31:5, 7, 9, 42), setting the stage for his quiet, but determined, exodus.

Genesis 31 6 Word analysis

• And ye know (וְאַתֵּן יְדַעְתֶּן, v'athen yedatten):

  • וְאַתֵּן (v'athen): "And you (feminine plural)." This direct address underscores the personal appeal to Leah and Rachel. It signifies that Jacob is appealing to their immediate, firsthand knowledge and experience. They were witnesses to his labor and Laban's actions.
  • יְדַעְתֶּן (yedatten): "you (fem. pl.) knew / have known." From the root ידע (yada‘), "to know, perceive, understand." This implies an experiential and intimate knowledge, not just theoretical understanding. It posits a shared, undeniable truth between Jacob and his wives, creating a strong rhetorical foundation for his argument.
  • Significance: Jacob is not presenting new information but reminding them of an established fact, which gives his words authority and minimizes potential resistance from them regarding leaving their family home.

• that with all my might (בְּכָל־כֹּחִי, b'chol-kochī):

  • בְּכָל (b'chol): "with all / in all." Indicates totality, completeness, absence of reservation.
  • כֹּחִי (kochī): "my strength / my might / my power." From the root כּח (koach), signifying physical and energetic capability. This word can denote physical strength, mental vigor, resources, or even an army's power.
  • Significance: This phrase emphasizes Jacob's total exertion and tireless effort. It suggests he withheld nothing in his service, implying both physical exhaustion from labor and full mental dedication. This paints a picture of extreme diligence and faithfulness.

• I have served (עָבַדְתִּי, avadtī):

  • עָבַדְתִּי (avadtī): "I served / I worked / I toiled." From the common Hebrew root עבד (avad), "to serve, work, labor, be enslaved." It covers a wide range of meanings, from compulsory servitude to diligent labor. In this context, it refers to his continuous, strenuous work as a shepherd and manager for Laban.
  • Significance: While Jacob was technically a servant, his work ethic exceeded that of a typical laborer. This term encapsulates the physical and managerial aspects of his long tenure, implicitly highlighting his role in multiplying Laban's wealth.

• your father (אֲבִיכֶן, avichen):

  • אֲבִיכֶן (avichen): "your father." From the root אָב (av), "father," with the possessive suffix for "your" (fem. pl.).
  • Significance: This term clarifies the subject of Jacob's service, contextualizing it within the complicated family dynamic. It implicitly highlights the irony and injustice, as Laban, the father-in-law, consistently exploited Jacob, the son-in-law, despite Jacob's unwavering service. The familial tie ironically deepens the offense of Laban's exploitation.

Words-Group Analysis

• "And ye know that...": This opening emphasizes a shared experience and calls for affirmation from Leah and Rachel. Jacob is not lecturing them but drawing them into an acknowledged truth, vital for their cooperation in his plan to depart. This rhetorical approach aims to secure their alliance by appealing to their direct observations of his arduous labor and Laban's ungratefulness.
• "with all my might I have served your father": This phrase functions as a concise summary of Jacob's 20-year commitment. It directly counters any potential accusation of idleness or insufficient effort. It highlights the full dedication he poured into his work for Laban, even under increasingly unfair conditions. This also underscores the moral disparity between Jacob's integrity and Laban's manipulative practices, providing a strong basis for God's eventual vindication of Jacob. The implication is that Jacob's success was not due to Laban's just payment but despite his unjust treatment.

Genesis 31 6 Bonus section

The concept of "serving with all might" points to an ethic of excellence that is not contingent on fair reciprocation from human masters. This foreshadows later New Testament teachings where believers are called to work "heartily, as for the Lord and not for men" (Col 3:23). Jacob’s actions here reflect a deeper trust that his ultimate reward and vindication would come from God, not from Laban. This narrative serves as a subtle polemic against the idea that human manipulation or greed can ultimately thwart God's plans or prevent His blessing on those who walk in integrity and faithfulness. While Laban thought he could control Jacob's destiny and wealth through deception, God intervened precisely because of Jacob's unwavering diligence and Laban's injustice. This also marks a turning point in Jacob's spiritual development, showing less of the deceptive characteristics of his youth and more of a hardworking, trusting man ready for God's leading.

Genesis 31 6 Commentary

Genesis 31:6 is Jacob's foundational argument to his wives, justifying his imminent departure from Laban. It serves as a profound statement of his personal integrity and industriousness. For two decades, Jacob performed the grueling, comprehensive labor required to manage and grow Laban's extensive flocks, as detailed in 31:38-40. His declaration "with all my might" emphasizes not merely participation, but complete and exhausting commitment. This contrasts sharply with Laban's continuous manipulation, wage changes (31:7), and general avarice, establishing Jacob's moral high ground.

This verse reveals an important biblical principle: diligent labor, even under oppressive or unfair circumstances, is not wasted in God's eyes. Jacob's faithfulness to his work, even when exploited by a human master, laid the groundwork for divine blessing. His prosperity, including the multiplying flocks, was not a result of Laban's benevolence but God's sovereign hand, seeing Jacob's faithful service and vindicating him against his unjust father-in-law. This verse anticipates God's active involvement (31:9, 42), demonstrating that divine favor often accompanies human diligence, especially when one is treated unjustly.

Practical Examples:

• A Christian employee diligently serves their company, even if feeling underpaid or undervalued, trusting that God sees their labor.
• Someone continues to give their best effort in a relationship despite unfair treatment, reflecting God's call to faithfulness.
• An individual maintains high ethical standards in their business dealings, even when others resort to unscrupulous practices, confident in divine vindication.