Genesis 31:8 kjv

If he said thus, The speckled shall be thy wages; then all the cattle bare speckled: and if he said thus, The ring-streaked shall be thy hire; then bare all the cattle ring-streaked.

Genesis 31:8 nkjv

If he said thus: 'The speckled shall be your wages,' then all the flocks bore speckled. And if he said thus: 'The streaked shall be your wages,' then all the flocks bore streaked.

Genesis 31:8 niv

If he said, 'The speckled ones will be your wages,' then all the flocks gave birth to speckled young; and if he said, 'The streaked ones will be your wages,' then all the flocks bore streaked young.

Genesis 31:8 esv

If he said, 'The spotted shall be your wages,' then all the flock bore spotted; and if he said, 'The striped shall be your wages,' then all the flock bore striped.

Genesis 31:8 nlt

For if he said, 'The speckled animals will be your wages,' the whole flock began to produce speckled young. And when he changed his mind and said, 'The striped animals will be your wages,' then the whole flock produced striped young.

Genesis 31 verses

Genesis 31 8 Meaning

Genesis 31:8 records Jacob's account to Rachel and Leah, detailing how God divinely intervened in the livestock breeding to protect his wages from Laban's repeated attempts to defraud him. Each time Laban changed the agreed-upon pattern of sheep and goats (from speckled to striped or vice versa), God miraculously caused the entire flocks to give birth to offspring matching the specific pattern Laban had declared would constitute Jacob's compensation. This demonstrated God's direct sovereignty over creation and His faithfulness in ensuring Jacob's prosperity, irrespective of human treachery.

Genesis 31 8 Context

This verse is part of Jacob's heartfelt explanation to his wives, Rachel and Leah, regarding his decision to finally leave Laban's household after twenty years of service (Gen 31:1-13). Jacob recounts the long history of Laban's exploitation, emphasizing how Laban had manipulated his wages repeatedly—specifically, changing the type of livestock that would constitute his pay. Jacob points out that despite Laban's greed and deceit, God actively intervened by supernaturally causing the flocks to bear the very patterns Laban tried to use against Jacob. This miraculous intervention by God, along with a direct divine command (Gen 31:3, 13), solidifies Jacob's conviction that it is time to return to his homeland, as God is orchestrating his deliverance and prosperity. The historical context reflects a time when wealth was measured in livestock and human agreements, though sometimes honored poorly, were crucial for daily life. God's intervention serves as a powerful testament against the pervasive fraud of the era and confirms His protection of His covenant people.

Genesis 31 8 Word Analysis

• "And if he said thus" (וְאִם כֹּה יֹאמַר - Ve'im koh yomar):

  • "And" (וְ - Ve): Connects to the preceding narration, implying a continuous or recurring action.
  • "if" (אִם - im): Introduces a conditional statement, highlighting Laban's attempts to change the terms of Jacob's wage. It implies an arbitrary or opportunistic decision by Laban.
  • "he said" (יֹאמַר - yomar): The verb "to say" indicates Laban's verbal declaration and repeated shifting of the agreement. The frequent changes reveal Laban's avarice and unreliability.
  • "thus" (כֹּה - koh): Means "in this manner" or "so." It refers back to the specific wage conditions that Laban imposed, underscoring the fickle nature of Laban's stipulations, yet demonstrating the steadfastness of God's counter-actions.

• "'The speckled shall be your wages,' then all the flocks bore speckled;":

  • "The speckled" (הַנְּקֻדִּים - hannequddim): From naqad, meaning to mark or spot. Refers to sheep or goats with speckled or dotted coats. These were naturally less common than solid-colored animals, making them a less desirable "default" for wages in Laban's mind.
  • "shall be your wages" (יִהְיֶה שְׂכָרֶךָ - yihyeh sekarekha): "Wages" (sakar) refers to payment for services rendered, earned compensation. This highlights the contractual nature of Jacob's servitude and Laban's failure to uphold his end fairly.
  • "then all the flocks bore speckled": This is the key element demonstrating divine intervention. It's not a natural genetic predisposition over a short period to produce only speckled animals. The phrase "all the flocks" signifies the comprehensiveness of God's supernatural power, ensuring Jacob's prosperity by making the undesirable (for Laban) type of animal the dominant birth.

• "and if he said thus, 'The striped shall be your wages,' then all the flocks bore striped.":

  • "The striped" (הָעֲקֻדִּים - ha'aquddim): From `aqad, meaning to bind or stripe. Refers to animals with ring-straked or striped markings. Like speckled, these were also naturally less common, making them an opportune choice for Laban to designate as Jacob's wages in an attempt to limit Jacob's increase.
  • "then all the flocks bore striped": Again, this emphasizes God's direct, miraculous, and pervasive intervention. God’s sovereign control overrides natural breeding patterns and human attempts at manipulation, ensuring His plans for Jacob prevail. This supernatural reversal reveals God’s protection of His covenant with Jacob and a powerful lesson in His ability to turn evil intent into good for His people.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "And if he said thus... then all the flocks bore X": This consistent "if-then" pattern underlines Laban's manipulative behavior and God's counter-strategy. It showcases God's sovereign control not only over human affairs but also over the very mechanisms of creation and heredity, turning Laban's every attempt to defraud Jacob into a means of Jacob's supernatural increase. This is a divine reversal of fortune, where God takes the exact terms intended for oppression and turns them into a source of blessing. It subtly confronts the ancient idea of luck or natural chance, asserting God's ultimate superintendence.

Genesis 31 8 Bonus section

This verse, when combined with Gen 31:9 and 12, reveals a vital spiritual lesson: our prosperity and success are ultimately from the hand of God, regardless of human intentions or schemes. It debunks the notion that material blessings are solely the result of human cunning or hard work; rather, they flow from God's favor and providential oversight. The reversal of fortune for Laban highlights a divine principle of justice where the very evil intended for others can boomerang upon the perpetrator. It offers a powerful comfort to those who feel unjustly treated, reminding them that God observes and intervenes, ensuring His plans for His chosen ones come to fruition.

Genesis 31 8 Commentary

Genesis 31:8 powerfully illustrates God's meticulous care and active involvement in the lives of His covenant people. It is not merely a description of animal husbandry, but a profound theological statement. Laban's repeated changing of Jacob's wages (referred to as ten times in Gen 31:7, 41) reveals his character as deceitful and avaricious. Jacob, on the other hand, does not resort to human trickery to get his due, as he might have in his youth (e.g., with Esau). Instead, he relies on God's prior promise to him at Bethel (Gen 28:15) to be with him and make him prosperous.

God's response is a stunning display of His omnipotence. By causing "all the flocks" to bear the very pattern Laban chose for Jacob's wages, God not only ensures Jacob's livelihood but also openly demonstrates His ownership over all creation. The miracle here transcends mere luck or Jacob's cleverness with the poplar branches mentioned earlier (Gen 30:37-43) which was likely a misunderstanding of genetic principles at the time, but in this specific context of Gen 31, Jacob attributes his wealth clearly and solely to divine intervention. This confirms that Jacob's blessing was divinely orchestrated and undeniable. It reassures us that when others seek to harm or defraud God's children, the Lord sees, cares, and has the power to turn adverse circumstances into blessings. This act is both a testament to divine justice against Laban's wickedness and an assurance of God's faithfulness to His promises.