Genesis 31:9 kjv

Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me.

Genesis 31:9 nkjv

So God has taken away the livestock of your father and given them to me.

Genesis 31:9 niv

So God has taken away your father's livestock and has given them to me.

Genesis 31:9 esv

Thus God has taken away the livestock of your father and given them to me.

Genesis 31:9 nlt

In this way, God has taken your father's animals and given them to me.

Genesis 31 verses

Genesis 31 9 Meaning

Genesis 31:9 proclaims God's sovereign act of justly transferring the livestock from Laban, Jacob's deceitful father-in-law, to Jacob. This verse highlights divine intervention, where God reverses human injustice and provides for His covenant people. It is an affirmation that Jacob's wealth did not come from his own cunning or Laban's generosity, but directly from the hand of God, who ensured righteousness and blessing.

Genesis 31 9 Context

Genesis chapter 31 describes Jacob's departure from Laban after twenty years. Jacob has endured Laban's deceit and constant manipulation, particularly regarding his wages (changing them ten times, as noted in v. 7). Despite Laban's injustice, God prospered Jacob. Before leaving, Jacob gathers his wives, Rachel and Leah, to explain his decision to flee. This verse, 31:9, is part of his recounting of God's direct intervention and command to leave Laban. It grounds Jacob's wealth and subsequent departure in divine revelation and providence, not Jacob's own doing, thus vindicating his actions to his wives who are Laban's daughters. The historical context reflects a nomadic, patriarchal society where wealth was often measured in livestock, and kinship ties (even with deceitful relatives like Laban) held significant social weight.

Genesis 31 9 Word analysis

• Thus (כֵּן, ken): An adverb indicating manner or confirmation; "so," "in this way," or "therefore." It emphasizes that what follows is a direct consequence or outcome of what has been described or indicated by divine decree. It suggests certainty and divine orchestration.
• God (אֱלֹהִים, Elohim): The generic but foundational Hebrew term for deity. Here, it refers specifically to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob – the sovereign, covenant-making God of Israel. Its use underscores divine agency and authority as the primary mover of events, not chance or human cunning.
• has taken away (נָצַל, natsal): A verb meaning "to deliver," "to snatch away," "to rescue," "to pull out." It implies an act of powerful extraction or liberation. It is not a simple "taking" but a forceful removal, conveying that God rescued Jacob's rightful share from Laban's grip. It carries the sense of restoration to rightful ownership or deliverance from oppression.
• the livestock (מִקְנֶה, miqneh): Means "acquired property," specifically "cattle," "livestock," "flock." This term encompasses the animals that were the primary form of wealth in this patriarchal society. This was the specific asset Laban was exploiting, and the specific asset God redistributed.
• of your father (אָבִיכֶן, 'avichen): "Your father," referring to Laban. This phrasing is used by Jacob when speaking to his wives, Laban's daughters. It highlights the familial dimension of the injustice, underscoring Laban's treachery against his own kin (Jacob, through his marriage to Laban's daughters).
• and given them (וַיִּתֵּן, vayyiten): From the verb נָתַן, nathan, "to give," "to put," "to place." This directly attributes the act of bestowal to God. It highlights God's role not just in taking from Laban, but actively giving and bestowing blessing upon Jacob, affirming his legitimacy in possessing this wealth.
• to me (לִי, li): "To me," referring to Jacob. This simple pronoun identifies Jacob as the designated recipient of God's provision and blessing. It clarifies the ultimate beneficiary of God's intervention, making Jacob a direct recipient of divine favor and material blessing.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• Thus God has taken away: This phrase emphatically declares God as the active agent behind the transfer of wealth. It counters any perception that Jacob cunningly acquired the animals; instead, God, by His sovereign will and power, removed them from Laban's unjust possession. It is an act of divine justice and re-allocation.
• the livestock of your father: This pinpoints the exact object and former owner. The "livestock" represents material wealth and sustenance. "Your father" identifies the oppressor within the familial context, making God's intervention deeply personal and morally justifiable in the eyes of Rachel and Leah.
• and given them to me: This completes the divine transfer. Not only did God rescue wealth from Laban, but He specifically directed it to Jacob. This highlights God's favoritism and care for Jacob, reaffirming the covenant promises of prosperity and blessing, turning Laban's intended harm into Jacob's gain.

Genesis 31 9 Bonus section

The divine transfer of Laban's livestock to Jacob in this chapter prefigures later instances in biblical narrative where God orchestrates the transfer of wealth from one group to another (e.g., Israel taking spoils from Egypt at the Exodus, Exod 12:35-36; 3:21-22). This pattern underscores a divine principle that God intervenes on behalf of His oppressed people, reclaiming what was unjustly held or ensuring their provision and prosperity as part of His covenant faithfulness. It challenges the common ancient Near Eastern idea that wealth was solely a result of human diligence, cunning, or pagan deity favor; instead, it firmly places all power and control over material resources in the hands of the Lord God. It highlights the reversal of fortune under God's hand: the schemer (Laban) is divinely out-schemed, and the exploited (Jacob) is divinely enriched.

Genesis 31 9 Commentary

Genesis 31:9 stands as a powerful declaration of God's active involvement in the lives of His covenant people. Jacob presents this as God's righteous judgment against Laban's repeated deceit and injustice (recounting the changing of wages in the preceding verses). This verse is crucial because it exonerates Jacob from any accusation of fraud or theft, portraying him not as a cunning manipulator (which Laban might have painted him), but as the recipient of divine favor and justice. God, the ultimate owner of all things, redistributed wealth that Laban had unjustly withheld or accumulated. This illustrates several key biblical themes: God's attentive care for His servants, His righteous judgment against the wicked, and His faithful provision for those who trust Him. It also serves as a theological statement that true prosperity and blessing originate from God, not from human cunning or the generosity of others. This divine intervention affirms Jacob's position as the rightful heir to the covenant blessings and demonstrates God's commitment to protect and prosper His chosen lineage.