Genesis 30:31-34 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 30:25-36

We have here, I. Jacob's thoughts of home. He faithfully served his time out with Laban, even his second apprenticeship, though he was an old man, had a large family to provide for, and it was high time for him to set up for himself. Though Laban's service was hard, and he had cheated him in the first bargain he had made, yet Jacob honestly performs his engagements. Note, A good man, though he swear to his own hurt, will not change. And though others have deceived us this will not justify us... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 30:31

And he said, what shall I give thee ?.... So said Laban to Jacob, still avoiding making any offer himself, but waiting for Jacob, and pressing upon him to fix his wages: and Jacob said, thou shalt not give me anything ; a speech Laban liked very well: his meaning is, that he should give him no certain settled salary, nor even of anything that Laban was now possessed of, and God had blessed him with for his sake he did not desire any part of it: but if thou wilt do this thing for me ;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 30:32

I will pass through all thy flock today ,.... Not alone, but Laban and his sons with him: removing from thence all the speckled and spotted cattle ; that is, such as were black and had white spots on them, or were white and had black spots on them; and the "speckled", according to Jarchi and Ben Melech, were such as had small spots on them; and the "spotted" were such as had larger: and all the brown cattle among the sheep ; the russet coloured ones, or the "black" F15 חום ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 30:33

So shall my righteousness answer for me in time to come ,.... Either by the success I shall have, and the blessing of God upon me, making it prosperous; it will appear in time to come, and to all posterity, that I have most righteously and faithfully served thee: or rather, such a separation being made in Laban's flock, all the spotted ones being removed, and only white ones left with Jacob to keep; it would be a clear case hereafter, if any such should be found with Jacob, they were not... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 30:34

And Laban said ,.... Being well pleased with the proposal Jacob made, as knowing that, generally speaking, cattle of a colour produced those that were of the same; and whereas Jacob proposed to have a flock of sheep of only white in colour, committed to his care, and to have such for his own that should be produced of them, that were speckled, spotted, and brown, Laban concluded from the general nature of things that he could have but very few, if any, and therefore was for striking the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 30:32

I will pass through all thy flock - צאן tson , implying, as we have before seen, all smaller cattle, such as sheep, goats, etc. All the speckled and spotted cattle - שה seh , which we translate cattle, signifies the young either of sheep or goats, what we call a lamb or a kid. Speckled, נקד nakod , signifies interspersed with variously colored spots. Spotted - טלוא talu , spotted with large spot either of the same or different colors, from טלא tala , to patch, to... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 30:31

Verse 31 31.Thou shalt not give me anything. The antithesis between this and the preceding clause is to be noticed. For Jacob does not demand for himself certain and definite wages; but he treats with Laban, on this condition, that he shall receive whatever offspring may be brought forth by the sheep and goats of a pure and uniform color, which shall prove to be party-coloured and spotted. There is indeed some obscurity in the words. For, at first, Jacob seems to require for himself the spotted... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 30:33

Verse 33 33.So shall my righteousness answer for me. Literally it is, “My righteousness shall answer in me.” But the particle בי (bi) signifies to me or for me (86) The sense, however, is clear, that Jacob does not expect success, except through his faith and integrity. (87) Respecting the next clause, interpreters differ. For some read, “When thou shalt come to my reward.” (88) But others, translating in the third person, explain it of righteousness, which shall come to the reward, or to the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 30:25-43

Jacob and Laban, or craft versus greed. I. JACOB 'S RESPECTFUL REQUEST OF LABAN . At the close of fourteen years harsh and exacting service, Jacob desires permission to take his wives and children and return to Canaan. The motives which induced him were probably— 1. The termination of his contract, which released him from a servitude both galling and oppressive. 2. The remembrance of God's covenant, which had assigned him the land of promise as his true inheritance. 3.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 30:31

And he (Laban, unwilling to part with so profitable an assistant) said, What shall I give thee? He was apparently prepared to detain Jacob at his own terms. And Jacob said, Thou shalt not give me anything. Jacob did not design to serve Laban gratuitously, but chose rather to trust God than Laban for recompense (Wordsworth, Gosman in Lange); or he may have meant that he would have no wages of Laban's setting, but only of his own proposing (Hughes). If thou wilt do this thing for me ... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 30:25-36

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 30:31

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 30:32

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 30:33

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 30:34

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 30:32

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 30:31

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 30:33

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 30:25-43

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 30:31

Group of Brands