Genesis 31:16 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 31:1-16

Jacob is here taking up a resolution immediately to quit his uncle's service, to take what he had and go back to Canaan. This resolution he took up upon a just provocation, by divine direction, and with the advice and consent of his wives. I. Upon a just provocation; for Laban and his sons had become very cross and ill-natured towards him, so that he could not stay among them with safety or satisfaction. 1. Laban's sons showed their ill-will in what they said, Gen. 31:1. It should seem they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 31:16

For all the riches which God hath taken from our father ,.... And given to Jacob for his labour: that is ours, and our children's ; it belonged to us by the law of nature, before it came into thine hands; and our right unto it is still more manifest, and is confirmed by the service thou hast done for it, by which means it came into thy possession; and therefore it is no point of conscience with us, nor need it be any with thee especially, to go off with it: now then, whatsoever God... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 31:16

Verse 16 16.For all the riches which God has taken from our father. Rachel and Leah confirm the speech of Jacob; but yet in a profane and common manner, not with a lively and pure sense of religion. For they only make a passing allusion to the fact, that God, in pity to his servant, had deigned to honor him with peculiar favor; and in the meantime, insist upon a reason of little solidity, that what they were carrying away was justly their due, because a part of the inheritance pertained to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 31:1-21

Jacob's flight from Laban. I. THE HOMEWARD DESIRE . The longing to revisit Canaan, which six years previously Laban's exactions and Joseph's birth ( Genesis 30:25 ) had combined to inspire within the heart of Jacob, returned upon him with an intensity that could no longer be resisted. Accelerated in its vehemence partly by the interposed delay to which it had been subjected, partly by his further acquaintance with the meanness and craft of his uncle, and partly by his own rapidly-... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 31:14-16

And Rachel and Leah ( vide on Genesis 31:4 ) answered and said unto him (Kalisch overdoes his attempt to blacken Jacob's character and whitewash Laban's when he says that Rachel and Leah were so entirely under their husband's influence that they spoke about their father " with severity and boldness bordering on disrespect." It rather seems to speak badly for Laban that his daughters eventually rose in protest against his heartless cruelty and insatiable greed), Is there yet... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Genesis 31:1-55

- Jacob’s Flight from Haran19. תרפים terāpı̂ym, Teraphim. This word occurs fifteen times in the Old Testament. It appears three times in this chapter, and nowhere else in the Pentateuch. It is always in the plural number. The root does not appear in Biblical Hebrew. It perhaps means “to live well,” intransitively (Gesenius, Roedig.), “to nourish,” transitively (Furst). The teraphim were symbols or representatives of the Deity, as Laban calls them his gods. They seem to have been busts... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Genesis 31:1-55

Jacob flees from Laban (31:1-55)As Laban and his sons became increasingly hostile to him, Jacob prepared to leave for Canaan without delay (31:1-13). Leah and Rachel agreed, for they too were angry with Laban. He had used them to make himself rich, but apparently had no intention of giving them a share in the inheritance (14-16). Therefore, when they fled, Rachel stole her father’s household idols, for according to Mesopotamian custom possession of these gave her some right to the inheritance... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 31:14-16

"And Rachel and Leah said unto him, Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father's house? Are we not accounted by him as foreigners? for he hath sold us, and hath also quite devoured our money. For all the riches which God hath taken away from our father, that is ours and our children's: now then, whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do.""Rachel and Leah ..." "Rachel's place as the favorite wife appears throughout this event, indicated by her being mentioned first, and by other... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Genesis 31:16

Genesis 31:16. For all the riches, &c.— Another reason here offers itself to justify Jacob. The daughters of Laban justly complain of their father's treatment, who had behaved to them as if they had been slaves, not daughters; and assert, that the gracious God who had so blessed their husband, herein had only caused Laban to do that involuntarily which he ought to have done freely; had only administered to them that justice, and given to them those riches, which their father had withheld:... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Genesis 31:1-16

The increasing antagonism of Laban’s household encouraged Jacob to obey God’s command to return to the Promised Land (Genesis 31:1-2)."The true character of Laban is clearly seen from the fact that his daughters entirely sided with Jacob against their own father . . . . They too had experienced their father’s selfishness and greed, and were ready to approve of their husband’s project and to go with him." [Note: Thomas, p. 285.] read more