Genesis 30:27 - Exposition

And Laban said unto him (having learnt by fourteen years' acquaintance with Jacob to know the value of a good shepherd), I pray thee, if I have found favor in thine eyes (the clause is elliptical, the A . V . rightly supplying), tarry: for (this word also is not in the original), I have learned by experience— literally, I have divined ; not necessarily by means of serpents (Gesenius, Wordsworth, 'Speaker's Commentary'), or even by consulting his gods (Delitzsch, Kalisch), but perhaps by close observation and minute inspection (Murphy, Bush). The LXX . render οἰωνισάμην ; the Vulgate by experimento didici — that the Lord —Jehovah. Nominally a worshipper of the true God, Laban was in practice addicted to heathen superstitions (cf. Genesis 31:19 , Genesis 31:32 )— hath blessed me (with material prosperity) for thy sake .