GEN 31

Genesis 31:37

WEB

Now that you have felt around in all my stuff, what have you found of all your household stuff? Set it here before my relatives and your relatives, that they may judge between us two.

BSB

You have searched all my goods! Have you found anything that belongs to you? Put it here before my brothers and yours, that they may judge between the two of us.

KJV

Whereas thou hast searched all my stuff, what hast thou found of all thy household stuff? set it here before my brethren and thy brethren, that they may judge betwixt us both.

Matthew Henry

Verses 36–42

Genesis 31:36–42

See in these verses,

I. The power of provocation. Jacob's natural temper was mild and calm, and grace had improved it; he was a smooth man, and a plain man; and yet Laban's unreasonable carriage towards him put him into a heat that transported him into a heat that transported him into some vehemence, Gen 31:36, Gen 31:37. His chiding with Laban, though it may admit of some excuse, was not justifiable, nor is it written for our imitation. Grievous words stir up anger, and commonly do but make bad worse. It is a very great affront to one that bears an honest mind to be charged with dishonesty, and yet even this we must learn to bear with patience, committing our cause to God.

II. The comfort of a good conscience. This was Jacob's rejoicing, that when Laban accused him his own conscience acquitted him, and witnessed for him that he had been in all things willing and careful to live honestly, Heb 13:18. Note, Those that in any employment have dealt faithfully, if they cannot obtain the credit of it with men, yet shall have the comfort of it in their own bosoms.

III. The character of a good servant, and particularly of a faithful shepherd. Jacob had approved himself such a one, Gen 31:38-40. 1. He was very careful, so that, through his oversight or neglect, the ewes did not cast their young. His piety also procured a blessing upon his master's effects that were under his hands. Note, Servants should take no less care of what they are entrusted with for their masters than if they were entitled to it as their own. 2. He was very honest, and took none of that for his own eating which was not allowed him. He contented himself with mean fare, and coveted not to feast upon the rams of the flock. Note, Servants must not be dainty in their food, nor covet what is forbidden them, but in that, and other instances, show all good fidelity. 3. He was very laborious, Gen 31:40. He stuck to his business, all weathers; and bore both heat and cold with invincible patience. Note, Men of business, that intend to make something of it, must resolve to endure hardness. Jacob is here an example to ministers; they also are shepherds, of whom it is required that hey be true to their trust and willing to take pains.

IV. The character of a hard master. Laban had been such a one to Jacob. Those are bad masters, 1. Who exact from their servants that which is unjust, by obliging them to make good that which is not damaged by any default of theirs. This Laban did, Gen 31:39. Nay, if there has been a neglect, yet it is unjust to punish above the proportion of the fault. That may be an inconsiderable damage to the master which would go near to ruin a poor servant. 2. Those also are bad masters who deny to their servants that which is just and equal. This Laban did, Gen 31:41. It was unreasonable for him to make Jacob serve fro his daughters, when he had in reversion so great an estate secured to him by the promise of God himself; as it was also to give him his daughters without portions, when it was in the power of his hands to do well for them. Thus he robbed the poor because he was poor, as he did also by changing his wages.

V. The care of providence for the protection of injured innocence, Gen 31:42. God took cognizance of the wrong done to Jacob, and repaid him whom Laban would otherwise have sent empty away, and rebuked Laban, who otherwise would have swallowed him up. Note, God is the patron of the oppressed; and those who are wronged and yet not ruined, cast down and yet not destroyed, must acknowledge him in their preservation and give him the glory of it. Observe, 1. Jacob speaks of god as the God of his father, intimating that he thought himself unworthy to be thus regarded, but was beloved for the father's sake. 2. He calls him the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac; for Abraham was dead, and had gone to that world where perfect love casts out fear; but Isaac was yet alive, sanctifying the Lord in his heart, as his fear and his dread

Cross-references: Gen 31:36 · Gen 31:37 · Heb 13:18 · Gen 31:38 · Gen 31:40 · Gen 31:39 · Gen 31:41 · Gen 31:42

Hebrew interlinear

H3588

כִּיkîy/kee/

conj — relative conjunction

Derivation: a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent or consequent;

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

KJV: and, (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), but, certainly, doubtless, else, even, except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, (al-) though, till, truly, until, when, whether, while, whom, yea, yet.

כִּי

conj — that

כִּי conj. that, for, when

1. that

2.

a. Of time, when, of the past

b. elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם

c. when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though

3. Because, since

כִּי אם־

relative conjunction

כִּי אם־

1. each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause:

a. that if

b. for if

2. (About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause—

a. limiting the prec. clause, except

b. the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

c. after an oath, surely

כִּי עַל כֵּן

forasmuch as

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

H4959

מָשַׁשׁmâshash/maw-shash'/

v — feel of, grope

Derivation: a primitive root;

to feel of; by implication, to grope

KJV: feel, grope, search.

מָשַׁשׁ

vb — feel

[מָשַׁשׁ] vb. feel, grope

Qal perhaps my father will feel me; and he felt of him

Pi. feel over or through, grope

Hiph. that one may feel (the) darkness

H853

אֵתʼêth/ayth/

prt — self, even, namely

Derivation: apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of entity;

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

KJV: [as such unrepresented in English].

אֵת

mark of the accusative

אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

H3605

כֹּלkôl/kole/

n-m — whole, all, any, every

Derivation: or (Jeremiah 33:8) כּוֹל; from 3634;

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

KJV: (in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-) thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever).

כֹּל

n.m — the whole

כֹּל once כּוֹל n.m. the whole, all

1. with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every

2. Absolutely:

a. without the art., all things, all

b. with the art. הַכֹּל

(a). where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned

(b). in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)

H3627

כְּלִיkᵉlîy/kel-ee'/

n-m — prepared, apparatus

Derivation: from 3615;

something prepared, i.e. any apparatus (as an implement, utensil, dress, vessel or weapon)

KJV: armour(-bearer), artillery, bag, carriage, furnish, furniture, instrument, jewel, that is made of, × one from another, that which pertaineth, pot, psaltery, sack, stuff, thing, tool, vessel, ware, weapon, whatsoever.

כְּלִי

n.m — article

כְּלִי 324 n.m. article, utensil, vessel

H4100

מָהmâh/maw/

i — what?, how?, why?, when?, what!, how!, what, whatever, that which

Derivation: or מַה; or מָ; or מַ; also מֶה; a primitive particle;

properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and even relatively, that which); often used with prefixes in various adverbial or conjunctive senses

KJV: how (long, oft, (-soever)), (no-) thing, what (end, good, purpose, thing), whereby(-fore, -in, -to, -with), (for) why.

מָה

pron.interrog — what?

מָה, rarely מָה־, מַה־, מַה‍ּ, מֶה, מַ‍ּ, מָpron.interrog. and indef. what? how? aught

1. interrog. what?

2. Used adverbially

3. Indef. pron.

4. With preps.

H4672

מָצָאmâtsâʼ/maw-tsaw'/

v — come, appear, exist, attain, find, acquire, occur, meet, be present

Derivation: a primitive root;

properly, to come forth to, i.e. appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e. find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present

KJV: be able, befall, being, catch, × certainly, (cause to) come (on, to, to hand), deliver, be enough (cause to) find(-ing, occasion, out), get (hold upon), × have (here), be here, hit, be left, light (up-) on, meet (with), × occasion serve, (be) present, ready, speed, suffice, take hold on.

מָצָא

vb — attain to

מָצָא 452 vb. attain to, find

Qal

1. find

2. find out

3. = come upon, light upon

4. noteworthy phrases

Niph. pass. of Qal, be found

Hiph.

1. cause to find, attain

2. cause to light upon, come upon, come

3. cause to encounter

4. present unto

H1004

בַּיִתbayith/bah'-yith/

n-m — a house

Derivation: probably from 1129 abbreviated;

a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)

KJV: court, daughter, door, + dungeon, family, + forth of, × great as would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter) house(-hold), inside(-ward), palace, place, + prison, + steward, + tablet, temple, web, + within(-out).

בֵּית

prep — between

בֵּית fem. of בַּיִן, בֵּין prep. between

בַּ֫יִת

n.m — house

בַּ֫יִת 2034 n.m. house

1. house

2. place

3. receptacle

4. of house as containing a family

5. household, family (592 t.)

6. house, including household affairs

7. lit. housewards, hence metaph. inwards

8. מִבַּיִת

a. adv. on the inside

b. prep. within

H7760

שׂוּםsûwm/soom/

v — put

Derivation: or שִׂים; a primitive root;

to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)

KJV: × any wise, appoint, bring, call (a name), care, cast in, change, charge, commit, consider, convey, determine, disguise, dispose, do, get, give, heap up, hold, impute, lay (down, up), leave, look, make (out), mark, name, × on, ordain, order, paint, place, preserve, purpose, put (on), regard, rehearse, reward, (cause to) set (on, up), shew, stedfastly, take, × tell, tread down, (over-)turn, × wholly, work.

שׂוּם

vb — put

שׂוּם, שִׂים 582 vb. put, place, set

Qal

1.

a. put, set, in a place

b. put something upon

c. put, lay, set

d. put, c. בֵּין

2. set, direct

3.

a. set, ordain, in a place

b. set, establish a law, statute

c. set, found a nation

d. set, appoint (as ruler, official)

e. set, constitute, make

f. set, determine, fix, bounds

4.

a. set, station, at a post

b. put in position, sacred bread, sword, staves, bars

c. set up altars

d. = plant, wheat

e. set, fix (countenance)

5.

a. make a thing, or pers. (acc.), for, transform into

b. make, constitute

c. work, bring to pass

d. appoint, give

e. set, fix (countenance)

Hiph. I will make him for a sign

Hoph. there was set before him

שׂוּמָה

n. f — token of unluckiness

שׂוּמָה perhaps n. f. token of unluckiness, scowl;—2 S 13:32

H3541

כֹּהkôh/ko/

prt — like this, thus, so, here, hither, now

Derivation: from the prefix k and 1931;

properly, like this, i.e. by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now

KJV: also, here, hitherto, like, on the other side, so (and much), such, on that manner, (on) this (manner, side, way, way and that way), mean while, yonder.

כֹּה

demonstr.adv — thus

כֹּה demonstr.adv. thus, here

1. of manner, thus

2. of place, here

3. of time, hitherto

H5048

נֶגֶדneged/neh'-ghed/

prep — front, part opposite, counterpart, mate, over against, before

Derivation: from 5046;

a front, i.e. part opposite; specifically a counterpart, or mate; usually (adverbial, especially with preposition) over against or before

KJV: about, (over) against, × aloof, × far (off), × from, over, presence, × other side, sight, × to view.

נֶ֫גֶד

subst — what is conspicuous

נֶ֫גֶד 151 subst. what is conspicuous or in front, always as adv. or prep. in front of, in sight of, opposite to

H251

אָחʼâch/awkh/

n-m — brother

Derivation: a primitive word;

a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance [like 1])

KJV: another, brother(-ly); kindred, like, other. Compare also the proper names beginning with 'Ah-' or 'Ahi-'.

אָח

n.m — brother

אָח 630 n.m. brother

1. brother, born of same mother (& father)

2. indef. = relative

3. fig. of resemblance

4. in phr. one … another

H3198

יָכַחyâkach/yaw-kahh'/

v — be right, argue, decide, justify, convict

Derivation: a primitive root;

to be right (i.e. correct); reciprocal, to argue; causatively, to decide, justify or convict

KJV: appoint, argue, chasten, convince, correct(-ion), daysman, dispute, judge, maintain, plead, reason (together), rebuke, reprove(-r), surely, in any wise.

יָכַח

vb — decide

[יָכַח] vb. Hiph. decide, adjudge, prove

Hiph.

1. decide, judge

2. adjudge, appoint

3. shew to be right, prove

4. convince, convict

5. reprove, chide

6. correct, rebuke

Hoph. he is chastened also with pain

Niph. come now and let us reason together; there an upright man might reason with him; and thou art set right, righted, justified

Hithp. with Israel he will argue

H996

בֵּיןbêyn/bane/

prep — between, either, or

Derivation: (sometimes in the plural masculine or feminine); properly, the constructive form of an otherwise unused noun from 995; a distinction; but used only as a preposition,

between (repeated before each noun, often with other particles); also as a conjunction, either...or

KJV: among, asunder, at, between (-twixt...and), + from (the widest), × in, out of, whether (it be...or), within.

בַּ֫יִן

subst — interval

בַּ֫יִן subst. prop. interval, space between

1. always (exc. dual) as prep. in the interval of, between

2. Dual בֵּנַ֫יִם space between two armies

H8147

שְׁנַיִםshᵉnayim/shen-ah'-yim/

n — two, twofold

Derivation: dual of 8145; feminine שְׁתַּיִם;

two; also (as ordinal) twofold

KJV: both, couple, double, second, twain, twelfth, twelve, twenty (sixscore) thousand, twice, two.

שְׁנַ֫יִם

n.m — two

שְׁנַ֫יִם, שְׁתַּיִם 768 n.m. et f. du. two

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