Genesis 31:38
WEB
“These twenty years I have been with you. Your ewes and your female goats have not cast their young, and I haven’t eaten the rams of your flocks.
BSB
I have been with you for twenty years now. Your sheep and goats have not miscarried, nor have I eaten the rams of your flock.
KJV
This twenty years have I been with thee; thy ewes and thy she goats have not cast their young, and the rams of thy flock have I not eaten.
Matthew Henry
Hebrew interlinear
H2088
d — this, that
Derivation: a primitive word;
the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that
KJV: he, × hence, × here, it(-self), × now, × of him, the one...the other, × than the other, (× out of) the (self) same, such (a one) that, these, this (hath, man), on this side...on that side, × thus, very, which. Compare 2063, 2090, 2097, 2098.
demonstr.pron — this
זֶה demonstr.pron. and adv.; fem. זֹאת, once זֹאתָה; this, here
1. standing alone
2. In appos. to subst.
3. More oft. as pred.
4. It is attached enclitically, almost as an adv., to certain words, esp. interrog. pronouns, to impart, in a manner often not reproducible in Engl. idiom, directness and force, bringing the question or statement made into close relation with the speaker.
5. In poetry, as a relative pron. (rare)
6. With prefixes (in special senses)
H6242
n — twenty, twentieth
Derivation: from 6235;
twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth
KJV: (six-) score, twenty(-ieth).
twenty
עֶשְׂרִים (a) twenty
H8141
n-f — year, revolution
Derivation: (in plural or (feminine) שָׁנָה; from 8138;
a year (as a revolution of time)
KJV: whole age, × long, old, year(× -ly).
n.f — year
שָׁנָה 877 n.f. year (etym. v. √[v.ek.aa])
H595
p — I
Derivation: sometimes, אָנֹכִי; a primitive pronoun;
I
KJV: I, me, × which.
pron — I
אָֽנֹכִ֫י, אָנֹ֑כִי pron. 1s. comm. I
H5973
prep — with, equally with
Derivation: from 6004;
adverb or preposition, with (i.e. in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then usually unrepresented in English)
KJV: accompanying, against, and, as (× long as), before, beside, by (reason of), for all, from (among, between), in, like, more than, of, (un-) to, with(-al).
from with
מֵעִם 72 from with or beside
prep — with
עִם prep. with
1. of fellowship and companionship
a. of aid
b. Of actions done jointly with another
c. If the common action be of the nature of a contest or combat, with in the sense of against
d. Of dealing with a person, or of the relation in which one stands with, or towards, another
e. Of a common lot together with the wicked
f. Of equality or resemblance generally aid
g. Of time, as long as
2. Of a locality, close to, beside
3. Of persons, עִם is spec.
a. in the house or family or service of
b. In possession of
c. In the custody or care of
d. Beside = except
e. With = friendly with
4. Idiom. of a thought or purpose present with one
5. Metaph. together with = in spite of, notwithstanding
H7353
n-f — ewe, females, traveller
Derivation: from an unused root meaning to journey;
a ewe [the females being the predominant element of a flock] (as a good traveller)
KJV: ewe, sheep.
n.f — ewe
רָחֵל n.f. ewe
H5795
n-f — she-goat
Derivation: from 5810;
a she-goat (as strong), but masculine in plural (which also is used elliptically for goat's hair)
KJV: (she) goat, kid.
n.f — she-goat
עֵז 74 n.f. she-goat
H3808
adv — not, no
Derivation: or לוֹא; or לֹה; (Deuteronomy 3:11), a primitive particle;
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
KJV: × before, or else, ere, except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (× as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, surely, as truly as, of a truth, verily, for want, whether, without.
adv — not
לֹא or לוֹא adv. not
H7921
v — miscarry, suffer abortion, bereave
Derivation: a primitive root;
properly, to miscarry, i.e. suffer abortion; by analogy, to bereave (literally or figuratively)
KJV: bereave (of children), barren, cast calf (fruit, young), be (make) childless, deprive, destroy, × expect, lose children, miscarry, rob of children, spoil.
vb — be bereaved
[שָׁכֹל, שָׁכַל] vb. be bereaved
Qal be bereaved
Pi.
1. make childless
2.
a. cause barrenness, or abortion
b. shew barrenness, or abortion
Hiph. miscarrying womb
H352
n-m — strength, strong, chief, ram, pilaster, oak
Derivation: from the same as 193;
properly, strength; hence, anything strong; specifically a chief (politically); also a ram (from his strength); a pilaster (as a strong support); an oak or other strong tree
KJV: mighty (man), lintel, oak, post, ram, tree.
n.m — leader
[אַ֫יִל ?] n.m. leader, chief
n.m — terebinth
[אַ֫יִל ?] n.m. terebinth
n.[m.] — projecting pillar
אַ֫יִל n.[m.] projecting pillar or pilaster
n.m — ram
אַ֫יִל 156 n.m. ram (as leader of flock)
H6629
n-f — flock
Derivation: or צאוֹן; (Psalm 144:13), from an unused root meaning to migrate;
a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men)
KJV: (small) cattle, flock ( -s), lamb ( -s), sheep(-cote, -fold, -shearer, -herds).
n.coll.f — small cattle
צֹאן 273 n.coll.f. small cattle, sheep and goats, flock, flocks
H398
v — eat
Derivation: a primitive root;
to eat (literally or figuratively)
KJV: × at all, burn up, consume, devour(-er, up), dine, eat(-er, up), feed (with), food, × freely, × in...wise(-deed, plenty), (lay) meat, × quite.
vb — eat
אָכַל 806 vb. eat
Qal
1. eat, human subject
2. of beasts, birds, etc., eat, devour
3. fig. of fire, devour, consume
4. of sword, devour, slay
5. in genl., devour, consume, destroy
6. fig. of oppression, devour the poor
Niph.
1. be eaten by man
2. be devoured by fire, consumed
3. be wasted, destroyed, of flesh
Pu. be consumed
Hiph.
1. cause to eat, feed with
2. cause to devoure, obj. sword
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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