1 And he heard H8085 the words H1697 of Laban's H3837 sons, H1121 saying, H559 Jacob H3290 hath taken away H3947 all that was our father's; H1 and of that which was our father's H1 hath he gotten H6213 all this glory. H3519
Again, I considered H7200 all travail, H5999 and every right H3788 work, H4639 that for this a man H376 is envied H7068 of his neighbour. H7453 This is also vanity H1892 and vexation H7469 of spirit. H7307
For G1063 we ourselves G2249 also G2532 were G2258 sometimes G4218 foolish, G453 disobedient, G545 deceived, G4105 serving G1398 divers G4164 lusts G1939 and G2532 pleasures, G2237 living G1236 in G1722 malice G2549 and G2532 envy, G5355 hateful, G4767 and hating G3404 one another. G240
Behold, every one that useth proverbs H4911 shall use this proverb H4911 against thee, saying, H559 As is the mother, H517 so is her daughter. H1323
Wrath H2534 is cruel, H395 and anger H639 is outrageous; H7858 but who is able to stand H5975 before H6440 envy? H7068
If he said H559 thus, The speckled H5348 shall be thy wages; H7939 then all the cattle H6629 bare H3205 speckled: H5348 and if he said H559 thus, The ringstraked H6124 shall be thy hire; H7939 then bare H3205 all the cattle H6629 ringstraked. H6124 Thus God H430 hath taken away H5337 the cattle H4735 of your father, H1 and given H5414 them to me.
What shall be given H5414 unto thee? or what shall be done H3254 unto thee, thou false H7423 tongue? H3956 Sharp H8150 arrows H2671 of the mighty, H1368 with coals H1513 of juniper. H7574 Woe H190 is me, that I sojourn H1481 in Mesech, H4902 that I dwell H7931 in the tents H168 of Kedar! H6938
Who whet H8150 their tongue H3956 like a sword, H2719 and bend H1869 their bows to shoot their arrows, H2671 even bitter H4751 words: H1697 That they may shoot H3384 in secret H4565 at the perfect: H8535 suddenly H6597 do they shoot H3384 at him, and fear H3372 not.
From men H4962 which are thy hand, H3027 O LORD, H3068 from men H4962 of the world, H2465 which have their portion H2506 in this life, H2416 and whose belly H990 thou fillest H4390 with thy hid H6840 treasure: they are full H7646 of children, H1121 and leave H3240 the rest H3499 of their substance to their babes. H5768
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Genesis 31
Commentary on Genesis 31 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 31
Jacob was a very honest good man, a man of great devotion and integrity, yet he had more trouble and vexation than any of the patriarchs. He left his father's house in a fright, went to his uncle's in distress, very hard usage he met with there, and now is going back surrounded with fears. Here is,
Gen 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.
Gen 31:17-24
Here is,
Gen 31:25-35
We have here the reasoning, not to say the rallying, that took place between Laban and Jacob at their meeting, in that mountain which was afterwards called Gilead, v. 25. Here is,
Gen 31:36-42
See in these verses,
Gen 31:43-55
We have here the compromising of the matter between Laban and Jacob. Laban had nothing to say in reply to Jacob's remonstrance: he could neither justify himself nor condemn Jacob, but was convicted by his own conscience of the wrong he had done him; and therefore desires to hear no more of the matter He is not willing to own himself in a fault, nor to ask Jacob's forgiveness, and make him satisfaction, as he ought to have done. But,
Lastly, After all this angry parley, they part friends, v. 55. Laban very affectionately kissed his sons and his daughters, and blessed them, and then went back in peace. Note, God is often better to us than our fears, and strangely overrules the spirits of men in our favour, beyond what we could have expected; for it is not in vain to trust in him.