Genesis 30:27

Authorized King James Version

And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favour in thine eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the LORD hath blessed me for thy sake.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר
said
to say (used with great latitude)
#2
אֵלָיו֙
near, with or among; often in general, to
#3
לָבָ֔ן
And Laban
laban, a place in the desert
#4
אִם
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
#5
נָ֛א
'i pray', 'now', or 'then'; added mostly to verbs (in the imperative or future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction
#6
מָצָ֥אתִי
unto him I pray thee if I have found
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
#7
חֵ֖ן
favour
graciousness, i.e., subjective (kindness, favor) or objective (beauty)
#8
בְּעֵינֶ֑יךָ
in thine eyes
an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
#9
נִחַ֕שְׁתִּי
tarry for I have learned by experience
properly, to hiss, i.e., whisper a (magic) spell; generally, to prognosticate
#10
וַיְבָרֲכֵ֥נִי
hath blessed
to kneel; by implication to bless god (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as a benefit); also (by euphemism) to curse (god or the king, as
#11
יְהוָ֖ה
that the LORD
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
#12
בִּגְלָלֶֽךָ׃
me for thy sake
a circumstance (as rolled around); only used adverbially, on account of

Analysis

The creation and providence theme here intersects with the broader canonical witness to God's character and purposes. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of progressive revelation that finds its culmination in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine sovereignty contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's consistent character and purposes.

Historical Context

The literary and historical milieu of ancient Near Eastern narrative literature addressing origins and identity shapes this text's meaning. The development from creation to divine election established God's sovereign care over history Understanding a worldview where divine beings actively governed natural and historical processes helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes divine sovereignty in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection

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