Genesis 31:7

Authorized King James Version

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And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me.

Original Language Analysis

וַֽאֲבִיכֶן֙ And your father H1
וַֽאֲבִיכֶן֙ And your father
Strong's: H1
Word #: 1 of 13
father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
הֵ֣תֶל hath deceived H2048
הֵ֣תֶל hath deceived
Strong's: H2048
Word #: 2 of 13
to deride; by implication, to cheat
בִּ֔י H0
בִּ֔י
Strong's: H0
Word #: 3 of 13
וְהֶֽחֱלִ֥ף me and changed H2498
וְהֶֽחֱלִ֥ף me and changed
Strong's: H2498
Word #: 4 of 13
properly, to slide by, i.e., (by implication) to hasten away, pass on, spring up, pierce or change
אֶת H853
אֶת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 5 of 13
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
מַשְׂכֻּרְתִּ֖י my wages H4909
מַשְׂכֻּרְתִּ֖י my wages
Strong's: H4909
Word #: 6 of 13
wages or a reward
עֲשֶׂ֣רֶת ten H6235
עֲשֶׂ֣רֶת ten
Strong's: H6235
Word #: 7 of 13
ten (as an accumulation to the extent of the digits)
מֹנִ֑ים times H4489
מֹנִ֑ים times
Strong's: H4489
Word #: 8 of 13
properly, something weighed out, i.e., (figuratively) a portion of time, i.e., an instance
וְלֹֽא H3808
וְלֹֽא
Strong's: H3808
Word #: 9 of 13
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
נְתָנ֣וֹ suffered him H5414
נְתָנ֣וֹ suffered him
Strong's: H5414
Word #: 10 of 13
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
אֱלֹהִ֔ים but God H430
אֱלֹהִ֔ים but God
Strong's: H430
Word #: 11 of 13
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
לְהָרַ֖ע not to hurt H7489
לְהָרַ֖ע not to hurt
Strong's: H7489
Word #: 12 of 13
properly, to spoil (literally, by breaking to pieces); figuratively, to make (or be) good for nothing, i.e., bad (physically, socially or morally)
עִמָּדִֽי׃ me H5978
עִמָּדִֽי׃ me
Strong's: H5978
Word #: 13 of 13
along with

Cross References

Genesis 31:29It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt: but the God of your father spake unto me yesternight, saying, Take thou heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.Genesis 31:41Thus have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle: and thou hast changed my wages ten times.Psalms 37:28For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.Nehemiah 4:12And it came to pass, that when the Jews which dwelt by them came, they said unto us ten times, From all places whence ye shall return unto us they will be upon you.Zechariah 8:23Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.Numbers 14:22Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice;Isaiah 4:1And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.Isaiah 54:17No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.Job 19:3These ten times have ye reproached me: ye are not ashamed that ye make yourselves strange to me.Job 1:10Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

Analysis & Commentary

And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt m... This passage belongs to the Jacob narratives which demonstrate God's sovereign election overriding human merit and the transformation of a deceiver into Israel, the father of the twelve tribes. The Jacob cycle shows how divine purposes advance through flawed individuals whom God graciously transforms.

Key themes include God's sovereign choice ("the older shall serve the younger"), the consequences of deception and family dysfunction, exile and return patterns, wrestling with God leading to blessing, and covenant renewal across generations. Jacob's character development from manipulative deceiver to mature patriarch demonstrates sanctification's lifelong process.

Theologically significant aspects include:

  1. divine election based on grace not merit (Romans 9:10-13)
  2. God's faithfulness to covenant promises despite human unfaithfulness
  3. discipline as evidence of divine love and means of transformation
  4. generational patterns of sin requiring divine intervention to break
  5. prayer and wrestling with God as legitimate expressions of faith.

Jacob's limp after wrestling God symbolizes how divine encounters leave permanent marks, transforming our approach to life and dependence on God rather than our own cunning.

Historical Context

The patriarchal narratives (Genesis 12-50) reflect the cultural, social, and legal customs of the ancient Near East during the Middle Bronze Age (2000-1500 BCE). Archaeological discoveries including the Mari tablets, Nuzi tablets, and Egyptian records confirm many details: nomadic pastoralism, covenant-making ceremonies, marriage customs, property laws, and international travel patterns described in Genesis.

The cultural practices reflected include: treaty/covenant forms (Genesis 15), bride-price customs (Genesis 24, 29), inheritance laws favoring firstborn sons (Genesis 25, 27), adoption practices (Genesis 15, 30), levirate-type arrangements (Genesis 38), and Egyptian administrative systems (Genesis 41, 47). These parallels confirm Genesis's historical reliability while showing how God worked within ancient cultural frameworks to accomplish His purposes.

For later Israelites, these narratives established their identity as Abraham's descendants, explained their claim to Canaan, justified their possession of Joseph's bones (Exodus 13:19), and provided models of faith despite imperfection. The patriarchs' failures and God's faithfulness encouraged Israel that covenant relationship depended on God's grace rather than human merit. The movement from Mesopotamia to Canaan to Egypt set the stage for the Exodus and conquest narratives.

Questions for Reflection

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