Genesis 31:10 - During mating season, I lifted up my eyes, and saw in a dream, and behold, the male goats which leaped on the flock were streaked, speckled, and grizzled.
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Genesis 31:10" mean?
This verse is part of the story of Jacob's dealings with his father-in-law, Laban, regarding wages for his shepherding work. To understand the meaning, we need to consider the context:
Jacob's predicament: Jacob had worked for Laban for many years without accumulating much wealth. Laban repeatedly changed the terms of their agreement.
The agreement: Jacob proposes that he should keep any speckled, spotted, or black sheep and goats born in the flock as his wages. Laban readily agrees, thinking it's a safe bet because most of the flock are solid colors.
Jacob's trickery (or divine intervention): Jacob employs methods to encourage the birth of the desired colored animals. The exact nature of these methods is debated, but the verse in question plays a role in understanding them.
Meaning of Genesis 31:10:
The verse states that Jacob, "lifted up my eyes, and saw in a dream, and behold, the male goats which leaped on the flock were streaked, speckled, and grizzled."
Here's a breakdown of the meaning:
"During mating season...": This highlights the importance of the time of year. Jacob is observing the behavior of the animals during their reproductive period.
"I lifted up my eyes, and saw in a dream...": This suggests that the image Jacob saw was not a literal, waking observation, but rather a vision within a dream. This implies a divine element or guidance.
"...and behold, the male goats which leaped on the flock were streaked, speckled, and grizzled.": This is the core of the verse. The dream showed Jacob that the male goats during mating were the "streaked, speckled, and grizzled" variety. This is significant because these are the types of animals Jacob was supposed to receive as his wages.
Interpretation and Significance:
The interpretation of this verse is complex and varies:
Divine Intervention: Many interpret the dream as a sign from God. God is showing Jacob how to ensure he gets his fair share of the flock, potentially even empowering him to breed the animals in a way that favors the desired colors. This aligns with the overall theme of God's favor towards Jacob.
Genetic Understanding (Anachronistic): Some, less convincingly, try to read this as an early, albeit rudimentary, understanding of genetics. The idea is that Jacob, through observation, learned that the colors of the males influenced the offspring's colors. However, this is an anachronistic interpretation, attributing scientific knowledge to ancient people that they likely did not possess.
Psychological Influence: Another interpretation suggests that the dream itself influenced Jacob's actions. Perhaps the dream gave him the confidence to use certain techniques (like the peeled rods mentioned later in the story) to influence the breeding.
The Connection to the Peeled Rods (Genesis 30:37-43):
The verse is often linked to Jacob's practice of placing peeled rods in the watering troughs of the sheep. The passage about the rods comes just before the dream verse. Some believe the dream validated or explained the effectiveness of the rods. However, the connection between the rods and the dream, and whether the rods truly worked, remains a source of debate. It's possible the rods were more of a psychological aid for Jacob than an actual cause of the desired outcome.
In Summary:
Genesis 31:10 is a key verse in the story of Jacob and Laban, suggesting either divine intervention or a heightened awareness of breeding practices (or both) that allowed Jacob to increase his wealth and gain the colored animals he was promised. It implies that Jacob's success was not purely based on luck or deception, but potentially blessed by a divine plan. The exact mechanism by which the dream influenced the outcome remains open to interpretation.
Genesis 31:10 - During mating season, I lifted up my eyes, and saw in a dream, and behold, the male goats which leaped on the flock were streaked, speckled, and grizzled.
What does "Genesis 31:10" mean?
This verse is part of the story of Jacob's dealings with his father-in-law, Laban, regarding wages for his shepherding work. To understand the meaning, we need to consider the context:
Jacob's predicament: Jacob had worked for Laban for many years without accumulating much wealth. Laban repeatedly changed the terms of their agreement.
The agreement: Jacob proposes that he should keep any speckled, spotted, or black sheep and goats born in the flock as his wages. Laban readily agrees, thinking it's a safe bet because most of the flock are solid colors.
Jacob's trickery (or divine intervention): Jacob employs methods to encourage the birth of the desired colored animals. The exact nature of these methods is debated, but the verse in question plays a role in understanding them.
Meaning of Genesis 31:10:
The verse states that Jacob, "lifted up my eyes, and saw in a dream, and behold, the male goats which leaped on the flock were streaked, speckled, and grizzled."
Here's a breakdown of the meaning:
"During mating season...": This highlights the importance of the time of year. Jacob is observing the behavior of the animals during their reproductive period.
"I lifted up my eyes, and saw in a dream...": This suggests that the image Jacob saw was not a literal, waking observation, but rather a vision within a dream. This implies a divine element or guidance.
"...and behold, the male goats which leaped on the flock were streaked, speckled, and grizzled.": This is the core of the verse. The dream showed Jacob that the male goats during mating were the "streaked, speckled, and grizzled" variety. This is significant because these are the types of animals Jacob was supposed to receive as his wages.
Interpretation and Significance:
The interpretation of this verse is complex and varies:
Divine Intervention: Many interpret the dream as a sign from God. God is showing Jacob how to ensure he gets his fair share of the flock, potentially even empowering him to breed the animals in a way that favors the desired colors. This aligns with the overall theme of God's favor towards Jacob.
Genetic Understanding (Anachronistic): Some, less convincingly, try to read this as an early, albeit rudimentary, understanding of genetics. The idea is that Jacob, through observation, learned that the colors of the males influenced the offspring's colors. However, this is an anachronistic interpretation, attributing scientific knowledge to ancient people that they likely did not possess.
Psychological Influence: Another interpretation suggests that the dream itself influenced Jacob's actions. Perhaps the dream gave him the confidence to use certain techniques (like the peeled rods mentioned later in the story) to influence the breeding.
The Connection to the Peeled Rods (Genesis 30:37-43):
The verse is often linked to Jacob's practice of placing peeled rods in the watering troughs of the sheep. The passage about the rods comes just before the dream verse. Some believe the dream validated or explained the effectiveness of the rods. However, the connection between the rods and the dream, and whether the rods truly worked, remains a source of debate. It's possible the rods were more of a psychological aid for Jacob than an actual cause of the desired outcome.
In Summary:
Genesis 31:10 is a key verse in the story of Jacob and Laban, suggesting either divine intervention or a heightened awareness of breeding practices (or both) that allowed Jacob to increase his wealth and gain the colored animals he was promised. It implies that Jacob's success was not purely based on luck or deception, but potentially blessed by a divine plan. The exact mechanism by which the dream influenced the outcome remains open to interpretation.