Genesis 31:39 - That which was torn of animals, I didn’t bring to you. I bore its loss. Of my hand you required it, whether stolen by day or stolen by night.
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What does "Genesis 31:39" mean?
This verse, Genesis 31:39, is part of Jacob's defense to Laban, his father-in-law, after Laban accuses him of stealing from him and generally being dishonest. In this verse, Jacob is highlighting his integrity and hard work over the past twenty years of service. Let's break down the meaning of each part:
"That which was torn of animals, I didn’t bring to you.": This refers to animals that died in the field because they were attacked by wild beasts. According to ancient Near Eastern customs, shepherds were often responsible for replacing livestock lost to predators, unless they could present proof of the animal's death. Jacob is saying he never tried to pass off an animal killed by wild beasts as if it was his fault or steal from Laban.
"I bore its loss.": Jacob is stating that whenever an animal was killed by a wild animal, he took the financial loss upon himself. He didn't try to cheat Laban or make him pay for the loss, even though he might have been able to argue that he shouldn't be responsible.
"Of my hand you required it, whether stolen by day or stolen by night.": This is the key to the whole verse. Jacob is emphasizing how strict and unforgiving Laban was. Even if an animal was stolen during the day or night, Laban would still demand that Jacob replace it. This was an unusually harsh expectation. Typically, a shepherd would not be held responsible for animals stolen under such circumstances, particularly at night when they would be more vulnerable.
In Summary:
Jacob is protesting that he was a diligent and honest shepherd. He never tried to deceive Laban about losses due to wild animals, and he bore the financial burden himself. Furthermore, he was held to an impossible standard, being forced to reimburse Laban even for animals that were stolen, which was beyond his control. This verse underscores Jacob's claim that he worked above and beyond what was expected of him and that Laban treated him unfairly and harshly. It's part of his broader argument that he has been exploited by Laban over the course of their twenty-year agreement.
Genesis 31:39 - That which was torn of animals, I didn’t bring to you. I bore its loss. Of my hand you required it, whether stolen by day or stolen by night.
What does "Genesis 31:39" mean?
This verse, Genesis 31:39, is part of Jacob's defense to Laban, his father-in-law, after Laban accuses him of stealing from him and generally being dishonest. In this verse, Jacob is highlighting his integrity and hard work over the past twenty years of service. Let's break down the meaning of each part:
"That which was torn of animals, I didn’t bring to you.": This refers to animals that died in the field because they were attacked by wild beasts. According to ancient Near Eastern customs, shepherds were often responsible for replacing livestock lost to predators, unless they could present proof of the animal's death. Jacob is saying he never tried to pass off an animal killed by wild beasts as if it was his fault or steal from Laban.
"I bore its loss.": Jacob is stating that whenever an animal was killed by a wild animal, he took the financial loss upon himself. He didn't try to cheat Laban or make him pay for the loss, even though he might have been able to argue that he shouldn't be responsible.
"Of my hand you required it, whether stolen by day or stolen by night.": This is the key to the whole verse. Jacob is emphasizing how strict and unforgiving Laban was. Even if an animal was stolen during the day or night, Laban would still demand that Jacob replace it. This was an unusually harsh expectation. Typically, a shepherd would not be held responsible for animals stolen under such circumstances, particularly at night when they would be more vulnerable.
In Summary:
Jacob is protesting that he was a diligent and honest shepherd. He never tried to deceive Laban about losses due to wild animals, and he bore the financial burden himself. Furthermore, he was held to an impossible standard, being forced to reimburse Laban even for animals that were stolen, which was beyond his control. This verse underscores Jacob's claim that he worked above and beyond what was expected of him and that Laban treated him unfairly and harshly. It's part of his broader argument that he has been exploited by Laban over the course of their twenty-year agreement.