Bible Strands
Genesis 31:12
‘Look up,’ he said, ‘and see that all the males that are mating with the flock are streaked, spotted, or speckled; for I have seen all that Laban has done to you.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — In a dream vision, the angel of God addresses Jacob, instructing him to observe the mating patterns of Laban’s flock. This occurs at the moment Jacob is preparing to depart from Laban’s household.
The words — The command שָׂא־נָא עֵינֶיךָ (sa'- na' 'ei.Nei./kha) literally means “lift up your eyes,” directing attention to the הָעַתֻּדִים (ha./'a.tu.Dim), the male goats mating with the flock.
The thread — The motif of divine observation appears in Exodus 3:7, where God declares He has seen the affliction of His people, and in Genesis 31:42, where Jacob credits the God of Abraham and Isaac with witnessing Laban’s deception.
Why it lands — The text requires a reader to acknowledge that God actively monitors human dealings and intervenes according to His prior promises. It demands recognition of divine oversight before any human action is taken.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And he said, Lift up now thine eyes, and see, all the rams which leap upon the cattle are ringstraked, speckled, and grisled: for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee.
Cross-references
- Exodus 3:7 The LORD said, “I have indeed seen the affliction of My people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their oppressors, and I am aware of their sufferings.
- Genesis 31:42 If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been with me, surely by now you would have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen my affliction and the toil of my hands, and last night He rendered judgment.”
- Deuteronomy 24:15 You are to pay his wages each day before sunset, because he is poor and depends on them. Otherwise he may cry out to the LORD against you, and you will be guilty of sin.
- Genesis 30:37 Jacob, however, took fresh branches of poplar, almond, and plane trees, and peeled the bark, exposing the white inner wood of the branches.
- Exodus 3:9 And now the cry of the Israelites has reached Me, and I have seen how severely the Egyptians are oppressing them.
- Leviticus 19:13 You must not defraud your neighbor or rob him. You must not withhold until morning the wages due a hired hand.
- Psalms 12:5 “For the cause of the oppressed and for the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,” says the LORD. “I will bring safety to him who yearns.”
- Psalms 139:3 You search out my path and my lying down; You are aware of all my ways.
- Ecclesiastes 5:8 If you see the oppression of the poor and the denial of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be astonished at the matter; for one official is watched by a superior, and others higher still are over them.
- Acts 7:34 I have indeed seen the oppression of My people in Egypt. I have heard their groaning and have come down to deliver them. Now come, I will send you back to Egypt.’