Genesis 31:38

I have been with you for twenty years now. Your sheep and goats have not miscarried, nor have I eaten the rams of your flock.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Jacob speaks to Laban during their final confrontation before Jacob departs with his families and flocks. He lists his two decades of faithful service to counter Laban’s accusations of theft.

The words — The phrase עֶשְׂרִ֨ים שָׁנָ֤ה (‘esrim sha-nah) literally translates to "twenty years," marking the exact duration of Jacob’s labor. The term רְחֵלֶ֥יךָ (rechelecha) means "your ewes," specifying the livestock Jacob was entrusted to guard.

The thread — The text notes that Jacob’s sheep and goats have not miscarried, a detail that aligns with the covenantal promise of fertility in Exodus 23:26 and the wealth increase recorded in Genesis 30:30. This claim directly responds to Laban’s divination and bargaining in Genesis 30:27.

Why it lands — The verse demands a concrete accounting of labor and stewardship before any judgment is rendered. It requires the reader to evaluate faithfulness by measurable outcomes rather than abstract claims of loyalty.

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

זֶה֩zehthis עֶשְׂרִ֨ים'es.Rimtwenty שָׁנָ֤הsha.Nahyear[s]אָנֹכִי֙'a.no.KhiI עִמָּ֔ךְ'i.Ma/kh[have been] with/ you רְחֵלֶ֥יךָre.che.Lei./khaewes/ your וְעִזֶּ֖יךָve./'i.Zei./khaand/ female goats/ your לֹ֣אlo'not שִׁכֵּ֑לוּshi.Ke.luthey have miscarried וְאֵילֵ֥יve./'ei.Leiand/ [the] rams of צֹאנְךָ֖tzo.ne./Khaflock/ your לֹ֥אlo'not אָכָֽלְתִּי׃'a.Khal.tiI have eaten

King James Version

This twenty years have I been with thee; thy ewes and thy she goats have not cast their young, and the rams of thy flock have I not eaten.

Cross-references

Genesis 30:27 But Laban replied, “If I have found favor in your eyes, please stay. I have learned by divination that the LORD has blessed me because of you.”
Genesis 30:30 Indeed, you had very little before my arrival, but now your wealth has increased many times over. The LORD has blessed you wherever I set foot. But now, when may I also provide for my own household?”
Exodus 23:26 No woman in your land will miscarry or be barren; I will fulfill the number of your days.
Deuteronomy 28:4 The fruit of your womb will be blessed, as well as the produce of your land and the offspring of your livestock—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks.
Ezekiel 34:2 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Woe to the shepherds of Israel, who only feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed their flock?