The Meaning of Genesis 31:41 Explained

Genesis 31:41

KJV: Thus 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.

YLT: This is to me twenty years in thy house: I have served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy flock; and thou changest my hire ten times;

Darby: I have been these twenty years in thy house: I have served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy flock; and thou hast changed my wages ten times.

ASV: These twenty years have I been in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy flock: and thou hast changed my wages ten times.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Thus 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. 

What does Genesis 31:41 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 31:22-42 - The Dispute Between Laban And Jacob
These chapters afford a remarkable insight into God's forbearance. He knew what was in Jacob's heart, and could see all its weakness and deceit. There was not a thought in his heart or a word on his tongue, but He knew them altogether. Yet God cast the mantle of forgiveness and defense around this most unworthy soul, bidding Laban not to speak to him either good or bad. Indeed, in a later book, we are told, "He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath He seen perverseness in Israel." Not that the holy God was unaware of the evil traits in His child, but that He refused to dwell on them, or to allow himself to be turned away from His purposes of grace. Rachel secretly carried with her the teraphim, which wrought evil throughout the home in after-years, as we shall see. The "fear of Isaac" was on Jacob's lips, but too little of it in his character and surroundings! [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 31

1  Jacob, displeased with the envy of Laban and his sons, departs secretly
19  Rachel steals her father's household gods
22  Laban pursues after him, and complains of the wrong
34  Rachel's plan to hide the images
36  Jacob's complaint of Laban
43  The covenant of Laban and Jacob at Galeed

What do the individual words in Genesis 31:41 mean?

This [is] my twentieth year in your house I served you four [and] ten years for two your daughters and six years for your flock and you have changed - my wages ten times
זֶה־ לִּ֞י עֶשְׂרִ֣ים שָׁנָה֮ בְּבֵיתֶךָ֒ עֲבַדְתִּ֜יךָ אַרְבַּֽע־ עֶשְׂרֵ֤ה שָׁנָה֙ בִּשְׁתֵּ֣י בְנֹתֶ֔יךָ וְשֵׁ֥שׁ שָׁנִ֖ים בְּצֹאנֶ֑ךָ וַתַּחֲלֵ֥ף אֶת־ מַשְׂכֻּרְתִּ֖י עֲשֶׂ֥רֶת מֹנִֽים

זֶה־  This  [is] 
Parse: Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.
לִּ֞י  my 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
עֶשְׂרִ֣ים  twentieth 
Parse: Number, common plural
Root: עֶשְׂרִים  
Sense: twenty, twentieth.
שָׁנָה֮  year 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: שָׁנָה  
Sense: year.
בְּבֵיתֶךָ֒  in  your  house 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
עֲבַדְתִּ֜יךָ  I  served  you 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular, second person masculine singular
Root: עָבַד  
Sense: to work, serve.
אַרְבַּֽע־  four 
Parse: Number, feminine singular
Root: אַרְבַּע  
Sense: four.
עֶשְׂרֵ֤ה  [and]  ten 
Parse: Number, feminine singular
Root: עָשָׂר 
Sense: ten, -teen (in combination with other numbers).
שָׁנָה֙  years 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: שָׁנָה  
Sense: year.
בִּשְׁתֵּ֣י  for  two 
Parse: Preposition-b, Number, fdc
Root: שְׁנַיִם  
Sense: two.
בְנֹתֶ֔יךָ  your  daughters 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: בַּת  
Sense: daughter.
וְשֵׁ֥שׁ  and  six 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Number, feminine singular construct
Root: שֵׁשׁ  
Sense: six.
שָׁנִ֖ים  years 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: שָׁנָה  
Sense: year.
בְּצֹאנֶ֑ךָ  for  your  flock 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: צֹאן  
Sense: small cattle, sheep, sheep and goats, flock, flocks.
וַתַּחֲלֵ֥ף  and  you  have  changed 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: חָלַף 
Sense: to pass on or away, pass through, pass by, go through, grow up, change, to go on from.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
מַשְׂכֻּרְתִּ֖י  my  wages 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: מַשְׂכֹּרֶת  
Sense: wages.
עֲשֶׂ֥רֶת  ten 
Parse: Number, masculine singular construct
Root: עֶשֶׂר 
Sense: ten.
מֹנִֽים  times 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: מֹנֶה  
Sense: something weighed out, counted number, time.