The Meaning of Genesis 31:29 Explained

Genesis 31:29

KJV: It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt: but the God of your father spake unto me yesternight, saying, Take thou heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.

YLT: my hand is to God to do evil with you, but the God of your father yesternight hath spoken unto me, saying, Take heed to thyself from speaking with Jacob from good unto evil.

Darby: It would be in the power of my hand to do you hurt; but the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, Take care that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.

ASV: It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt: but the God of your father spake unto me yesternight, saying, Take heed to thyself that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

It is  in the power  of my hand  to do  you hurt:  but the God  of your father  spake  unto me yesternight,  saying,  Take thou heed  that thou speak not  to Jacob  either good  or bad. 

What does Genesis 31:29 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 31:29 mean?

It is in power my to do you harm but the God of your father last night spoke to me saying Be careful - that you speak to Jacob neither good nor bad
יֶשׁ־ לְאֵ֣ל יָדִ֔י לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת עִמָּכֶ֖ם רָ֑ע וֵֽאלֹהֵ֨י אֲבִיכֶ֜ם אֶ֣מֶשׁ ׀ אָמַ֧ר אֵלַ֣י לֵאמֹ֗ר הִשָּׁ֧מֶר לְךָ֛ מִדַּבֵּ֥ר עִֽם־ יַעֲקֹ֖ב מִטּ֥וֹב עַד־ רָֽע

יֶשׁ־  It  is 
Parse: Adverb
Root: יֵשׁ  
Sense: being, existence, substance, there is or are.
לְאֵ֣ל  in  power 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: אֵל 
Sense: god, god-like one, mighty one.
יָדִ֔י  my 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת  to  do 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
רָ֑ע  harm 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רַע 
Sense: bad, evil.
וֵֽאלֹהֵ֨י  but  the  God 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
אֲבִיכֶ֜ם  of  your  father 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine plural
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.
אֶ֣מֶשׁ ׀  last  night 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אֶמֶשׁ  
Sense: yesterday, last night.
אָמַ֧ר  spoke 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אֵלַ֣י  to  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
לֵאמֹ֗ר  saying 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
הִשָּׁ֧מֶר  Be  careful 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: שָׁמַר  
Sense: to keep, guard, observe, give heed.
לְךָ֛  - 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
מִדַּבֵּ֥ר  that  you  speak 
Parse: Preposition-m, Verb, Piel, Infinitive construct
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
יַעֲקֹ֖ב  Jacob 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יַעֲקֹב  
Sense: son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham, and father of the 2 patriarchs of the tribes of Israel.
מִטּ֥וֹב  neither  good 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular
Root: טָבַב 
Sense: good, pleasant, agreeable.
עַד־  nor 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַד  
Sense: as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as.
רָֽע  bad 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רַע 
Sense: bad, evil.