Genesis 31 · Verse 7

Genesis 31:7

And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me.
Genesis 31:7, King James Version

Genesis 31:7 in other translations

BSBAnd although he has cheated me and changed my wages ten times, God has not allowed him to harm me.
WEBYour father has deceived me, and changed my wages ten times, but God didn’t allow him to hurt me.
ASVAnd your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me.
YLTand your father hath played upon me, and hath changed my hire ten times; and God hath not suffered him to do evil with me.
DARBYAnd your father has mocked me, and has changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me.
BBEBut your father has not kept faith with me, and ten times he has made changes in my payment; but God has kept him from doing me damage.
WebsterAnd your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times: but God suffered him not to hurt me.

What does Genesis 31:7 mean?

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 7 Changed my wages ten times - There is a strange diversity among the ancient versions, and ancient and modern interpreters, on the meaning of these words. The Hebrew is עשרת מנים asereth monim, which Aquila translates δεκα αριθμους ten numbers; Symmachus, δεκακις αριτμῳ, ten times in number; the Septuagint δεκα αμνων, ten lambs, with which Origen appears to agree. St. Augustine thinks that by ten lambs five years' wages is meant: that Laban had withheld from him all the party-coloured lambs which had been brought forth for five years, and because the ewes brought forth lambs twice in the year, bis gravidae pecudes, therefore the number ten is used, Jacob having been defrauded of his part of the produce of ten births. It is supposed that the Septuagint use lambs for years, as Virgil does aristas. En unquam patrios longo post tempore fines, Pauperis et tuguri congestum cespite culmen, Post aliquot mea regna videns mirabor aristas? Virg. Ec. i., ver. 68. Thus inadequately translated by Dryden: O must the wretched exiles ever mourn; Nor, after length of rolling years, return? Are we condemn'd by Fate's unjust decree, No more our harvests and our homes to see? Or shall we mount again the rural throng, And rule the country, kingdoms once our own? Here aristas, which signifies ears of corn, is put for harvest, harvest for autumn, and autumn for years. After all, it is most natural to suppose that Jacob uses the word ten times for an indefinite number, which we might safely translate frequently; and that it means an indefinite number in other parts of the sacred writings, is evident from Lev 26:26 : Ten women shall bake your bread in one oven. Ecc 7:19 : Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than Ten mighty men the city. Num 14:22 : Because all these men have tempted me now these Ten times. Job 19:3 : These Ten times have ye reproached me. Zac 8:23 : In those days - Ten men shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew. Rev 2:10 : Ye shall have tribulation Ten days.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Genesis 31:1-21

The affairs of these families are related very minutely, while (what are called) the great events of states and kingdoms at that period, are not mentioned. The Bible teaches people the common duties of life, how to serve God, how to enjoy the blessings he bestows, and to do good in the various stations and duties of life. Selfish men consider themselves robbed of all that goes past them, and covetousness will even…

Read the full comment on Genesis 31:1-21 →

Genesis 31:7 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַאֲבִיכֶן֙va.'a.vi.Khenand father yourH1
הֵ֣תֶלHe.telhe has deceivedH2048
בִּ֔יBi<in> <the> me
וְהֶחֱלִ֥ףve.he.che.Lifand he has changedH2498
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
מַשְׂכֻּרְתִּ֖יmas.kur.Tiwage[s] myH4909
עֲשֶׂ֣רֶת'a.Se.rettenH6235
מֹנִ֑יםmo.NimtimesH4489
וְלֹֽא\־ve.lo'-and notH3808
נְתָנ֣וֹne.ta.Nohe has permitted himH5414
אֱלֹהִ֔ים'E.lo.HimGodH430
לְהָרַ֖עle.ha.Ra'to do harmH7489
עִמָּדִֽי\׃'i.ma.Diwith meH5978

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Genesis 31:7

  • Zechariah 8:23

    Thus saith the Lord of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.

  • Genesis 31:29

    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.

  • Genesis 31:41

    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.

  • Nehemiah 4:12

    And it came to pass, that when the Jews which dwelt by them came, they said unto us ten times, From all places whence ye shall return unto us they will be upon you.

  • Numbers 14:22

    Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice;

  • Psalms 37:28

    For the Lord loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.

  • Job 19:3

    These ten times have ye reproached me: ye are not ashamed that ye make yourselves strange to me.

  • Job 1:10

    Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

  • Isaiah 54:17

    No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.

  • Isaiah 4:1

    And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.

  • Genesis 20:6

    And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.

  • Leviticus 26:26

    And when I have broken the staff of your bread, ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall deliver you your bread again by weight: and ye shall eat, and not be satisfied.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
ten times.The Hebrew, {asereth monim,} is literally, as Aquila renders, "ten numbers;" and Symmachus, "ten times in number;" which probably implies an indefinite number: see ver. 41.
Le 26:26; Nu 14:22; Ne 4:12; Job 19:8; Isa 4:1; Zec 8:23
God.
29; 20:6; Job 1:10; Ps 37:28; 105:14,15; Isa 54:17

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Genesis 31:6

    And ye know that with all my power I have served your father.

  • Genesis 31:7

    And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me.

  • Genesis 31:8

    If he said thus, The speckled shall be thy wages; then all the cattle bare speckled: and if he said thus, The ringstraked shall be thy hire; then bare all the cattle ringstraked.

Read all of Genesis 31

Genesis 31:7 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y vuestro padre me ha engañado, y me ha mudado el salario diez veces: pero Dios no le ha permitido que me hiciese mal.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et votre père s’est moqué de moi, et a changé dix fois mon salaire; mais Dieu ne lui a pas permis de me faire du mal.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Und euer Vater hat mich betrogen und hat meinen Lohn zehnmal verändert; aber Gott hat ihm nicht gestattet, mir Übles zu tun.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Sed et pater vester circumvenit me et mutavit mercedem meam decem vicibus: et tamen non dimisit eum Deus ut noceret mihi.