As it was, the heat consumed me by day and the frost by night, and sleep fled from my eyes.
Parallel translations
- WEB This was my situation: in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep fled from my eyes.
- KJV Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from mine eyes.
- NKJV There I was! In the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night, and my sleep departed from my eyes.
- NASB This is how I was: by day the heat consumed me and the frost by night, and my sleep fled from my eyes.
- NLT “I worked for you through the scorching heat of the day and through cold and sleepless nights.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jacob describes the harsh toll of his labor: scorching days, freezing nights, and sleepless vigilance over the flocks. It shows the real cost of his faithful service.
Overview
The shepherd's life in the hill country meant enduring extreme heat and cold while guarding the sheep through the night. Jacob's hardship makes Laban's exploitation all the more glaring. His endurance under suffering, sustained by God, models the perseverance Scripture commends to God's people.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Exod 2:19–22“An Egyptian rescued us from the shepherds,” they replied. “He even drew water for us and watered the flock.”
- Ps 78:70–71He chose David His servant and took him from the sheepfolds;
- 1 Pet 5:2–4Be shepherds of God’s flock that is among you, watching over them not out of compulsion, but because it is God’s will; not out of greed, but out of eagerness;
- Luke 2:8And there were shepherds residing in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks by night.
- Exod 3:1Meanwhile, Moses was shepherding the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.
- John 21:15–17When they had finished eating, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.” Jesus replied, “Feed My lambs.”
- Heb 13:7Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.
- Hos 12:12Jacob fled to the land of Aram and Israel worked for a wife—for a wife he tended sheep.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
From the first promise that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent (3:15), through Abraham's blessing to all nations and Judah's coming ruler, Genesis sows every seed that flowers in Christ — the true offspring, the better Adam, the ram caught for Isaac.
How Genesis 31:40 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.