There I was! In the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night, and my sleep departed 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.
- BSB As it was, the heat consumed me by day and the frost by night, and sleep fled 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 2:19–22They said, “An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and moreover he drew water for us, and watered the flock.”
- Ps 78:70–71He also chose David his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds;
- 1 Pet 5:2–4Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion, but voluntarily, not for dishonest gain, but willingly;
- Luke 2:8There were shepherds in the same country staying in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock.
- Exod 3:1Now Moses was keeping the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the back of the wilderness, and came to God’s mountain, to Horeb.
- John 21:15–17So when they had eaten their breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I have affection for you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
- Heb 13:7Remember your leaders, men who spoke to you the word of God, and considering the results of their conduct, imitate their faith.
- Hos 12:12Jacob fled into the country of Aram, and Israel served to get a wife, and for a wife he tended flocks and herds.
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.