And said unto them, I see your father’s countenance, that it is not toward me as before; but the God of my father hath been with me.
Parallel translations
- WEB and said to them, “I see the expression on your father’s face, that it is not toward me as before; but the God of my father has been with me.
- BSB and he told them, “I can see from your father’s countenance that his attitude toward me has changed; but the God of my father has been with me.
- NKJV and said to them, “I see your father’s countenance, that it is not favorable toward me as before; but the God of my father has been with me.
- NASB and said to them, “I see your father’s attitude, that it is not friendly toward me as it was before, but the God of my father has been with me.
- NLT He said to them, “I have noticed that your father’s attitude toward me has changed. But the God of my father has been with me.
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 tells his wives that their father's attitude has changed, but God has been with him. He grounds his case in God's faithful presence.
Overview
Jacob contrasts Laban's cooling favor with the steady favor of 'the God of my father.' He interprets his life through the lens of God's covenant faithfulness rather than mere human relationships. This testimony invites his wives to trust the same God as they face an uncertain departure.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Gen 31:2–3And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it was not toward him as before.
- Gen 48:15And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day,
- Gen 31:53The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge betwixt us. And Jacob sware by the fear of his father Isaac.
- Gen 31:42Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty. God hath seen mine affliction and the labour of my hands, and rebuked thee yesternight.
- Gen 32:9And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the LORD which saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee:
- Gen 50:17So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.
- Gen 21:22And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phichol the chief captain of his host spake unto Abraham, saying, God is with thee in all that thou doest:
- Gen 31:13I am the God of Bethel, where thou anointedst the pillar, and where thou vowedst a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred.
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 31:5 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.