Yet your father has cheated me and changed my wages ten times; however, God did not allow him to do me harm.
Parallel translations
- WEB Your father has deceived me, and changed my wages ten times, but God didn’t allow him to hurt me.
- KJV And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me.
- BSB And although he has cheated me and changed my wages ten times, God has not allowed him to harm me.
- NKJV Yet your father has deceived me and changed my wages ten times, but God did not allow him to hurt me.
- NLT but he has cheated me, changing my wages ten times. But God has not allowed him to do me any harm.
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 says Laban deceived him and changed his wages ten times, yet God protected him from harm. The Lord guarded Jacob despite Laban's repeated cheating.
Overview
Laban's frequent altering of the wage agreement shows his persistent dishonesty toward Jacob. Yet Jacob testifies that God did not permit Laban to harm him, displaying God's faithful protection of his servant. This assurance that God overrules the malice of others for the good of his people is a recurring biblical comfort.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Num 14:22because all those men who have seen my glory, and my signs, which I worked in Egypt and in the wilderness, yet have tempted me these ten times, and have not listened to my voice;
- Zech 8:23Yahweh of Armies says: “In those days, ten men will take hold, out of all the languages of the nations, they will take hold of the skirt of him who is a Jew, saying, ‘We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’”
- Gen 31:29It is in the power of my hand to hurt you, but the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, ‘Be careful that you don’t speak to Jacob either good or bad.’
- Neh 4:12When the Jews who lived by them came, they said to us ten times from all places, “Wherever you turn, they will attack us.”
- Gen 31:41These twenty years I have been in your house. I served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your flock, and you have changed my wages ten times.
- Ps 37:28For Yahweh loves justice, and doesn’t forsake his saints. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.
- Lev 26:26When I break your staff of bread, ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall deliver your bread again by weight. You shall eat, and not be satisfied.
- Gen 20:6God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that in the integrity of your heart you have done this, and I also withheld you from sinning against me. Therefore I didn’t allow you to touch her.
- Isa 54:17No weapon that is formed against you will prevail; and you will condemn every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of Yahweh’s servants, and their righteousness is of me,” says Yahweh.
- Job 19:3You have reproached me ten times. You aren’t ashamed that you attack me.
- Isa 4:1Seven women shall take hold of one man in that day, saying, “We will eat our own bread, and wear our own clothing: only let us be called by your name. Take away our reproach.”
- Job 1:10Haven’t you made a hedge around him, and around his house, and around all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
- Ps 105:14–15He allowed no one to do them wrong. Yes, he reproved kings for their sakes,
- Job 19:8He has walled up my way so that I can’t pass, and has set darkness in my paths.
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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 31:7 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.