Genesis 31:3

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And the LORD said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee.

Complete Jewish Bible:

ADONAI said to Ya'akov, "Return to the land of your ancestors, to your kinsmen; I will be with you."

Berean Standard Bible:

Then the LORD said to Jacob, “Go back to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you.”

American Standard Version:

And Jehovah said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And the LORD^{H3068} said^{H559} unto Jacob^{H3290}, Return^{H7725} unto the land^{H776} of thy fathers^{H1}, and to thy kindred^{H4138}; and I will be with thee.

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Commentary for Genesis 31:3

Genesis 31:3 is part of the narrative concerning Jacob, who is living with his uncle Laban in Haran. Jacob had fled there from his brother Esau, to whom he had deceitfully taken the birthright and blessing from their father Isaac. The verse reflects several key themes:

1. **Divine Command**: It shows God directly commanding Jacob to return to his ancestral land, Canaan, indicating divine guidance and the fulfillment of promises made to Jacob's forebears.

2. **Promise of Presence**: God assures Jacob of His presence and protection during the journey and upon his return, reinforcing the covenantal relationship between God and the patriarchs.

3. **Fulfillment of Destiny**: Jacob's return is part of the larger narrative of God's plan for His chosen people, as Jacob's lineage will lead to the formation of the nation of Israel.

4. **Reconciliation**: This command sets the stage for Jacob's eventual reconciliation with his brother Esau, demonstrating themes of forgiveness and restoration within the family of God's chosen people.

The historical context of this verse is set in the early 2nd millennium BCE, during the Patriarchal Age, when the Hebrew people were still a family rather than a nation. The narrative reflects ancient Near Eastern customs of family relationships, inheritance, and migration patterns of pastoral nomads. Jacob's story is one of personal growth, from a man who once deceived to one who must now face his past and trust in God's promises for the future.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H3068
   There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יְהֹוָה
   Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
   Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
   Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה.
   
2. Strong's Number: H559
   There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָמַר
   Transliteration: ʼâmar
   Pronunciation: aw-mar'
   Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
   
3. Strong's Number: H3290
   There are 319 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יַעֲקֹב
   Transliteration: Yaʻăqôb
   Pronunciation: yah-ak-obe'
   Description: from עָקַב; heel-catcher (i.e. supplanter); Jaakob, the Israelitish patriarch; Jacob.
   
4. Strong's Number: H7725
   There are 952 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שׁוּב
   Transliteration: shûwb
   Pronunciation: shoob
   Description: a primitive root; to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to retreat; often adverbial, again; ((break, build, circumcise, dig, do anything, do evil, feed, lay down, lie down, lodge, make, rejoice, send, take, weep)) [idiom] again, (cause to) answer ([phrase] again), [idiom] in any case (wise), [idiom] at all, averse, bring (again, back, home again), call (to mind), carry again (back), cease, [idiom] certainly, come again (back), [idiom] consider, [phrase] continually, convert, deliver (again), [phrase] deny, draw back, fetch home again, [idiom] fro, get (oneself) (back) again, [idiom] give (again), go again (back, home), (go) out, hinder, let, (see) more, [idiom] needs, be past, [idiom] pay, pervert, pull in again, put (again, up again), recall, recompense, recover, refresh, relieve, render (again), requite, rescue, restore, retrieve, (cause to, make to) return, reverse, reward, [phrase] say nay, send back, set again, slide back, still, [idiom] surely, take back (off), (cause to, make to) turn (again, self again, away, back, back again, backward, from, off), withdraw.
   
5. Strong's Number: H776
   There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֶרֶץ
   Transliteration: ʼerets
   Pronunciation: eh'-rets
   Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world.
   
6. Strong's Number: H1
   There are 15773 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָב
   Transliteration: ʼâb
   Pronunciation: awb
   Description: a primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application; chief, (fore-) father(-less), [idiom] patrimony, principal. Compare names in 'Abi-'.
   
7. Strong's Number: H4138
   There are 21 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מוֹלֶדֶת
   Transliteration: môwledeth
   Pronunciation: mo-leh'-deth
   Description: from יָלַד; nativity (plural birth-place); by implication, lineage, native country; also offspring, family; begotten, born, issue, kindred, native(-ity).