Genesis 31:12

And he said, Lift up now thine eyes, and see, all the rams which leap upon the cattle [are] ringstraked, speckled, and grisled: for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee.

And he said {H559}, Lift up {H5375} now thine eyes {H5869}, and see {H7200}, all the rams {H6260} which leap {H5927} upon the cattle {H6629} are ringstraked {H6124}, speckled {H5348}, and grisled {H1261}: for I have seen {H7200} all that Laban {H3837} doeth {H6213} unto thee.

He continued, 'Raise your eyes now, and look: all the male goats mating with the females are streaked, speckled and mottled; for I have seen everything Lavan has been doing to you.

‘Look up,’ he said, ‘and see that all the males that are mating with the flock are streaked, spotted, or speckled; for I have seen all that Laban has done to you.

And he said, Lift up now thine eyes, and see: all the he-goats which leap upon the flock are ringstreaked, speckled, and grizzled: for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee.

Commentary

Context of Genesis 31:12

Genesis 31:12 is part of Jacob's crucial conversation with his wives, Rachel and Leah, as he prepares to flee Laban's household. For twenty years, Jacob had served Laban, enduring repeated changes to his wages and deceitful practices (Genesis 31:7). Despite Laban's schemes to impoverish Jacob, Jacob's wealth, particularly his flocks, had dramatically increased. This verse recounts a divine vision or dream given to Jacob, explaining how God supernaturally ensured his prosperity by influencing the breeding of the sheep and goats, making the offspring "ringstraked, speckled, and grisled"—the very types Laban had agreed would belong to Jacob.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Providence and Justice: This verse powerfully illustrates God's active involvement in the lives of His people. He observes injustice ("I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee") and intervenes to ensure fairness and bless His chosen one. God's watchful eye over Jacob's affairs is a testament to His faithfulness to His covenant promises, first given to Jacob at Bethel.
  • God's Faithfulness: Despite Laban's treachery, God remained faithful to Jacob. He used a seemingly natural process (animal breeding) in a supernatural way to fulfill His promise to make Jacob prosperous and to protect him from exploitation.
  • Supernatural Intervention: The specific colors and patterns of the offspring, "ringstraked, speckled, and grisled," were not random but divinely orchestrated. This shows God's ability to work through and even manipulate natural laws to achieve His purposes.

Linguistic Insights

The terms "ringstraked, speckled, and grisled" describe specific color patterns of the animals. These are common Hebrew words (`aqod, naqod, barod) used to denote striped, spotted, or mottled animals, respectively. The emphasis is on the distinctiveness of these markings, which were precisely the types that, by agreement, would belong to Jacob. The phrase "I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee" (Hebrew: ra'iti eth kol asher Laban oseh lach) highlights God's omniscience and His active awareness of human actions, particularly injustice.

Practical Application

Genesis 31:12 offers several timeless lessons for believers today:

  • God Sees Your Struggles: Just as God saw Laban's mistreatment of Jacob, He sees the injustices and difficulties you face. You are not invisible to Him. This is a powerful reminder that God sees and responds to the affliction of His people.
  • Trust in God's Provision: Even when circumstances are against you or people act unfairly, God has countless ways to provide for you and ensure your well-being. His methods may be unexpected, but His provision is sure.
  • Divine Justice Prevails: This verse assures us that ultimately, God will bring justice. Those who seek to harm or exploit others will answer to God, and God's people will be vindicated.

The story of Jacob and Laban, culminating in this divine assurance, reinforces the truth that God is sovereign over all circumstances and actively works for the good of those who are faithful to Him.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Exodus 3:7

    ¶ And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which [are] in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;

  • Genesis 31:42

    Except 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.

  • Deuteronomy 24:15

    At his day thou shalt give [him] his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he [is] poor, and setteth his heart upon it: lest he cry against thee unto the LORD, and it be sin unto thee.

  • Ecclesiastes 5:8

    If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for [he that is] higher than the highest regardeth; and [there be] higher than they.

  • Acts 7:34

    I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt.

  • Psalms 139:3

    Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted [with] all my ways.

  • Exodus 3:9

    Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.
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