Genesis 31:7

KJV

And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me.

KJV (with Strong's)

And your father {H1} hath deceived {H2048} me, and changed {H2498} my wages {H4909} ten {H6235} times {H4489}; but God {H430} suffered him {H5414} not to hurt {H7489} me {H5978}.

Complete Jewish Bible

and that your father has belittled me and has changed my wages ten times; but God did not allow him to do me any damage.

Berean Standard Bible

And although he has cheated me and changed my wages ten times, God has not allowed him to harm me.

American Standard Version

And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jacob recounts to his wives, Rachel and Leah, the persistent deceit of their father Laban, who repeatedly altered his wages over two decades. Despite Laban's ten-fold attempts to defraud him, God sovereignly intervened, actively restraining Laban and preventing him from inflicting any harm upon Jacob, thereby demonstrating divine protection and faithfulness to His covenant promises amidst human exploitation.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Genesis 31:7 is a pivotal statement within Jacob's address to Rachel and Leah, explaining his decision to depart secretly from Laban. This verse encapsulates the culmination of two decades of strained relations, marked by Laban's manipulative and exploitative behavior. It immediately follows Jacob's description of Laban's changing of his wages (Genesis 31:6) and precedes Jacob's recounting of God's direct instruction for him to return to the land of his fathers (Genesis 31:3, 13). The verse serves as Jacob's justification for his actions, highlighting Laban's dishonesty and, more importantly, God's unwavering faithfulness and protection over Jacob, setting the stage for the dramatic departure and subsequent confrontation between Jacob and Laban in [Genesis 31:22-42](/genesis/31-22-42 "Laban's Pursuit of Jacob").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, contractual agreements, even between family members, were often verbal and relied heavily on personal integrity. The practice of a son-in-law working for his father-in-law to earn his wives was common, but the terms of compensation were expected to be honored. Laban's repeated alteration of Jacob's wages, specifically concerning the speckled and spotted livestock as detailed in [Genesis 30:31-36](/genesis/30-31-36 "Jacob's Wage Agreement with Laban"), was a severe breach of trust and a blatant act of exploitation. Such deceit would have been considered highly dishonorable, especially within a familial context, and highlights the precarious position of a sojourner like Jacob, who lacked the social and legal protections of his homeland.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Genesis. It reinforces the theme of **Divine Providence and Protection**, showing God's active involvement in the lives of His covenant people, even when they are vulnerable to human malice. It underscores the theme of **God's Faithfulness to His Covenant Promises**, particularly those made to Jacob at Bethel (e.g., [Genesis 28:15](/genesis/28-15 "God's Promise to Jacob at Bethel")), demonstrating that God ensures Jacob's prosperity and safe return despite Laban's schemes. Conversely, it highlights the theme of **Human Deceit and Greed**, exemplified by Laban's character, contrasting sharply with God's integrity and justice. The narrative also develops the theme of **Jacob's Maturation**, as he learns to rely more fully on God's intervention rather than his own cunning, a journey evident throughout his time with Laban, culminating in his departure and the subsequent encounter with Esau in [Genesis 32](/genesis/32 "Jacob Prepares to Meet Esau").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **deceived (Hebrew, _hâthal'_):** From H2048, meaning "to deride; by implication, to cheat; deal deceitfully, mock." This word precisely captures Laban's character and actions. It implies not just a single act of dishonesty but a pattern of mockery and trickery, indicating a deliberate and sustained effort to defraud Jacob, making a mockery of their agreement and Jacob's labor.
* **God (Hebrew, _ʼĕlôhîym'_):** From H430, referring to the supreme God. The use of this plural noun for the singular God (often with the article, as here) emphasizes the majesty, power, and comprehensive nature of the one true God. In this context, it highlights the divine authority and omnipotence that stands in stark contrast to Laban's earthly cunning, asserting that the ultimate arbiter and protector is the sovereign Lord.
* **suffered (Hebrew, _nâthan'_):** From H5414, a primitive root meaning "to give," but used with a wide latitude of application, including "to allow" or "to permit." In the negative construction "suffered him not," it signifies God's active and intentional restraint. It is not a passive allowance, but a deliberate withholding of permission, demonstrating God's direct intervention to limit Laban's capacity to inflict harm, thereby securing Jacob's well-being.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times":** This clause serves as Jacob's primary indictment against Laban. The phrase "your father" underscores the familial betrayal, as Laban, who should have been a protector, acted as an oppressor. "Deceived me" (from *hâthal*) points to Laban's consistent pattern of trickery and fraud. The emphatic "changed my wages ten times" is a hyperbolic expression, signifying not a literal count but an innumerable or very frequent number of instances. It vividly conveys the persistent, systematic, and egregious nature of Laban's dishonesty and greed, highlighting his insatiable desire for personal gain at Jacob's expense.
* **"but God suffered him not to hurt me":** This second clause introduces the divine counterpoint to human malice. The adversative "but" pivots the narrative from Laban's deceit to God's sovereign intervention. "God suffered him not" (from *nâthan*) indicates God's active and deliberate restraint, preventing Laban from achieving his malicious intent. The word "hurt" (from *râʻaʻ*) implies not merely financial loss but comprehensive harm, including physical, social, or moral detriment. This powerful statement affirms God's protective hand over Jacob, ensuring that Laban's evil schemes, though persistent, ultimately failed to undermine God's purposes for Jacob's life.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant literary devices. **Hyperbole** is evident in the phrase "ten times," which is not meant to be a precise numerical count but rather an exaggeration to emphasize the sheer frequency and persistence of Laban's deceit. This amplifies Jacob's sense of grievance and justifies his desire to depart. A strong **Contrast** is established between Laban's human malice and God's divine protection. Laban's repeated attempts to "deceive" and "hurt" Jacob are starkly juxtaposed with God's active intervention, who "suffered him not" to succeed. This highlights the ultimate sovereignty of God over human evil. Furthermore, the verse subtly employs **Anthropomorphism** by portraying God as actively "suffering" or "not allowing" Laban to cause harm, implying a direct, personal, and intentional exertion of divine will and power, almost as if God were physically holding Laban back.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Genesis 31:7 is a powerful testament to God's active providence and unwavering faithfulness to His covenant people. It demonstrates that even when surrounded by human deceit and exploitation, God remains intimately involved in the lives of His chosen ones, orchestrating circumstances and limiting the power of adversaries to ensure His purposes are fulfilled. Jacob's experience serves as a profound illustration of divine protection, where God's sovereign hand is evident in restraining evil and turning potentially harmful situations into opportunities for His people's blessing and the advancement of His redemptive plan.

* [Psalm 121:7](/psalm/121-7 "The Lord will keep you from all evil") – This psalm assures believers that the Lord will keep them from all evil and preserve their lives, echoing God's protective hand over Jacob.
* [Romans 8:28](/romans/8-28 "God works all things for good") – This verse affirms that God works all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose, reflecting how God turned Laban's ill intent into Jacob's prosperity.
* [Deuteronomy 23:5](/deuteronomy/23-5 "God turned the curse into a blessing") – This passage recounts how God turned Balaam's curse into a blessing for Israel, illustrating God's ability to thwart evil intentions and work for the good of His people.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Genesis 31:7 offers profound encouragement for believers facing injustice, exploitation, or unfair treatment in their workplaces, relationships, or broader society. It reminds us that our God is not a passive observer of our trials but is intimately aware of our struggles and actively involved in our lives. Just as He limited Laban's ability to harm Jacob, God places boundaries on what others can do to His children, ensuring that malicious intent cannot ultimately thwart His divine purposes for us. This truth encourages perseverance in adversity, fostering a deep trust in God's sovereign oversight. We are called to rest in the confidence that human deception and malevolent plans cannot prevail against God's will, and that He will vindicate, provide, and work all things together for good for those who love Him. Our response to injustice should be characterized by faith, prayer, and obedience, knowing that our ultimate security and prosperity rest not in human fairness, but in God's unfailing faithfulness.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Jacob's experience with Laban challenge or affirm your understanding of God's providence in your own life?**
* **In what areas of your life do you need to trust God's protective hand more, especially when facing unfairness or deceit?**
* **What practical steps can you take to rely on God's intervention rather than your own efforts to control difficult situations?**

### FAQ

**What does "changed my wages ten times" signify?**

Answer: The phrase "ten times" (עֲשֶׂרֶת מֹנִים, *aseret monim*) is a hyperbolic expression rather than a literal count. It emphasizes the frequent, persistent, and systematic nature of Laban's deceit and manipulation regarding Jacob's wages. It conveys that Laban repeatedly altered the terms of their agreement, demonstrating his untrustworthiness and greed over many instances, making Jacob's service increasingly difficult and unjust. This hyperbole underscores the depth of Laban's treachery and Jacob's long-suffering endurance.

**How did God "suffer him not to hurt me"?**

Answer: The Hebrew word for "suffered" (*nâthan*) in this context means "gave," "allowed," or "permitted." The negative construction, "suffered him not to hurt me," indicates God's active and sovereign restraint. It implies that God directly intervened to prevent Laban from causing Jacob comprehensive harm—not just financial loss, but also physical, social, or spiritual detriment. This divine intervention could have manifested in various ways, such as influencing Laban's decisions, protecting Jacob's flocks from disease or theft, or guiding Jacob's own actions, all ensuring that Laban's malicious intent did not achieve its desired destructive outcome. It highlights God's direct involvement in the affairs of His people, exercising control even over the intentions and actions of wicked individuals.

**Does this verse imply God controls evil actions?**

Answer: This verse powerfully demonstrates God's sovereignty over evil, not that He directly causes it. It shows that while human beings like Laban may harbor malicious intentions and commit deceptive acts, God has ultimate control over the extent and outcome of those actions. He can limit their power, turn them for His purposes, or prevent them from achieving their destructive aims. This divine limitation ensures that His people are protected and His plans are fulfilled, even amidst human sin and opposition. It speaks to God's omnipotence and His ability to work His will despite, and sometimes through, the sinful choices of humanity, as seen in the broader biblical narrative of redemption.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Genesis 31:7, with its portrayal of God's active protection of Jacob from Laban's deceit, points forward to the ultimate and perfect protection offered through Jesus Christ. While Jacob experienced temporal deliverance from a human oppressor and financial exploitation, Christ offers eternal deliverance from the ultimate oppressors: sin, death, and the devil. In Christ, believers are not merely safeguarded from physical harm or earthly injustice, but are spiritually redeemed and secured in an unbreakable new covenant. He is the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep ([John 10:11](/john/10-11 "Jesus, the Good Shepherd")), ensuring that no one can snatch them out of His hand or the Father's hand ([John 10:28-29](/john/10-28-29 "No one can snatch them from My hand")). Thus, God's faithfulness to Jacob foreshadows His perfect faithfulness to His new covenant people, whose ultimate well-being, eternal inheritance, and spiritual prosperity are guaranteed by the finished work of Christ on the cross and His ongoing intercession at the right hand of God ([Hebrews 7:25](/hebrews/7-25 "Christ ever lives to make intercession")). Christ is the true protector and the ultimate fulfillment of all God's promises, securing a salvation far greater than any earthly deliverance.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Genesis 31:41

Thus have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle: and thou hast changed my wages ten times.

Genesis 31:29

It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt: but the God of your father spake unto me yesternight, saying, Take thou heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.

Zechariah 8:23

Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days [it shall come to pass], that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard [that] God [is] with you.

Nehemiah 4:12

And it came to pass, that when the Jews which dwelt by them came, they said unto us ten times, From all places whence ye shall return unto us [they will be upon you].

Psalms 37:28

For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.

Numbers 14:22

Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice;

Leviticus 26:26

[And] when I have broken the staff of your bread, ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall deliver [you] your bread again by weight: and ye shall eat, and not be satisfied.