Genesis 31:2
in Genesis 31And Jacob saw from the countenance of Laban that his attitude toward him had changed.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it was not toward him as beforetime.
KJV
And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it was not toward him as before.
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This verse in Genesis 31
Commentary
5 notes on this verseHe was but a churl at the best, but now he was more churlish than formerly. Note, Envy is a sin that often appears in the countenance; hence we read of an evil eye, Prov. xxiii.
This site's exposition
Jacob has taken away all that belonged to our father
on Genesis 31:1-2
The trouble starts in what Laban's sons say. The Hebrew word behind wealth here is kavod, which carries weight and glory. They charge Jacob with building it all at their father's expense, and Jacob then reads Laban's face and sees that his attitude has changed.
This site's exposition
from the countenance of Laban
The Hebrew idiom says Laban's face was no longer toward Jacob as yesterday and the day before, meaning as it used to be. Jacob repeats the idiom word for word to his wives in verse 5. Exodus 5:7 uses it of the straw Israel once received.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
It is always one of the vexations attendant on worldly prosperity, that it excites the envy of others (Ec 4:4); and that, however careful a man is to maintain a good conscience, he cannot always reckon on maintaining a good name, in a censorious world. This, Jacob experienced; and it is probable that, like a good man, he had asked direction and relief in prayer.
The words behind it
10 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיַּ֥רְא | vaiyar' | and he saw | H7200 → | 1300 times |
| יַעֲקֹ֖ב | yaako | Jacob | H3290 → | 350 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| פְּנֵ֣י | penei | [the] face of | H6440 → | 2123 times |
| לָבָ֑ן | lavan | Laban | H3837 → | 55 times |
| וְהִנֵּ֥ה | vehineh | and there! | H2009 → | 843 times |
| אֵינֶ֛נּוּ | ʾeinenu | not [was] he | H369 → | 789 times |
| עִמּ֖וֹ | imo | with him | H5973 → | 1050 times |
| כִּתְמ֥וֹל | kitmol | as yesterday | H8543 → | |
| שִׁלְשֽׁוֹם׃ | shilshom | three days ago | H8032 → |
וַיַּ֥רְאand he saw
vaiyar'H7200 →1300 times
יַעֲקֹ֖בJacob
yaakoH3290 →350 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
פְּנֵ֣י[the] face of
peneiH6440 →2123 times
לָבָ֑ןLaban
lavanH3837 →55 times
וְהִנֵּ֥הand there!
vehinehH2009 →843 times
אֵינֶ֛נּוּnot [was] he
ʾeinenuH369 →789 times
עִמּ֖וֹwith him
imoH5973 →1050 times
כִּתְמ֥וֹלas yesterday
kitmolH8543 →
שִׁלְשֽׁוֹם׃three days ago
shilshomH8032 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Genesis 4:5but He had no regard for Cain and his offering. So Cain became very angry, and his countenance fell.
it leads to
- Hebrews 11:4
By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous when God gave approval to his gifts. And by faith he still speaks, even though he…
- Job 5:2
For resentment kills a fool, and envy slays the simple.
- Hebrews 11:4
Through
Genesis 30:27But Laban replied, “If I have found favor in your eyes, please stay. I have learned by divination that the LORD has blessed me because of you.”
it leads to
- Ruth 2:13
“My lord,” she said, “may I continue to find favor in your eyes, for you have comforted and spoken kindly to your maidservant, though I am not like one of your servant girls.”
- Genesis 26:24
and that night the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your…
- Acts 7:10
and rescued him from all his troubles. He granted Joseph favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt, who appointed him ruler over Egypt and all his household.
- Isaiah 61:9
Their descendants will be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples. All who see them will acknowledge that they are a people the LORD has blessed.
- Genesis 39:21–23
the LORD was with him and extended kindness to him, granting him favor in the eyes of the prison warden.
- Ruth 2:13
Through
Daniel 3:19At this, Nebuchadnezzar was filled with rage, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He gave orders to heat the furnace seven times hotter than usual,
it leads to
- Daniel 3:13
Then Nebuchadnezzar, furious with rage, summoned Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king,
- Daniel 3:13
Where this verse is studied
About Genesis
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Keil and Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.