Genesis 31:4-13 Meaning: Jacob Confides in Rachel and Leah
4Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field to his flock,
5and said to them, “I see the expression on your father’s face, that it is not toward me as before; but the God of my father has been with me.
6You know that I have served your father with all of my strength.
7Your father has deceived me, and changed my wages ten times, but God didn’t allow him to hurt me.
8If he said, ‘The speckled will be your wages,’ then all the flock bore speckled. If he said, ‘The streaked will be your wages,’ then all the flock bore streaked.
9Thus God has taken away your father’s livestock, and given them to me.
10During mating season, I lifted up my eyes, and saw in a dream, and behold, the male goats which leaped on the flock were streaked, speckled, and grizzled.
11The angel of God said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob,’ and I said, ‘Here I am.’
12He said, ‘Now lift up your eyes, and behold, all the male goats which leap on the flock are streaked, speckled, and grizzled, for I have seen all that Laban does to you.
13I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar, where you vowed a vow to me. Now arise, get out from this land, and return to the land of your birth.’”
4And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock,
5And said unto them, I see your father’s countenance, that it is not toward me as before; but the God of my father hath been with me.
6And ye know that with all my power I have served your father.
7And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me.
8If he said thus, The speckled shall be thy wages; then all the cattle bare speckled: and if he said thus, The ringstraked shall be thy hire; then bare all the cattle ringstraked.
9Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me.
10And it came to pass at the time that the cattle conceived, that I lifted up mine eyes, and saw in a dream, and, behold, the rams which leaped upon the cattle were ringstraked, speckled, and grisled.
11And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I said, Here am I.
12And 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.
13I am the God of Beth–el, where thou anointedst the pillar, and where thou vowedst a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred.
4And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock,
5and said unto them, I see your father’s countenance, that it is not toward me as beforetime; but the God of my father hath been with me.
6And ye know that with all my power I have served your father.
7And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me.
8If he said thus, The speckled shall be thy wages; then all the flock bare speckled: and if he said thus, The ringstreaked shall be thy wages; then bare all the flock ringstreaked.
9Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me.
10And it came to pass at the time that the flock conceive, that I lifted up mine eyes, and saw in a dream, and, behold, the he-goats which leaped upon the flock were ringstreaked, speckled, and grizzled.
11And the angel of God said unto me in the dream, Jacob: and I said, Here am I.
12And 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.
13I am the God of Beth-el, where thou anointedst a pillar, where thou vowedst a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy nativity.
4And Jacob sendeth and calleth for Rachel and for Leah to the field unto his flock;
5and saith to them, `I am beholding your father's face--that it is not towards me as heretofore, and the God of my father hath been with me,
6and ye--ye have known that with all my power I have served your father,
7and your father hath played upon me, and hath changed my hire ten times; and God hath not suffered him to do evil with me.
8`If he say thus: The speckled are thy hire, then bare all the flock speckled ones; and if he say thus: The ring-streaked are thy hire, then bare all the flock ring-streaked;
9and God taketh away the substance of your father, and doth give to me.
10`And it cometh to pass at the time of the flock conceiving, that I lift up mine eyes and see in a dream, and lo, the he-goats, which are going up on the flock, are ring-streaked, speckled, and grisled;
11and the messenger of God saith unto me in the dream, Jacob, and I say, Here am I.
12`And He saith, Lift up, I pray thee, thine eyes, and see--all the he-goats which are going up on the flock are ring-streaked, speckled, and grisled, for I have seen all that Laban is doing to thee;
13I am the God of Bethel where thou hast anointed a standing pillar, where thou hast vowed a vow to me; now, arise, go out from this land, and turn back unto the land of thy birth.'
4And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the fields to his flock,
5and said to them, I see your father's countenance, that it is not toward me as previously; but the God of my father has been with me.
6And you know that with all my power I have served your father.
7And your father has mocked me, and has changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me.
8If he said thus; The speckled shall be thy hire, then all the flocks bore speckled; and if he said thus: The ringstraked shall be thy hire, then all the flocks bore ringstraked.
9And God has taken away the cattle of your father, and given [them] to me.
10And it came to pass at the time of the ardour of the flocks, that I lifted up mine eyes, and saw in a dream, and behold, the rams that leaped upon the flocks were ringstraked, speckled, and spotted.
11And the Angel of God said to me in a dream, Jacob! And I said, Here am I.
12And he said, Lift up now thine eyes, and see: all the rams that leap upon the flock are ringstraked, speckled, and spotted; for I have seen all that Laban does to thee.
13I am the God of Bethel, where thou anointedst the pillar, where thou vowedst a vow to me. Now arise, depart out of this land, and return to the land of thy kindred.
Meaning in one sentence
Why Jacob called his wives to the field before fleeing Laban, and what it teaches about prudence, trust in God, and honest communication.
Context
By now, Jacob had spent twenty years in Haran. The last six were a slow burn: Laban changed his wages again and again, and the family tension was building. God had already told Jacob to return home. But Jacob needed his wives to understand why he was leaving, and why they should come with him. So he called them out to the field, away from their father’s house, and laid everything bare. This private conversation is the hinge of the whole escape plan.
Key Words
Three Hebrew words stand out in this passage. First, the verb hētel (deceived) in verse 7. It is a strong word, used only a handful of times in Scripture, and it carries the sense of mocking or trifling with someone. Laban did not just negotiate in bad faith; he toyed with Jacob’s livelihood. Second, the phrase “ten times” (monim) does not mean exactly ten, it is a number of completeness, like “over and over.” Laban changed the deal as often as he could. Third, the self-description “the God of Bethel” ties this moment back to Jacob’s dream of the ladder (Genesis 28). That pillar and vow were not forgotten. God meets Jacob in a new crisis and reminds him of an old promise.
How Christians Read This Verse
Reformed commentators like Calvin see Jacob’s summons as a mark of prudence: a godly husband shares his plans with his wife, especially when danger is near. Wesley and Matthew Henry highlight God’s justice in transferring wealth from Laban to Jacob, a quiet vindication of years of hard service. The Cambridge Bible notes that the “angel of God” in this passage speaks as God himself, which many Christian traditions read as a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ. Across these readings, all agree that Jacob is not acting rashly, he is moving in step with divine direction.
A common misunderstanding
Living This Out
Main takeaway: When God directs a difficult departure, he calls us to move with both faith and wisdom, bringing those we love into the plan.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Jacob needed to leave, but he didn’t sneak away. He talked to Rachel and Leah first, because he loved them. When we have to do something hard, it helps to tell the people who matter to us.
For ages 9, 12
Jacob knew God wanted him to leave, but he didn’t just pack up. He called his wives to the field and explained everything, Laban’s unfairness, God’s protection, and the dream where God said “Go.” That is a good pattern: when God gives you a clear direction, bring the people who will be affected into the conversation. It shows respect and builds trust.
Questions People Ask
Why did Jacob call Rachel and Leah to the field instead of talking to them at home?
Jacob needed privacy. The field was away from Laban’s household, so they could talk freely. He also wanted them to see his flock and understand how God had provided, which made his case stronger.
What does 'changed my wages ten times' mean exactly?
It means Laban altered the agreement repeatedly. The number ten in Hebrew often stands for completeness or frequency, not a literal count. Laban kept moving the goalposts to cheat Jacob.
Was Jacob being dishonest with Laban about the flock breeding?
No. The text says God caused the flocks to bear the right colors no matter what Laban demanded. Jacob credits God, not any trick. The wives later affirm that their father had treated Jacob unfairly.
Who is the 'angel of God' in verse 11?
Many Christian commentators see this as a theophany, God appearing in angelic form. The angel speaks as God ('I am the God of Bethel'), so it is likely a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ, but views differ across traditions.
Why did Jacob wait so long to leave if Laban was mistreating him?
Jacob had a large family and flocks, and leaving was risky. He waited until God gave a clear command and until he could prepare his wives. Prudence, not fear, delayed him.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study