King James Version

What Does Genesis 31:43 Mean?

Genesis 31:43 in the King James Version says “And Laban answered and said unto Jacob, These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and these ...” — study this verse from Genesis chapter 31 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And Laban answered and said unto Jacob, These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and these cattle are my cattle, and all that thou seest is mine: and what can I do this day unto these my daughters, or unto their children which they have born?”

Genesis 31:43 · KJV

Context

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.

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.

43

And Laban answered and said unto Jacob, These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and these cattle are my cattle, and all that thou seest is mine: and what can I do this day unto these my daughters, or unto their children which they have born?

44

Now therefore come thou, let us make a covenant, I and thou; and let it be for a witness between me and thee.

45

And Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar.

Read Genesis 31 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And Laban answered and said unto Jacob, These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my ... This passage belongs to the Jacob narratives which demonstrate God's sovereign election overriding human merit and the transformation of a deceiver into Israel, the father of the twelve tribes. The Jacob cycle shows how divine purposes advance through flawed individuals whom God graciously transforms.

Key themes include God's sovereign choice ("the older shall serve the younger"), the consequences of deception and family dysfunction, exile and return patterns, wrestling with God leading to blessing, and covenant renewal across generations. Jacob's character development from manipulative deceiver to mature patriarch demonstrates sanctification's lifelong process.

Theologically significant aspects include: (1) divine election based on grace not merit (Romans 9:10-13); (2) God's faithfulness to covenant promises despite human unfaithfulness; (3) discipline as evidence of divine love and means of transformation; (4) generational patterns of sin requiring divine intervention to break; (5) prayer and wrestling with God as legitimate expressions of faith. Jacob's limp after wrestling God symbolizes how divine encounters leave permanent marks, transforming our approach to life and dependence on God rather than our own cunning.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The patriarchal narratives (Genesis 12-50) reflect the cultural, social, and legal customs of the ancient Near East during the Middle Bronze Age (2000-1500 BCE). Archaeological discoveries including the Mari tablets, Nuzi tablets, and Egyptian records confirm many details: nomadic pastoralism, covenant-making ceremonies, marriage customs, property laws, and international travel patterns described in Genesis.

The cultural practices reflected include: treaty/covenant forms (Genesis 15), bride-price customs (Genesis 24, 29), inheritance laws favoring firstborn sons (Genesis 25, 27), adoption practices (Genesis 15, 30), levirate-type arrangements (Genesis 38), and Egyptian administrative systems (Genesis 41, 47). These parallels confirm Genesis's historical reliability while showing how God worked within ancient cultural frameworks to accomplish His purposes.

For later Israelites, these narratives established their identity as Abraham's descendants, explained their claim to Canaan, justified their possession of Joseph's bones (Exodus 13:19), and provided models of faith despite imperfection. The patriarchs' failures and God's faithfulness encouraged Israel that covenant relationship depended on God's grace rather than human merit. The movement from Mesopotamia to Canaan to Egypt set the stage for the Exodus and conquest narratives.

Reflection Questions

  1. What theological truths about Jacob's Flight from Laban emerge from this passage?
  2. How does this passage challenge modern cultural assumptions about identity, purpose, or morality?
  3. How does understanding Christ as the ultimate fulfillment illuminate this passage's meaning?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 26 words
וַיַּ֨עַן1 of 26

“answered”

H6030

properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e., pay attention; by implication, to respond; by extension to begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout,

לָבָ֜ן2 of 26

“And Laban”

H3837

laban, a place in the desert

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר3 of 26

“and said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אֶֽל4 of 26
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

יַעֲקֹ֗ב5 of 26

“unto Jacob”

H3290

jaakob, the israelitish patriarch

וְלִבְנֹתַ֞י6 of 26

“These daughters”

H1323

a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)

וְלִבְנֹתַ֞י7 of 26

“These daughters”

H1323

a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)

לִבְנֵיהֶ֖ן8 of 26

“and these children”

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

לִבְנֵיהֶ֖ן9 of 26

“and these children”

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

צֹאנִ֔י10 of 26

“and these cattle”

H6629

a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men)

צֹאנִ֔י11 of 26

“and these cattle”

H6629

a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men)

וְכֹ֛ל12 of 26
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

אֲשֶׁר13 of 26
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

אַתָּ֥ה14 of 26
H859

thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you

רֹאֶ֖ה15 of 26

“and all that thou seest”

H7200

to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)

לִי16 of 26
H0
ה֑וּא17 of 26
H1931

he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo

וְלִבְנֹתַ֞י18 of 26

“These daughters”

H1323

a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)

מָֽה19 of 26
H4100

properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and

אֶעֱשֶׂ֤ה20 of 26

“is mine and what can I do”

H6213

to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

לָאֵ֙לֶּה֙21 of 26
H428

these or those

הַיּ֔וֹם22 of 26

“this day”

H3117

a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

א֥וֹ23 of 26

“or”

H176

desire (and so probably in proverbs 31:4); hence (by way of alternative) or, also if

לִבְנֵיהֶ֖ן24 of 26

“and these children”

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

אֲשֶׁ֥ר25 of 26
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

יָלָֽדוּ׃26 of 26

“which they have born”

H3205

to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Genesis. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Genesis 31:43 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

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