Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version But Laban said to him, “If I have found favor in your eyes, please stay. I have learned by divination that the LORD has blessed me because of you.” New Living Translation “Please listen to me,” Laban replied. “I have become wealthy, for the LORD has blessed me because of you. English Standard Version But Laban said to him, “If I have found favor in your sight, I have learned by divination that the LORD has blessed me because of you. Berean Standard Bible But 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.” Berean Literal Bible And Laban said to him, “Please stay, if I have found favor in your eyes. I have learned by divination that YHWH has blessed me for your sake.” King James Bible And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favour in thine eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the LORD hath blessed me for thy sake. New King James Version And Laban said to him, “Please stay, if I have found favor in your eyes, for I have learned by experience that the LORD has blessed me for your sake.” New American Standard Bible But Laban said to him, “If it pleases you at all, stay with me; I have determined by divination that the LORD has blessed me on your account.” NASB 1995 But Laban said to him, “If now it pleases you, stay with me; I have divined that the LORD has blessed me on your account.” NASB 1977 But Laban said to him, “If now it pleases you, stay with me; I have divined that the LORD has blessed me on your account.” Legacy Standard Bible But Laban said to him, “If now I have found favor in your sight, stay with me; I have interpreted an omen that Yahweh has blessed me on your account.” Amplified Bible But Laban said to him, “If I have found favor in your sight, stay with me; for I have learned [from the omens in divination and by experience] that the LORD has blessed me because of you.” Berean Annotated Bible But Laban (white) replied, “If I have found favor in your eyes, please stay. I have learned by divination that the LORD {YHWH} has blessed me because of you. Christian Standard Bible But Laban said to him, “If I have found favor with you, stay. I have learned by divination that the LORD has blessed me because of you.” Holman Christian Standard Bible But Laban said to him, “If I have found favor in your sight, stay. I have learned by divination that the LORD has blessed me because of you.” American Standard Version And Laban said unto him, If now I have found favor in thine eyes, tarry: for I have divined that Jehovah hath blessed me for thy sake. English Revised Version And Laban said unto him, If now I have found favour in thine eyes, tarry: for I have divined that the LORD hath blessed me for thy sake. GOD'S WORD® Translation Laban replied, "Listen to me. I've learned from the signs I've seen that the LORD has blessed me because of you." Good News Translation Laban said to him, "Let me say this: I have learned by divination that the LORD has blessed me because of you. International Standard Version Then Laban responded, "If I've found favor in your sight, please stay with me, because I've learned through divination that the LORD has blessed me because of you. NET Bible But Laban said to him, "If I have found favor in your sight, please stay here, for I have learned by divination that the LORD has blessed me on account of you." New Heart English Bible Laban said to him, "If now I have found favor in your eyes, stay here, for I have learned by divination that God has blessed me for your sake." Webster's Bible Translation And Laban said to him, I pray thee, if I have found favor in thine eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience, that the LORD hath blessed me for thy sake. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleBut 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.” World English Bible Laban said to him, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, stay here, for I have divined that Yahweh has blessed me for your sake.” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd Laban says to him, “Now if I have found grace in your eyes—I have observed diligently that YHWH blesses me for your sake.” Berean Literal Bible And Laban said to him, “Please stay, if I have found favor in your eyes. I have learned by divination that YHWH has blessed me for your sake.” Young's Literal Translation And Laban saith unto him, 'If, I pray thee, I have found grace in thine eyes -- I have observed diligently that Jehovah doth bless me for thy sake.' Smith's Literal Translation And Laban will say to him, If now I found grace in thine eyes, I prognosticated, and Jehovah will praise me because of thee. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleLaban said to him: Let me find favour in thy sight: I have learned by experience, that God hath blessed me for thy sake. Catholic Public Domain Version Laban said to him: “May I find grace in your sight. I have learned by experience that God has blessed me because of you. New American Bible Laban answered him: “If you will please! I have learned through divination that the LORD has blessed me because of you.” New Revised Standard Version But Laban said to him, “If you will allow me to say so, I have learned by divination that the LORD has blessed me because of you; Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd Laban said to Jacob, If I have found favor in your eyes, I have proven by experience that the LORD has blessed me for your sake. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And Laban said to Yaquuv, “If I have found favor in your eyes, I have proven that LORD JEHOVAH blessed me because of you.” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And Laban said unto him: 'If now I have found favour in thine eyes--I have observed the signs, and the LORD hath blessed me for thy sake.' Brenton Septuagint Translation And Laban said to him, If I have found grace in thy sight, I would augur well, for the Lord has blessed me at thy coming in. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Jacob Prospers…26Give me my wives and children for whom I have served you, that I may go on my way. You know how hard I have worked for you.” 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.” 28And he added, “Name your wages, and I will pay them.”… Cross References But Laban replied, Genesis 24:50 Laban and Bethuel answered, “This is from the LORD; we have no choice in the matter. Genesis 31:27 Why did you run away secretly and deceive me, without even telling me? I would have sent you away with joy and singing, with tambourines and harps. Genesis 29:15 Laban said to him, “Just because you are my relative, should you work for nothing? Tell me what your wages should be.” “If I have found favor in your eyes,” 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 18:3 “My lord,” said Abraham, “if I have found favor in your sight, please do not pass your servant by. Genesis 33:10 But Jacob insisted, “No, please! If I have found favor in your sight, then receive this gift from my hand. For indeed, I have seen your face, and it is like seeing the face of God, since you have received me favorably. please stay. 2 Kings 2:2 and Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me on to Bethel.” But Elisha replied, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. 2 Kings 2:4 And Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me on to Jericho.” But Elisha replied, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went to Jericho. 2 Kings 2:6 And Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me on to the Jordan.” But Elisha replied, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on. I have learned by divination Genesis 44:5 Is this not the cup my master drinks from and uses for divination? What you have done is wicked!’” Ezekiel 21:21 For the king of Babylon stands at the fork in the road, at the junction of the two roads, to seek an omen: He shakes the arrows, he consults the idols, he examines the liver. Deuteronomy 18:10 Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, practices divination or conjury, interprets omens, practices sorcery, that the LORD has blessed me because of you.” Genesis 39:5 From the time that he put Joseph in charge of his household and all he owned, the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s household on account of him. The LORD’s blessing was on everything he owned, both in his house and in his field. 2 Samuel 6:12 Now it was reported to King David, “The LORD has blessed the house of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.” So David went and had the ark of God brought up from the house of Obed-edom into the City of David with rejoicing. Genesis 12:3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you.” Genesis 39:3 When his master saw that the LORD was with him and made him prosper in all he did, Treasury of Scripture And Laban said to him, I pray you, if I have found favor in your eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the LORD has blessed me for your sake. favour. Genesis 18:3 And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant: Genesis 33:15 And Esau said, Let me now leave with thee some of the folk that are with me. And he said, What needeth it? let me find grace in the sight of my lord. Genesis 34:11 And Shechem said unto her father and unto her brethren, Let me find grace in your eyes, and what ye shall say unto me I will give. the Lord. Genesis 30:30 For it was little which thou hadst before I came, and it is now increased unto a multitude; and the LORD hath blessed thee since my coming: and now when shall I provide for mine own house also? Genesis 12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. Genesis 26:24 And the LORD appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham's sake. Jump to Previous Account Allow Bless Blessed Diligently Discovered Divination Divined Experience Eyes Favor Favour Found Good Grace Laban Observed Please Pleases Sake Signs TarryJump to Next Account Allow Bless Blessed Diligently Discovered Divination Divined Experience Eyes Favor Favour Found Good Grace Laban Observed Please Pleases Sake Signs TarryGenesis 30 1. Rachel, in grief for her barrenness, gives Bilhah her maid unto Jacob.5. Bilhah bears Dan and Naphtali. 9. Leah gives Zilpah her maid, who bears Gad and Asher. 14. Reuben finds mandrakes, 15. with which Leah buys her husband's company of Rachel. 17. Leah bears Issachar, Zebulun, and Dinah. 22. Rachel bears Joseph. 25. Jacob desires to depart. 27. Laban detains him on a new agreement. 37. Jacob's policy, whereby he becomes rich. But Laban replied, Laban, the brother of Rebekah and uncle to Jacob, is a key figure in the narrative of Jacob's life. His interactions with Jacob are marked by manipulation and self-interest. This phrase introduces Laban's response to Jacob's desire to leave, highlighting Laban's cunning nature. “If I have found favor in your eyes, please stay. I have learned by divination that the LORD has blessed me because of you.” Persons / Places / Events 1. LabanLaban is the brother of Rebekah, making him Jacob's uncle. He is a shrewd and often manipulative character who seeks to benefit from Jacob's presence and labor. 2. Jacob Jacob is the son of Isaac and Rebekah, and the grandson of Abraham. He is living with Laban after fleeing from his brother Esau. Jacob's presence brings prosperity to Laban. 3. Divination Laban claims to have learned through divination that the LORD has blessed him because of Jacob. This indicates Laban's reliance on pagan practices, contrasting with Jacob's faith in God. 4. Blessing The concept of blessing is central to this passage. Laban acknowledges that his prosperity is due to the LORD's blessing on Jacob. 5. Haran The region where Laban lives and where Jacob has been residing. It is a place of both refuge and challenge for Jacob. Teaching Points God's Blessing Through His PeopleJust as Laban was blessed because of Jacob, Christians are called to be a blessing to those around them. Our presence should bring God's favor and peace to our communities. The Danger of Syncretism Laban's use of divination shows the danger of mixing pagan practices with the worship of the true God. Believers must remain pure in their devotion and avoid compromising their faith. Recognizing God's Hand Laban acknowledges God's blessing, albeit through the wrong means. We should be attentive to how God is working in our lives and give Him the glory. Integrity in Relationships Despite Laban's manipulations, Jacob continues to work diligently. Christians are called to maintain integrity and faithfulness, even in challenging relationships. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Genesis 30:27?2. How does Genesis 30:27 illustrate God's blessing through others' recognition of His work? 3. What can we learn from Laban's acknowledgment of God's favor upon Jacob? 4. How does Laban's experience connect with God's promise to bless Abraham's descendants? 5. How can we recognize God's blessings in our work environments today? 6. What steps can we take to ensure others see God's work in our lives? 7. How does Genesis 30:27 reflect God's influence on human prosperity and success? 8. What does Laban's acknowledgment of God's blessing reveal about divine intervention in Genesis 30:27? 9. How does Genesis 30:27 challenge the belief in self-made success? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Genesis 30? 11. Who is Jacob, also known as Israel? 12. Did Jacob agree to keep only speckled and spotted sheep? 13. Proverbs 20:27 claims 'the spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord'--how can this be reconciled with scientific understandings of human consciousness? 14. In Genesis 31:24, why would God communicate with Laban if Laban worshipped other gods, and how does this align with other biblical passages about idolatry? What Does Genesis 30:27 Mean But Laban replied• Laban’s answer follows Jacob’s request to return home after fourteen years of serving for Leah and Rachel (Genesis 30:25–26). • His quick response reveals a heart that calculates gains rather than cherishes family. Laban’s pattern of manipulation is evident earlier when he switched brides (Genesis 29:21–27) and later when he repeatedly changes Jacob’s wages (Genesis 31:7). • Scripture reminds us that speech can expose motives: “For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart” (Matthew 12:34). Here, Laban’s priority is profit, not relationship. If I have found favor in your eyes • The phrase sounds humble, yet it is a negotiating tactic. Laban flatters Jacob to secure continued benefit. • Similar wording appears when Abraham pleads for Sodom (Genesis 18:3) and when Joseph’s brothers speak to Pharaoh (Genesis 47:25), but in those cases the request seeks mercy; Laban seeks material advantage. • Favor ultimately comes from God, not human manipulation (Psalm 5:12). please stay • Laban’s plea underscores his dependence on Jacob. Prosperity followed Jacob’s arrival (Genesis 30:30). • Contrast: Abraham’s servant refused to delay after completing his mission (Genesis 24:54–56), showing that godly purpose outweighs personal profit. • Staying or leaving must align with God’s timing, not human pressure (Ecclesiastes 3:1). I have learned by divination • Laban admits consulting occult practices to discern why his wealth increased. Such methods were later forbidden to Israel (Deuteronomy 18:10–12). • God overrules even pagan inquiry to highlight His sovereignty; He allowed Laban to recognize the true source of blessing. A comparable instance occurs when Pharaoh’s magicians acknowledge, “This is the finger of God” (Exodus 8:19). • The text does not endorse divination; it simply records Laban’s carnal attempt to gain insight. that the LORD has blessed me • Ironically, the diviner must confess YHWH’s hand. Laban uses God’s covenant name, acknowledging the very God he does not serve. • God’s promise to Abraham—“I will bless those who bless you” (Genesis 12:3)—is being fulfilled through Jacob, Abraham’s grandson. • Later, Potiphar observes the same principle with Joseph: “The LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house on account of Joseph” (Genesis 39:5). because of you • Jacob is the conduit of blessing. God’s covenant streams through His chosen people to the surrounding nations, anticipating the ultimate blessing in Christ (Galatians 3:8). • Jacob himself will testify, “The little you had before I came has increased greatly, and the LORD has blessed you wherever I worked” (Genesis 30:30). • This pattern recurs: families, workplaces, and even nations can experience tangible good when God’s people walk faithfully (Proverbs 11:11). summary Genesis 30:27 reveals a self–interested Laban pleading with Jacob to remain because he has discovered—by unapproved means—that the LORD’s favor on Jacob spills over onto him. The verse underscores three truths: God’s blessings are real and observable, they flow through His covenant people to others, and even unbelievers may recognize the hand of the LORD while still pursuing their own agendas. (27) I have learned by experience.--Heb., I have divined. The verb means, to speak between the teeth; to mutter magical formul?. Others wrongly suppose that it signifies "to divine by omens taken from serpents;" and some imagine that Laban had consulted his teraphim. Words of this sort lose, at a very early date, their special signification, and all that Laban means is--"I fancy," I conjecture." His answer is, however, most Oriental. It is courtly and complimentary, but utterly inconclusive. "If now I have found favour in thine eyes, I have a feeling that God hath blessed me for thy sake." It, of course, suggests that he would be glad if Jacob would remain with him. In Genesis 30:28 Laban comes to the point, but probably this was reached by many circuitous windings.Verse 27. - And Laban said unto him (having learnt by fourteen years' acquaintance with Jacob to know the value of a good shepherd), I pray thee, if I have found favor in thine eyes (the clause is elliptical, the A. V. rightly supplying), tarry: for (this word also is not in the original), I have learned by experience - literally, I have divined (נִחַשְֹׁתִּי, from נָחַשׁ, to hiss as a serpent, hence to augur); not necessarily by means of serpents (Gesenius, Wordsworth, 'Speaker's Commentary'), or even by consulting his gods (Delitzsch, Kalisch), but perhaps by close observation and minute inspection (Murphy, Bush). The LXX. render οἰωνισάμην; the Vulgate by experimento didici - that the Lord - Jehovah. Nominally a worshipper of the true God, Laban was in practice addicted to heathen superstitions (cf. Genesis 31:19, 32) - hath blessed me (with material prosperity) for thy sake.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew But Labanלָבָ֔ן (lā·ḇān) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3837: Laban -- father-in-law of Jacob replied, וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say “If אִם־ (’im-) Conjunction Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not I have found מָצָ֥אתִי (mā·ṣā·ṯî) Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular Strong's 4672: To come forth to, appear, exist, to attain, find, acquire, to occur, meet, be present favor חֵ֖ן (ḥên) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 2580: Graciousness, subjective, objective in your eyes, בְּעֵינֶ֑יךָ (bə·‘ê·ne·ḵā) Preposition-b | Noun - cdc | second person masculine singular Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain please stay. נָ֛א (nā) Interjection Strong's 4994: I pray', 'now', 'then' I have learned by divination נִחַ֕שְׁתִּי (ni·ḥaš·tî) Verb - Piel - Perfect - first person common singular Strong's 5172: To hiss, whisper a, spell, to prognosticate that the LORD יְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel has blessed וַיְבָרֲכֵ֥נִי (way·ḇā·ră·ḵê·nî) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | first person common singular Strong's 1288: To kneel, to bless God, man, to curse me because of you.” בִּגְלָלֶֽךָ׃ (biḡ·lā·le·ḵā) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 1558: A circumstance, on account of Links Genesis 30:27 NIVGenesis 30:27 NLT Genesis 30:27 ESV Genesis 30:27 NASB Genesis 30:27 KJV Genesis 30:27 BibleApps.com Genesis 30:27 Biblia Paralela Genesis 30:27 Chinese Bible Genesis 30:27 French Bible Genesis 30:27 Catholic Bible OT Law: Genesis 30:27 Laban said to him If now (Gen. Ge Gn) |
    |