Genesis 31:1-13 ▼

1 Now Jacob heard that Laban’s (white) sons were saying, “Jacob (he grasps the heel) has taken away all that belonged to our father and built all this wealth at our father’s expense.”

2 And Jacob (he grasps the heel) saw from the countenance of Laban (white) that his attitude toward him had changed.

3 Then the LORD {YHWH} said to Jacob (he grasps the heel), “Go back to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you.”

4 So Jacob (he grasps the heel) sent word and called Rachel (little lamb) and Leah (weary) to the field where his flocks were,

5 and he told them, “I can see from your⁺ father’s countenance that his attitude toward me has changed; but the God {Elohe} of my father has been with me.

6 You⁺ know that I have served your⁺ father with all my strength.

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

8 If he said, ‘The speckled will be your wages,’ then the whole flock bore speckled offspring. If he said, ‘The streaked will be your wages,’ then the whole flock bore streaked offspring.

9 Thus God {Elohim} has taken away your⁺ father’s livestock and given them to me.

10 When the flocks were breeding, I saw in a dream that the streaked, spotted, and speckled males were mating with the females.

11 In that dream the angel (Angel) of God {Elohim} said to me, ‘Jacob (he grasps the heel)!’ And I replied, ‘Here I am.’

12 ‘Look up,’ he said, ‘and see that all the males that are mating with the flock are streaked, spotted, or speckled; for I have seen all that Laban (white) has done to you.

13 I am the God of Bethel (house of God), where you anointed the pillar and made a solemn vow to Me. Now get up, leave this land at once, and return to your native land.’”