The Meaning of Genesis 31:18 Explained

Genesis 31:18

KJV: And he carried away all his cattle, and all his goods which he had gotten, the cattle of his getting, which he had gotten in Padanaram, for to go to Isaac his father in the land of Canaan.

YLT: and leadeth all his cattle, and all his substance which he hath acquired, the cattle of his getting, which he hath acquired in Padan-Aram, to go unto Isaac his father, to the land of Canaan.

Darby: and carried away all his cattle, and all his property that he had acquired the cattle of his possessions that he had acquired in Padan-Aram, to go to Isaac his father, into the land of Canaan.

ASV: and he carried away all his cattle, and all his substance which he had gathered, the cattle of his getting, which he had gathered in Paddan-aram, to go to Isaac his father unto the land of Canaan.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And he carried away  all his cattle,  and all his goods  which he had gotten,  the cattle  of his getting,  which he had gotten  in Padanaram,  for to go  to Isaac  his father  in the land  of Canaan. 

What does Genesis 31:18 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 31:1-21 - Jacob Leaves Laban
Jacob was a remarkable mixture. He had an eminently religious nature, and had intimate dealings with God. Note Genesis 31:3; Genesis 31:5; Genesis 31:7; Genesis 31:18. But he grossly misrepresented God's dealings with him when he gave his wives the reasons on which he proposed flight. Note Genesis 31:9; Genesis 31:13. So the flesh and spirit struggle for mastery within us all, and only as the grace of God enters our hearts can we come into the absolute supremacy of the spiritual and divine, Galatians 5:17. The secret departure was very undignified and unworthy of the heir of the promises. The command to return was of God, and what He commands He becomes responsible for. Besides, had not the Almighty promised to keep him in all places? See Genesis 28:15. When we are on God's plan, we may reckon on Him absolutely. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 31

1  Jacob, displeased with the envy of Laban and his sons, departs secretly
19  Rachel steals her father's household gods
22  Laban pursues after him, and complains of the wrong
34  Rachel's plan to hide the images
36  Jacob's complaint of Laban
43  The covenant of Laban and Jacob at Galeed

What do the individual words in Genesis 31:18 mean?

and he carried away - all his livestock and his possessions which he had gained livestock his acquired he had gained in in Padan Aram to go to Isaac his father in the land of Canaan
וַיִּנְהַ֣ג אֶת־ כָּל־ מִקְנֵ֗הוּ וְאֶת־ רְכֻשׁוֹ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר רָכָ֔שׁ מִקְנֵה֙ קִנְיָנ֔וֹ רָכַ֖שׁ בְּפַדַּ֣ן אֲרָ֑ם לָב֛וֹא אֶל־ יִצְחָ֥ק אָבִ֖יו אַ֥רְצָה כְּנָֽעַן

וַיִּנְהַ֣ג  and  he  carried  away 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָהַג 
Sense: to drive, lead, guide, conduct.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
מִקְנֵ֗הוּ  his  livestock 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: מִקְנֶה  
Sense: cattle, livestock.
רְכֻשׁוֹ֙  his  possessions 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: רְכוּשׁ  
Sense: property, goods, possessions.
רָכָ֔שׁ  he  had  gained 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: רָכַשׁ  
Sense: (Qal) to collect or gather property.
מִקְנֵה֙  livestock 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מִקְנֶה  
Sense: cattle, livestock.
קִנְיָנ֔וֹ  his  acquired 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: קִנְיָן  
Sense: thing acquired, acquisition, possession, purchased property, wealth.
רָכַ֖שׁ  he  had  gained 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: רָכַשׁ  
Sense: (Qal) to collect or gather property.
אֲרָ֑ם  in  Padan  Aram 
Parse: Preposition, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: פַּדָּן 
Sense: a plain or tableland in northern Mesopotamia in Aram, a region of Syria.
לָב֛וֹא  to  go 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
יִצְחָ֥ק  Isaac 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִצְחָק  
Sense: son of Abraham by Sarah his wife and father of Jacob and Esau.
אָבִ֖יו  his  father 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.
אַ֥רְצָה  in  the  land 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
כְּנָֽעַן  of  Canaan 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: כְּנַעַן 
Sense: the 4th son of Ham and the progenitor of the Phoenicians and of the various nations who peopled the seacoast of Palestine.

What are the major concepts related to Genesis 31:18?

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