The Meaning of Genesis 31:3 Explained

Genesis 31:3

KJV: And the LORD said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee.

YLT: And Jehovah saith unto Jacob, 'Turn back unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred, and I am with thee.'

Darby: And Jehovah said to Jacob, Return into the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee.

ASV: And Jehovah said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And the LORD  said  unto Jacob,  Return  unto the land  of thy fathers,  and to thy kindred;  and I will be with thee. 

What does Genesis 31:3 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 31:3 mean?

And said Yahweh unto to Jacob Return to the land of your fathers and to your family and I will be with you
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ אֶֽל־ יַעֲקֹ֔ב שׁ֛וּב אֶל־ אֶ֥רֶץ אֲבוֹתֶ֖יךָ וּלְמוֹלַדְתֶּ֑ךָ וְאֶֽהְיֶ֖ה עִמָּֽךְ

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר  And  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
יְהוָה֙  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֶֽל־  unto 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
יַעֲקֹ֔ב  to  Jacob 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יַעֲקֹב  
Sense: son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham, and father of the 2 patriarchs of the tribes of Israel.
שׁ֛וּב  Return 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.
אֶ֥רֶץ  the  land 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
אֲבוֹתֶ֖יךָ  of  your  fathers 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.
וּלְמוֹלַדְתֶּ֑ךָ  and  to  your  family 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: מֹולֶדֶת  
Sense: kindred, birth, offspring, relatives.
וְאֶֽהְיֶ֖ה  and  I  will  be 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect, first person common singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
עִמָּֽךְ  with  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person feminine singular
Root: עִם  
Sense: with.