The Meaning of Genesis 31:40 Explained

Genesis 31:40

KJV: Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from mine eyes.

YLT: I have been thus: in the day consumed me hath drought, and frost by night, and wander doth my sleep from mine eyes.

Darby: Thus it was with me: in the day the heat consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep fled from mine eyes.

ASV: Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep fled from mine eyes.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

[Thus] I was; in the day  the drought  consumed  me, and the frost  by night;  and my sleep  departed  from mine eyes. 

What does Genesis 31:40 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 31:22-42 - The Dispute Between Laban And Jacob
These chapters afford a remarkable insight into God's forbearance. He knew what was in Jacob's heart, and could see all its weakness and deceit. There was not a thought in his heart or a word on his tongue, but He knew them altogether. Yet God cast the mantle of forgiveness and defense around this most unworthy soul, bidding Laban not to speak to him either good or bad. Indeed, in a later book, we are told, "He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath He seen perverseness in Israel." Not that the holy God was unaware of the evil traits in His child, but that He refused to dwell on them, or to allow himself to be turned away from His purposes of grace. Rachel secretly carried with her the teraphim, which wrought evil throughout the home in after-years, as we shall see. The "fear of Isaac" was on Jacob's lips, but too little of it in his character and surroundings! [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 31:40 mean?

[There] I was in the day consumed me the drought and the frost by night and departed sleep from my eyes
הָיִ֧יתִי בַיּ֛וֹם אֲכָלַ֥נִי חֹ֖רֶב וְקֶ֣רַח בַּלָּ֑יְלָה וַתִּדַּ֥ד שְׁנָתִ֖י מֵֽעֵינָֽי

הָיִ֧יתִי  [There]  I  was 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
בַיּ֛וֹם  in  the  day 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
אֲכָלַ֥נִי  consumed  me 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular, first person common singular
Root: אָכַל  
Sense: to eat, devour, burn up, feed.
חֹ֖רֶב  the  drought 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: חֹרֶב 
Sense: dryness, desolation, drought, heat.
וְקֶ֣רַח  and  the  frost 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: קֶרַח  
Sense: frost, ice, ice crystal.
בַּלָּ֑יְלָה  by  night 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: לַיִל 
Sense: night.
וַתִּדַּ֥ד  and  departed 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: נָדַד  
Sense: to retreat, flee, depart, move, wander abroad, stray, flutter.
שְׁנָתִ֖י  sleep 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: שֵׁנָא 
Sense: sleep.
מֵֽעֵינָֽי  from  my  eyes 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, cdc, first person common singular
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.