The Meaning of Genesis 31:5 Explained

Genesis 31:5

KJV: And said unto them, I see your father's countenance, that it is not toward me as before; but the God of my father hath been with me.

YLT: and saith to them, 'I am beholding your father's face -- that it is not towards me as heretofore, and the God of my father hath been with me,

Darby: and said to them, I see your father's countenance, that it is not toward me as previously; but the God of my father has been with me.

ASV: and said unto them, I see your father's countenance, that it is not toward me as beforetime; but the God of my father hath been with me.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And said  unto them, I see  your father's  countenance,  that it [is] not toward me as  before;  but the God  of my father  hath been  with me. 

What does Genesis 31:5 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 31:5 mean?

and said to them can see I - countenance of your father that it [is] not toward me as before But the God of my father has been with me
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָהֶ֗ן רֹאֶ֤ה אָנֹכִי֙ אֶת־ פְּנֵ֣י אֲבִיכֶ֔ן כִּֽי־ אֵינֶ֥נּוּ אֵלַ֖י כִּתְמֹ֣ל שִׁלְשֹׁ֑ם וֵֽאלֹהֵ֣י אָבִ֔י הָיָ֖ה עִמָּדִֽי

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר  and  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
לָהֶ֗ן  to  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person feminine plural
רֹאֶ֤ה  can  see 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
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.
פְּנֵ֣י  countenance 
Parse: Noun, common plural construct
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
אֲבִיכֶ֔ן  of  your  father 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person feminine plural
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.
כִּֽי־  that  it  [is] 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
אֵלַ֖י  toward  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
שִׁלְשֹׁ֑ם  before 
Parse: Adverb
Root: שִׁלְשֹׁום  
Sense: day before yesterday, three days ago.
וֵֽאלֹהֵ֣י  But  the  God 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
אָבִ֔י  of  my  father 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.
הָיָ֖ה  has  been 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
עִמָּדִֽי  with  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: עִמָּד  
Sense: with.