The Meaning of Genesis 31:9 Explained

Genesis 31:9

KJV: Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me.

YLT: and God taketh away the substance of your father, and doth give to me.

Darby: And God has taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me.

ASV: Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Thus God  hath taken away  the cattle  of your father,  and given  [them] to me. 

What does Genesis 31:9 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 31:9 mean?

So has taken away God - the livestock of your father and given [them] to me
וַיַּצֵּ֧ל אֱלֹהִ֛ים אֶת־ מִקְנֵ֥ה אֲבִיכֶ֖ם וַיִּתֶּן־ לִֽי

וַיַּצֵּ֧ל  So  has  taken  away 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָצַל  
Sense: to snatch away, deliver, rescue, save, strip, plunder.
אֱלֹהִ֛ים  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
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.
מִקְנֵ֥ה  the  livestock 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מִקְנֶה  
Sense: cattle, livestock.
אֲבִיכֶ֖ם  of  your  father 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine plural
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.
וַיִּתֶּן־  and  given  [them] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
לִֽי  to  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular