If he said thus, The speckled shall be thy wages; then all the cattle bare speckled: and if he said thus, The ringstraked shall be thy hire; then bare all the cattle ringstraked.
If he said, 'The speckled animals will be your payment,' then all the livestock gave birth to speckled young. And if he said, 'The striped animals will be your wages,' then all the livestock gave birth to striped young.
Jacob is explaining how God intervened to ensure he received fair payment, no matter how his father-in-law Laban tried to cheat him.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of Genesis, Jacob had been serving his father-in-law Laban for many years as part of an agreement involving flocks of sheep and goats. Laban repeatedly changed the terms of Jacob's wages, specifying that certain colored animals would be Jacob's payment, such as speckled or ringstreaked ones. Miraculously, the flocks produced exactly those animals, which Jacob saw as God's direct intervention to protect and prosper him despite Laban's deceit.
Explore Similar Verses
Ask the AI Assistant
Have a question about this chapter or verse? Ask below for a clear explanation.