New International VersionAnd he said, ‘Look up and see that all the male goats mating with the flock are streaked, speckled or spotted, for I have seen all that Laban has been doing to you.
New Living Translation“The angel said, ‘Look up, and you will see that only the streaked, speckled, and spotted males are mating with the females of your flock. For I have seen how Laban has treated you.
English Standard VersionAnd he said, ‘Lift up your eyes and see, all the goats that mate with the flock are striped, spotted, and mottled, for I have seen all that Laban is doing to you.
Berean Standard Bible‘Look up,’ he said, ‘and see that all the males that are mating with the flock are streaked, spotted, or speckled; for I have seen all that Laban has done to you.
King James BibleAnd he said, Lift up now thine eyes, and see, all the rams which leap upon the cattle are ringstraked, speckled, and grisled: for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee.
New King James VersionAnd He said, ‘Lift your eyes now and see, all the rams which leap on the flocks are streaked, speckled, and gray-spotted; for I have seen all that Laban is doing to you.
New American Standard BibleHe said, ‘Now raise your eyes and see that all the male goats that are mating are striped, speckled, or mottled; for I have seen everything that Laban has been doing to you.
NASB 1995“He said, ‘Lift up now your eyes and see that all the male goats which are mating are striped, speckled, and mottled; for I have seen all that Laban has been doing to you.
NASB 1977“And he said, ‘Lift up, now, your eyes and see that all the male goats which are mating are striped, speckled, and mottled; for I have seen all that Laban has been doing to you.
Legacy Standard BibleHe said, ‘Lift up now your eyes and see that all the male goats which are mating are striped, speckled, and mottled; for I have seen all that Laban has been doing to you.
Amplified BibleHe said, ‘Look up and see, all the rams which are mating [with the flock] are streaked, speckled, and spotted; for I have seen all that Laban has been doing to you.
Christian Standard BibleAnd he said, ‘Look up and see: all the males that are mating with the flocks are streaked, spotted, and speckled, for I have seen all that Laban has been doing to you.
Holman Christian Standard BibleAnd He said, ‘Look up and see: all the males that are mating with the flocks are streaked, spotted, and speckled, for I have seen all that Laban has been doing to you.
American Standard VersionAnd he said, Lift up now thine eyes, and see, all the he-goats which leap upon the flock are ringstreaked, speckled, and grizzled: for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee.
Contemporary English Versionand he said, "Notice that all the rams are either spotted or speckled. I know everything Laban is doing to you,
English Revised VersionAnd he said, Lift up now thine eyes, and see, all the he-goats which leap upon the flock are ringstraked, speckled, and grisled: for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee.
GOD'S WORD® TranslationHe said, 'Look up and see that all the male goats which are mating are striped, speckled, or spotted, because I have seen everything that Laban is doing to you.
Good News Translation'Look,' he continued, 'all the male goats that are mating are striped, spotted, and speckled. I am making this happen because I have seen all that Laban is doing to you.
International Standard Version"'Look around!' he said. 'Go ahead, look! All the male goats have been mating with the flock, producing offspring that are streaked, speckled, and spotted, because I've been watching everything that Laban has done to you.
NET BibleThen he said, 'Observe that all the male goats mating with the flock are streaked, speckled, or spotted, for I have observed all that Laban has done to you.
New Heart English BibleHe said, 'Now lift up your eyes, and look, all the male goats which leap on the flock are streaked, speckled, and spotted, for I have seen all that Laban has done to you.
Webster's Bible TranslationAnd he said, Lift up now thy eyes and see, all the rams which leap upon the cattle are ring-streaked, speckled, and grizzled: for I have seen all that Laban doeth to thee. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Bible‘Look up,’ he said, ‘and see that all the males that are mating with the flock are streaked, spotted, or speckled; for I have seen all that Laban has done to you.
World English BibleHe said, ‘Now lift up your eyes, and behold, all the male goats which leap on the flock are streaked, speckled, and grizzled, for I have seen all that Laban does to you. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd He says, Now lift up your eyes and see [that] all the male goats which are going up on the flock [are] striped, speckled, and spotted, for I have seen all that Laban is doing to you;
Young's Literal Translation And He saith, Lift up, I pray thee, thine eyes, and see -- all the he-goats which are going up on the flock are ring-streaked, speckled, and grisled, for I have seen all that Laban is doing to thee;
Smith's Literal TranslationAnd he will say, Lift up now thine eyes and see all the he-goats ascending upon the sheep, banded, speckled and sprinkled with spots; for I saw all that Laban did to thee. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd he said: Lift up thy eyes, and see that all the males leaping upon the females, are of divers colors, spotted, and speckled. For I have seen all that Laban hath done to thee.
Catholic Public Domain VersionAnd he said: ‘Lift up your eyes, and see that all the males climbing on the females are variegated, spotted, and also speckled. For I have seen all that Laban has done to you.
New American BibleThen he said: ‘Look up and see. All the he-goats that are mating are streaked, speckled and mottled, for I have seen all the things that Laban has been doing to you.
New Revised Standard VersionAnd he said, ‘Look up and see that all the goats that leap on the flock are striped, speckled, and mottled; for I have seen all that Laban is doing to you. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleThen he said, Lift up now your eyes, and see; all the rams that leap upon the sheep are speckled, spotted, and ringstreaked; for I have seen all that Laban has done to you.
Peshitta Holy Bible TranslatedAnd he said to me, ‘Lift up your eyes and see all the goats mounting on the flock with white spotted foreheads, and spotted and speckled, because I have seen everything that Laban has done to you. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And he said: Lift up now thine eyes, and see, all the he-goats which leap upon the flock are streaked, speckled, and grizzled; for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee.
Brenton Septuagint TranslationAnd he said, Look up with thine eyes, and behold the he-goats and the rams leaping on the sheep and the she-goats, speckled and variegated and spotted with ash-coloured spots; for I have seen all things that Laban does to thee.
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context Jacob Flees from Laban… 11In that dream the angel of God said to me, ‘Jacob!’ And I replied, ‘Here I am.’ 12‘Look up,’he said,‘and seethat allthe malesthat are matingwiththe flockare streaked,spotted,or speckled;forI have seenallthatLabanhas doneto you.13I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar and made a solemn vow to Me. Now get up and leave this land at once, and return to your native land.’ ”…
Cross References Exodus 3:7-8The LORD said, “I have indeed seen the affliction of My people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their oppressors, and I am aware of their sufferings. / I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.
Exodus 3:16Go, assemble the elders of Israel and say to them, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—has appeared to me and said: I have surely attended to you and have seen what has been done to you in Egypt.
Exodus 4:31and they believed. And when they heard that the LORD had attended to the Israelites and had seen their affliction, they bowed down and worshiped.
Exodus 14:19-20And the angel of God, who had gone before the camp of Israel, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from before them and stood behind them, / so that it came between the camps of Egypt and Israel. The cloud was there in the darkness, but it lit up the night. So all night long neither camp went near the other.
Exodus 23:20-23Behold, I am sending an angel before you to protect you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared. / Pay attention to him and listen to his voice; do not defy him, for he will not forgive rebellion, since My Name is in him. / But if you will listen carefully to his voice and do everything I say, I will be an enemy to your enemies and a foe to your foes. ...
Deuteronomy 11:12It is a land for which the LORD your God cares; the eyes of the LORD your God are always on it, from the beginning to the end of the year.
Deuteronomy 26:7-9So we called out to the LORD, the God of our fathers; and the LORD heard our voice and saw our affliction, toil, and oppression. / Then the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great terror, signs, and wonders. / And He brought us to this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey.
Psalm 34:15The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their cry.
Psalm 121:3-4He will not allow your foot to slip; your Protector will not slumber. / Behold, the Protector of Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
Isaiah 41:10Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
Isaiah 43:1-2But now, this is what the LORD says—He who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine! / When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you go through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched; the flames will not set you ablaze.
Jeremiah 1:12“You have observed correctly,” said the LORD, “for I am watching over My word to accomplish it.”
Jeremiah 29:11For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope.
Matthew 28:20and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Luke 1:78-79because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high, / to shine on those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
Treasury of Scripture And he said, Lift up now your eyes, and see, all the rams which leap on the cattle are ringstraked, speckled, and spotted: for I have seen all that Laban does to you. Lift up. Genesis 30:37-43 And Jacob took him rods of green poplar, and of the hazel and chesnut tree; and pilled white strakes in them, and made the white appear whichwas in the rods… I have seen. Genesis 31:42 Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty. God hath seen mine affliction and the labour of my hands, and rebukedthee yesternight. Exodus 3:7,9 And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people whichare in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows; … Leviticus 19:13 Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither robhim: the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning. Jump to Previous BandedCattleColouredEyesFlockGoatsGrizzledHe-GoatsLiftMaleMarkedMatingRamsRingstrakedRingstreakedRing-StreakedSpeckledSpottedStreakedStripedJump to Next BandedCattleColouredEyesFlockGoatsGrizzledHe-GoatsLiftMaleMarkedMatingRamsRingstrakedRingstreakedRing-StreakedSpeckledSpottedStreakedStripedGenesis 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.‘Look up,’ he said,This phrase indicates a divine revelation or vision. In biblical narratives, being told to "look up" often signifies a moment of divine intervention or insight. It suggests that Jacob is being called to pay attention to something significant that God is about to reveal. This aligns with other instances in Scripture where God communicates through visions, such as with Abraham in Genesis 15:5. ‘and see that all the males that are mating with the flock are streaked, spotted, or speckled;
The description of the animals as "streaked, spotted, or speckled" is significant in the context of Jacob's agreement with Laban. Jacob had made a deal to take the less desirable animals as his wages (Genesis 30:32-33). This vision confirms God's involvement in ensuring Jacob's prosperity despite Laban's attempts to cheat him. The specific mention of these patterns also highlights God's control over nature and His ability to bless Jacob through seemingly natural means. for I have seen all that Laban has done to you.
This phrase reassures Jacob that God is aware of the injustices he has suffered at the hands of Laban. It reflects the biblical theme of God's omniscience and His concern for justice. This assurance is echoed in other parts of Scripture, such asExodus 3:7, where God tells Moses that He has seen the affliction of His people in Egypt. It underscores the idea that God is a righteous judge who sees and will act on behalf of those who are wronged. Persons / Places / Events 1. JacobThe grandson of Abraham, son of Isaac, and the central figure in this account. He is working for his uncle Laban and is being mistreated. 2. LabanJacob's uncle and father-in-law, who has been deceitful and unfair in his dealings with Jacob, changing his wages multiple times. 3. GodThe divine being who speaks to Jacob in a dream, reassuring him of His presence and justice. 4. Paddan-aramThe region where Jacob is living and working for Laban, located in Mesopotamia. 5. The FlockThe animals that Jacob is tending, which become a symbol of God's provision and justice. Teaching Points God's Awareness and JusticeGod sees the injustices we face and is actively involved in our lives, working to bring about His justice and provision. Divine GuidanceJust as God guided Jacob through dreams, He continues to guide us today through His Word and the Holy Spirit. Faithfulness in AdversityJacob's account encourages us to remain faithful and trust in God's promises, even when circumstances seem unfair or challenging. God's ProvisionThe transformation of the flock symbolizes God's ability to provide for us in unexpected ways, reminding us to trust in His provision. Integrity in RelationshipsDespite Laban's deceit, Jacob maintained his integrity. We are called to uphold our values and trust God to handle injustices. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1.What is the meaning of Genesis 31:12?
2.How does Genesis 31:12 demonstrate God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises?
3.What does God's instruction to Jacob reveal about His sovereignty over creation?
4.How can we discern God's guidance in our lives like Jacob did?
5.Connect Genesis 31:12 with God's promises to Abraham in earlier Genesis chapters.
6.How can we apply God's protective nature in Genesis 31:12 to our lives?
7.How does Genesis 31:12 demonstrate God's involvement in human affairs?
8.What does Genesis 31:12 reveal about divine justice and fairness?
9.How does Genesis 31:12 challenge our understanding of God's communication with humans?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Genesis 31?
11.In Genesis 31:10–12, how could Jacob’s dream and the striped rods realistically influence the genetics of the flocks?
12.In Genesis 31:41, Jacob claims Laban changed his wages ten times, yet no detailed account shows each change; does this raise questions of consistency or exaggeration?
13.How does Genesis 22 align with later scriptures condemning human sacrifice (e.g., Deuteronomy 12:31)?
14.In Genesis 31:24, why would God communicate with Laban if Laban worshipped other gods, and how does this align with other biblical passages about idolatry?What Does Genesis 31:12 Mean Look upJacob is told to raise his eyes—an action that signals shifting attention from immediate problems to God’s provision. • Similar calls appear inGenesis 13:14 andIsaiah 40:26, urging God’s people to view circumstances from His higher vantage point. • InPsalm 121:1–2, lifting one’s eyes is tied to recognizing that “my help comes from the LORD.” • Here, Jacob, trapped in Laban’s deceit (Genesis 31:6–7), is reminded that help has arrived.
he saidThe speaker is “the Angel of God” (Genesis 31:11), a divine messenger who speaks with God’s authority. • Comparable encounters includeGenesis 22:11–18 andExodus 3:2–6, where the Angel delivers covenantal reassurance. • By addressing Jacob personally, God underscores that His promises inGenesis 28:13–15 are still intact despite Laban’s schemes.
and see that all the males that are mating with the flockJacob is invited to observe the breeding process he cannot naturally control. •Proverbs 16:33 andJob 12:10 affirm that what seems random is under divine direction. • God is orchestrating even animal pairings to fulfill the agreement inGenesis 30:32–33, showing that honest work + divine favor surpass human manipulation.
are streaked, spotted, or speckledThe precise outcome matches Jacob’s requested wages, guaranteeing his prosperity. •Genesis 31:9 testifies: “God has taken away your father’s livestock and given them to me.” • This mirrorsExodus 11:2–3, where God transfers wealth from oppressor to oppressed. •Ephesians 3:20 emphasizes God’s ability to do “immeasurably more” than we ask; Jacob asked for some speckled sheep—God makes nearly all breeding rams that way.
for I have seen all that Laban has done to youGod both observes and responds to injustice. •Exodus 3:7,Psalm 94:9, andJames 5:4 assure that oppression never escapes His notice. • The phrase echoesGenesis 16:13, where Hagar names the LORD “the God who sees me,” reinforcing His personal care. • Divine justice may appear delayed, but1 Peter 5:6–7 urges believers to “humble yourselves…casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.”
summaryGenesis 31:12 reveals a God who sees, speaks, and supernaturally intervenes. Jacob’s lifted eyes meet a vision of divine control over breeding patterns, proving that God can prosper His servant despite human exploitation. The verse invites believers to look up from oppression, trust God’s oversight, and expect His faithful, just provision. (12) Grisled.--That is, covered with spots like hailstones, the word "grisled" being derived from the French grele,hail. Others derive the word from gris, grisaille,grey. Verse 12. - And he said, Lift up now thine eyes, and see, all the rams which leap upon the cattle are ringstraked, speckled, and grisled. Since all the parti-colored animals had already been removed ( Genesis 30:35), this vision must have been intended to assure him that the flocks would produce speckled and spotted progeny all the same as if the ringstraked and grisled rams and he-goats had not been removed from their midst (cf. Kurtz, § 78). To insist upon a contradiction between this account of the increase of Jacob's flocks and that mentioned in Genesis 30:37 is to forget that both may be true. Equally arbitrary does it seem to be to accuse Jacob of fraud in adopting the artifice of the pilled rods (Kalisch). Without resorting to the supposition that he acted under God s guidance (Wordsworth), we may believe that the dream suggested the expedient referred to, in which some see Jacob's unbelief and impatience (Kurtz, Gosman in Lange), and others a praiseworthy instance of self-help (Keil). For I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee. If the preceding clause appears to imply that the vision was sent to Jacob at the beginning of the six years' service, the present clause scents to point to the end of that period as the date of its occurrence; in which case it would require to be understood as a Divine intimation to Jacob that his immense wealth was not to be ascribed to the success of his own stratagem, but to the blessing of God (Delitzsch). The difficulty of harmonizing the two views has led to the suggestion that Jacob here mixes the accounts of two different visions accorded to him, at the commencement and at the close of the period of servitude (Nachmanides, Rosenmüller, Kurtz,- ' Speaker's Commentary,' Murphy, Candlish).
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew ‘Look up,’שָׂא־(śā-)Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 5375:To lift, carry, takeHe said,וַיֹּ֗אמֶר(way·yō·mer)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559:To utter, say‘and seeוּרְאֵה֙(ū·rə·’êh)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 7200:To seethat allכָּל־(kāl-)Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605:The whole, all, any, everythe malesהָֽעַתֻּדִים֙(hā·‘at·tu·ḏîm)Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 6260:Prepared, full grown, of he-goats, leaders of the peoplethat are matingהָעֹלִ֣ים(hā·‘ō·lîm)Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 5927:To ascend, in, activelywithעַל־(‘al-)Preposition
Strong's 5921:Above, over, upon, againstthe flockהַצֹּ֔אן(haṣ·ṣōn)Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 6629:Small cattle, sheep and goats, flockare streaked,עֲקֻדִּ֥ים(‘ă·qud·dîm)Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 6124:Striped, streakedspotted,וּבְרֻדִּ֑ים(ū·ḇə·rud·dîm)Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 1261:Spotted, markedor speckled;נְקֻדִּ֖ים(nə·qud·dîm)Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 5348:Speckledforכִּ֣י(kî)Conjunction
Strong's 3588:A relative conjunctionI have seenרָאִ֔יתִי(rā·’î·ṯî)Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7200:To seeallכָּל־(kāl-)Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605:The whole, all, any, everythatאֲשֶׁ֥ר(’ă·šer)Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834:Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order thatLabanלָבָ֖ן(lā·ḇān)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3837:Laban -- father-in-law of Jacobhas doneעֹ֥שֶׂה(‘ō·śeh)Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 6213:To do, maketo you.לָּֽךְ׃(lāḵ)Preposition | second person feminine singular
Strong's Hebrew
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OT Law: Genesis 31:12 He said 'Now lift up your eyes (Gen. Ge Gn) |
