And he said, What shall I give thee? And Jacob said, Thou shalt not give me any thing: if thou wilt do this thing for me, I will again feed and keep thy flock:

GENESIS 30:31KJV
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Genesis 30:31 (KJV)

What does Genesis 30:31 mean?

Genesis 30:31 shows Jacob responding to Laban’s offer by saying he does not want to be given anything directly, but instead proposes a condition: if Laban agrees to Jacob’s terms, Jacob will continue to care for Laban’s flock. Jacob is setting up a fair arrangement rather than accepting a gift.

In this scene, Laban is asking Jacob what payment he wants for his years of work. Jacob’s answer shifts the conversation from a simple wage to a negotiated agreement about how he will earn his share. This sets the stage for the next verses, where Jacob explains the specific terms he has in mind for dividing the flocks.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 30:31

  • The word “give” (נָתַן, natan) is used twice: Laban asks what he should give Jacob, and Jacob replies that he does not want Laban to “give” him anything. The repetition highlights that Jacob is not asking for a handout, but for a fair opportunity.
  • The word “feed” (רָעָה, ra‘ah) means to shepherd or tend, showing that Jacob’s ongoing work and responsibility for the flock is central to the arrangement.
  • The word “keep” (שָׁמַר, shamar) means to guard or watch over, emphasizing Jacob’s role in protecting Laban’s animals, not just feeding them.

Why Genesis 30:31 matters

  • This verse clarifies that Jacob is not trying to take advantage of Laban, but is seeking an honest way to earn his own wealth through his labor and skill.
  • The negotiation here sets up the dramatic events that follow, where Jacob’s cleverness and God’s blessing lead to his prosperity.
  • Understanding the specific words for “feed” and “keep” helps the reader see that Jacob’s proposal involves both active care and responsibility, not just passive oversight.

Where else these words appear

“thing” Hebrew H3972 · used in 32 verses

  • Genesis 22:12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.
  • 1 Samuel 12:5 And he said unto them, The LORD is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found ought in my hand. And they answered, He is witness.
  • 1 Kings 10:21 And all king Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold; none were of silver: it was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon.

“feed” Hebrew H7462 · used in 144 verses

  • Genesis 4:2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
  • Psalms 49:14 Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling.
  • Jeremiah 33:12 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Again in this place, which is desolate without man and without beast, and in all the cities thereof, shall be an habitation of shepherds causing their flocks to lie down.