And it came to pass at the time that the cattle conceived, that I lifted up mine eyes, and saw in a dream, and, behold, the rams which leaped upon the cattle were ringstraked, speckled, and grisled.

GENESIS 31:10KJV
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Genesis 31:10 (KJV)

What does Genesis 31:10 mean?

Genesis 31:10 describes Jacob recounting a dream in which he saw rams mating with the flock, and all the rams were marked—ringstraked, speckled, and grisled. This dream is significant because it shows Jacob receiving a vision related to how his flocks would increase and become distinctively marked.

In this verse, Jacob is speaking to his wives, Rachel and Leah, explaining how God revealed to him in a dream the way his livestock would multiply. The context is Jacob’s time working for Laban, where he agreed that only the unusually marked animals would be his wages. The dream reassured Jacob that the increase in his flocks was not by chance, but by divine guidance.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 31:10

  • “time” (עֵת, ‘et): This word points to a specific, significant moment, emphasizing that what happened was not random but at a meaningful time in the breeding cycle.
  • “dream” (חֲלוֹם, ḥalom): The use of this word shows that Jacob’s insight came through a supernatural vision, not ordinary observation.
  • “ringstraked” (עָקֹד, ‘aqod), “speckled” (נָקֹד, naqod), “grisled” (בָּרוּד, barud): These words describe the unusual markings on the animals. Their mention highlights how specific and unusual the vision was, matching exactly the kind of animals Jacob would later receive as his own.

Why Genesis 31:10 matters

  • This verse clarifies that Jacob’s prosperity was not due to trickery or luck, but was guided by a vision from God, which is important for understanding his integrity in the story.
  • The details about the animals’ markings connect directly to the agreement between Jacob and Laban, showing that the outcome was divinely influenced rather than manipulated by Jacob.
  • The dream sets up the following explanation of God’s involvement in Jacob’s life, reinforcing the theme of God’s faithfulness to the promises made to the patriarchs.

Where else these words appear

“grisled” Hebrew H1261 · used in 4 verses

  • Genesis 31:12 And 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.
  • Zechariah 6:3 And in the third chariot white horses; and in the fourth chariot grisled and bay horses.
  • Zechariah 6:6 The black horses which are therein go forth into the north country; and the white go forth after them; and the grisled go forth toward the south country.

“ringstraked” Hebrew H6124 · used in 6 verses

  • Genesis 30:35 And he removed that day the he goats that were ringstraked and spotted, and all the she goats that were speckled and spotted, and every one that had some white in it, and all the brown among the sheep, and gave them into the hand of his sons.
  • Genesis 30:39 And the flocks conceived before the rods, and brought forth cattle ringstraked, speckled, and spotted.
  • Genesis 31:8 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.

“speckled” Hebrew H5348 · used in 7 verses

  • Genesis 30:32 I will pass through all thy flock to day, removing from thence all the speckled and spotted cattle, and all the brown cattle among the sheep, and the spotted and speckled among the goats: and of such shall be my hire.
  • Genesis 30:35 And he removed that day the he goats that were ringstraked and spotted, and all the she goats that were speckled and spotted, and every one that had some white in it, and all the brown among the sheep, and gave them into the hand of his sons.
  • Genesis 31:8 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.

“conceived” Hebrew H3179 · used in 9 verses

  • Genesis 30:38 And he set the rods which he had pilled before the flocks in the gutters in the watering troughs when the flocks came to drink, that they should conceive when they came to drink.
  • Genesis 30:41 And it came to pass, whensoever the stronger cattle did conceive, that Jacob laid the rods before the eyes of the cattle in the gutters, that they might conceive among the rods.
  • Psalms 51:5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.