Verse Lens · Expanded explanation
Genesis 30:27 Explained in Context
Use this verse as a doorway into the larger passage—not as an isolated saying.
Verse 27. 27And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favour in thine eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the LORD hath blessed me for thy sake.
King James Version — public domain in the United States · Bible text and permissions
Quick Meaning
Laban asks Jacob to remain and says he has learned through divination or omen-reading that the LORD has blessed him because of Jacob. The benefit is real within the story, but the method is not endorsed.
Read It With
- Genesis 30:25–43
Read verses 25–30 and Genesis 31:6–9. Jacob wants to depart, Laban acknowledges that Jacob's presence has increased his wealth, and chapter 31 later describes repeated wage changes and divine protection. Reading verse 27 alone can make Laban's religious language sound like faithful discernment.
Why This Verse Appears Here
Laban's response reveals why he resists departure: Jacob's presence has made him prosperous.
Read Genesis 30:27–30 together
Why these verses belong together: Laban recognizes benefit through Jacob, offers wages, and Jacob recalls the increase while asking to provide for his own household.
Verse 27. 27 And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favour in thine eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the LORD hath blessed me for thy sake.
Verse 28. 28 And he said, Appoint me thy wages, and I will give it.
Verse 29. 29 And he said unto him, Thou knowest how I have served thee, and how thy cattle was with me.
Verse 30. 30 For it was little which thou hadst before I came, and it is now increased unto a multitude; and the LORD hath blessed thee since my coming: and now when shall I provide for mine own house also?
Follow the Context
- After Joseph's birth Jacob asks Laban to release him with the wives and children for whom he served (30:25–26).
- Laban asks Jacob to stay, says he has learned through divination or omen-reading that the LORD blessed him because of Jacob, and invites a wage proposal (30:27–30).
- Jacob proposes that unusually marked sheep and goats will be his future wages and that ordinary-colored animals found with him can be counted stolen (30:31–34).
- Laban immediately removes the marked animals, gives them to his sons, places them three days away, and leaves Jacob with the remaining flock (30:35–36).
- Jacob peels rods, places them at the watering and mating sites, separates offspring, and builds a flock distinct from Laban's (30:37–40).
- Jacob applies his procedure selectively to the stronger animals, leaving weaker animals to Laban, and becomes exceedingly wealthy in livestock, servants, camels, and donkeys (30:41–43).
Phrase-by-Phrase Explanation
“learned by experience”
In plain language: The Hebrew verb is commonly understood as learned by divination or omen-reading.
Laban claims religious knowledge about the source of his increase.
Why it matters: The KJV wording can hide the problematic method.
How certain? strong“the LORD hath blessed me for thy sake”
In plain language: Laban attributes his increase to the LORD's blessing because of Jacob.
He wants to retain the worker whose presence benefits him.
Why it matters: Recognition of blessing does not equal faithful treatment.
How certain? strongWhat This Verse Is Not Saying
Laban's statement does not endorse divination, omens, occult practice, or attempts to manipulate God's will.
Naming the LORD does not prove that Laban worships faithfully or treats Jacob justly.
The blessing does not give Laban a right to retain Jacob against his wishes.
Jacob's usefulness does not reduce his worth to the profit he creates.
What Remains True
A person may correctly recognize God's blessing while using an unfaithful method or responding exploitatively to the person through whom benefit came.
How It Can Shape Life
- Do not use spiritual language, omens, or claimed insight to pressure a profitable worker, family member, or partner to remain under your control.
Teach It Back
Explain Genesis 30:27's contribution to Genesis 30:25–43. Include why the nearby verses are required, what the verse clearly says, and one conclusion it does not justify.
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Continue in Context
The full thought-unit study remains the final contextual authority for this Verse Lens.
Read Genesis 30:25–43 — Jacob's Flocks Increase Under a New AgreementSources used for this Verse Lens
How certain is this explanation? strong
Where care is needed
Translations differ over whether the verb emphasizes practicing divination, receiving an omen, or learning through such means; ordinary observation alone is unlikely to exhaust it.
These are the sources used directly for this lens. Language, grammar, disagreements, and the complete source shelf remain attached to the full thought-unit research record.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: Displayed wording, unit boundary, negotiation, flock procedure, wealth summary, later divine explanation, and return movement.
Exact location: Genesis 30:25–43 in the pinned eng-kjv2006 source; compared with Genesis 28:10–22; 29:31–30:24; 31:1–16, 36–42; 32:9–12; and 33:1–17
Open source ↗hebrew text morphology and lemma data
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible — Genesis
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible Project
Open Scriptures, Version 2.2 released 2021; repository inspected 2026
Supports: Hebrew vocabulary, participant tracking, animal-color uncertainty, wordplays, syntax, and breeding language.
Exact location: Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible, wlc/Gen.xml, Genesis 30:25–43; morphology and wording for divined, blessed, wages, righteousness, speckled, spotted, dark, streaked, rods, peeled, troughs, mating, stronger, weaker, and increased
Open source ↗Translation and textual notes
NET Bible — Genesis with translators' notes
Biblical Studies Press
Biblical Studies Press, Digital edition accessed 2026
Supports: Divination translation, wage grammar, animal terms, tree names, mating verbs, strong and weak terminology, and translation alternatives.
Exact location: NET Bible, Genesis 30:25–43 and translator notes, especially notes on 30:27, 30:30, 30:32–33, 30:35–43; compared with 31:6–12
Open NET Genesis 30 ↗modern open whole book commentary
Genesis
T. Desmond Alexander
The Gospel Coalition Bible Commentary, 2023
Supports: Final-form movement from departure request through wage agreement and flock increase into the conflict and return of chapter 31.
Exact location: Genesis commentary, section Jacob Prospers in Paddan Aram, Genesis 30:25–43; compared with Jacob Returns to Canaan, Genesis 31:1–55
Open source ↗