Verse Lens · Expanded explanation
Genesis 31:14 Explained in Context
Use this verse as a doorway into the larger passage—not as an isolated saying.
Verse 14. 14And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him, Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father’s house?
King James Version — public domain in the United States · Bible text and permissions
Quick Meaning
Rachel and Leah ask whether any portion or inheritance remains for them in their father's household. Their answer begins from their own economic exclusion rather than merely repeating Jacob's argument.
Read It With
- Genesis 31:1–21
Read verses 14–16 with Genesis 29:15–30. Jacob's long service formed the marriage arrangement, and the women now say Laban has treated them as outsiders and consumed the benefit. Verse 14 alone does not specify the exact property or legal remedy they expected.
Why This Verse Appears Here
Rachel and Leah answer from their own position in Laban's household rather than merely accepting Jacob's account.
Read Genesis 31:14–16 together
Why these verses belong together: Rachel and Leah describe exclusion, economic loss, their children's claim, and agreement to leave.
Verse 14. 14 And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him, Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father’s house?
Verse 15. 15 Are we not counted of him strangers? for he hath sold us, and hath quite devoured also our money.
Verse 16. 16 For all the riches which God hath taken from our father, that is ours, and our children’s: now then, whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do.
Follow the Context
- Laban's sons accuse Jacob of taking their father's wealth, Laban's attitude changes, and God commands Jacob to return with the promise of presence (31:1–3).
- Jacob calls Rachel and Leah to the field and explains Laban's hostility, his own service, repeated wage changes, and God's protection (31:4–9).
- Jacob recounts a dream in which the angel of God shows the marked breeding animals, says God has seen Laban's actions, identifies himself as the God of Bethel, and commands Jacob to leave (31:10–13).
- Rachel and Leah describe themselves as outsiders deprived of a portion in their father's household and agree that Jacob should do what God commanded (31:14–16).
- Jacob loads his children and wives, takes the property acquired in Paddan-aram, and begins the journey toward Isaac in Canaan (31:17–18).
- While Laban is away shearing, Rachel steals his teraphim, Jacob conceals the flight from Laban, and the household crosses the Euphrates toward Gilead (31:19–21).
Phrase-by-Phrase Explanation
“portion or inheritance”
In plain language: A share, allocation, or enduring claim in the father's household.
The women see no remaining benefit or belonging there.
Why it matters: Their departure response has an independent economic basis.
How certain? strong“for us”
In plain language: Rachel and Leah speak together about their own position.
The narrative gives the daughters a shared judgment.
Why it matters: Their voices should not be replaced by Jacob's alone.
How certain? very strongWhat This Verse Is Not Saying
The verse does not say women are property or that fathers may erase their economic personhood.
It does not establish one complete ancient inheritance code for every daughter.
The question does not prove that Rachel and Leah knew about or approved Rachel's later theft.
Their agreement to leave does not erase the constraints of their marriages or household.
What Remains True
People directly affected by a family economic system should be heard as moral participants, not treated as silent property.
How It Can Shape Life
- Include adult family members in decisions that affect their safety, home, property, and future, and listen to grievances that powerful relatives may prefer to ignore.
Teach It Back
Explain Genesis 31:14's contribution to Genesis 31:1–21. 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 31:1–21 — Jacob Secretly Leaves LabanSources used for this Verse Lens
How certain is this explanation? strong
Where care is needed
The passage does not specify the precise form, amount, or legal status of the portion Rachel and Leah expected.
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, Bethel connection, departure, pursuit setup, foreign-god context, and return movement.
Exact location: Genesis 31:1–21 in the pinned eng-kjv2006 source; compared with Genesis 28:10–22; 30:25–43; 31:22–55; 32:1–21; and 35:1–7
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, idioms, speaker distinctions, dream language, wage claims, household-god term, and geography.
Exact location: Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible, wlc/Gen.xml, Genesis 31:1–21; morphology and wording for glory, countenance, ten times, taken, given, seen, sold, consumed, teraphim, stole the heart, fled, river, and Gilead
Open source ↗Translation and textual notes
NET Bible — Genesis with translators' notes
Biblical Studies Press
Biblical Studies Press, Digital edition accessed 2026
Supports: Wealth, attitude, wage-number, animal, inheritance, teraphim, stolen-heart, Aramean, Euphrates, and route translation details.
Exact location: NET Bible, Genesis 31:1–21 and translator notes, especially notes on 31:1–3, 7–16, 19–21; compared with 30:25–43 and 31:22–42
Open NET Genesis 31 ↗modern scholarly open biblical marriage study
Bride-Price: The Story of Jacob's Marriage to Rachel and Leah
Kristine Henriksen Garroway
TheTorah.com SBL e-journal, 2020
Supports: Comparative evidence for labor as probable bridal payment and the economic background to Rachel and Leah's complaint; uncertainty about the exact contract remains.
Exact location: Kristine Henriksen Garroway, TheTorah.com (2020), Bride-Price section and discussion of Jacob's labor for Rachel and Leah, ancient marriage gifts, timing, and legal reconstruction
Open source ↗