Verse Lens · Expanded explanation
Genesis 31:16 Explained in Context
Use this verse as a doorway into the larger passage—not as an isolated saying.
Verse 16. 16For 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.
King James Version — public domain in the United States · Bible text and permissions
Quick Meaning
Rachel and Leah conclude that the wealth God removed from their father belongs to them and their children, and they tell Jacob to do what God commanded. They join economic grievance to willing departure.
Read It With
- Genesis 31:1–21
Read verses 14–16 and 31:43. The women explain why they no longer expect a share from Laban, and Laban later speaks as though daughters, children, and flocks remain his. Their words here make their own position clear before Jacob acts.
Why This Verse Appears Here
They conclude that the transferred wealth provides for them and their children and expressly agree to leave.
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
“that is ours, and our children's”
In plain language: They claim the transferred wealth as household provision for themselves and the next generation.
The economic outcome answers their exclusion from Laban's house.
Why it matters: Their reasoning concerns family justice, not only Jacob's private success.
How certain? very strong“whatsoever God hath said ... do”
In plain language: They agree that Jacob should follow the return command.
The consultation ends in expressed consent.
Why it matters: Their speech participates in the decision rather than disappearing behind Jacob's authority.
How certain? very strongWhat This Verse Is Not Saying
The women's statement does not authorize taking property unrelated to the disputed wages.
It does not show that Leah knew Rachel would steal the teraphim.
Their agreement does not prove there was no fear, pressure, or limited alternative.
God's command to Jacob does not erase Rachel and Leah's own reasoning or reduce them to passive followers.
What Remains True
Shared decisions should include the judgment and welfare of those most affected, while claims of justice remain accountable to truth.
How It Can Shape Life
- Before a major family transition, give affected adults real opportunity to understand, object, agree, and shape the plan rather than seeking only symbolic approval.
Teach It Back
Explain Genesis 31:16'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? very strong
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 ↗