Genesis 31:39

39 That which was taken of beasts I brought not to thee; I made good of myself the thefts of the day, and the thefts of the night.

Genesis 31:39 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 31:39

That which was torn [of beasts] I brought not unto thee
To show what had befallen it; that so it might appear he had one the less to account for to him: I bore the loss of it;
took it upon himself, as if it had been somewhat blameworthy in him, as the word used signifies; and so made satisfaction for it; which, how he did, when he had no wages, is difficult to say: he might have some perquisites allowed him by Laban, though he had no settled salary; or he might lay himself under obligation to make it good whenever it was in his power, as follows: of mine hand didst thou require it, [whether] stolen by day, or stolen
by night;
whether by men or beasts; or by men in the daytime, and by beasts in the night, as the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem distinguish: Laban was so rigorous and unjust as to require the restoration of them, or an equivalent for them at the hand of Jacob; all which were contrary to the law of God, ( Exodus 22:10-13 ) .

Genesis 31:39 In-Context

37 and that thou hast searched all the furniture of my house? what hast thou found of all the furniture of thine house? set it here between thy relations and my relations, and let them decide between us two.

38 These twenty years have I been with thee; thy sheep, and thy she-goats have not failed in bearing; I devoured not the rams of thy cattle.

39 That which was taken of beasts I brought not to thee; I made good of myself the thefts of the day, and the thefts of the night.

40 I was parched with heat by day, and with frost by night, and my sleep departed from my eyes.

41 These twenty years have I been in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years among thy sheep, and thou didst falsely rate my wages for ten lambs.