Genesis 31:7

ESV yet your father has cheated me and changed my wages ten times. But God did not permit him to harm me.
NIV yet your father has cheated me by changing my wages ten times. However, God has not allowed him to harm me.
NASB Yet your father has cheated me and changed my wages ten times; however, God did not allow him to do me harm.
CSB and that he has cheated me and changed my wages ten times. But God has not let him harm me.
NLT but he has cheated me, changing my wages ten times. But God has not allowed him to do me any harm.
KJV And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me.
NKJV Yet your father has deceived me and changed my wages ten times, but God did not allow him to hurt me.

What does Genesis 31:7 mean?

Jacob is about to ask for support from his wives, Rachel and Leah, in leaving their homeland behind and moving with their household, family, and possessions to his homeland in Canaan (Genesis 31:3). In the previous verse, Jacob reminded them that he has served Laban with all of his strength, assuming they understood that to be true. Laban, however, has not been fair to him, Jacob insists. They knew this to be true, as well.

After all, they were both there when Laban switched Leah for Rachel on their wedding day and tacked seven years onto Jacob's work contract (Genesis 29:20–28). They had likely also heard about Laban's attempts to change his deal with Jacob "ten times" in order to limit Jacob's growing wealth at his expense (Genesis 30:31–43).

Laban's efforts to cheat Jacob again didn't work, though. The Lord wouldn't allow Jacob to be taken advantage of any longer, as the following verses will make clear.
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