Genesis 31:4

And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock,

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Word by word — the Hebrew

Word	Hebrew	Strong’s	Meaning
Jacob	יַעֲקֹ֔ב ya.'a.Ko	H3290	Jaakob · proper noun, a man's name
sent	וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח vai.yish.Lach	H7971	to send away · conjunction + verb, qal sequential imperfect, 3rd person masculine singular
called	וַיִּקְרָ֖א vai.yik.Ra'	H7121	to call out to (i.e. properly · conjunction + verb, qal sequential imperfect, 3rd person masculine singular
Rachel	לְרָחֵ֣ל le.ra.Chel	H7354	Rachel · preposition + proper noun, a woman's name
Leah	וּלְלֵאָ֑ה u.le.le.'Ah	H3812	Leah · conjunction + preposition + proper noun, a woman's name
field	הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה ha.sa.Deh	H7704	a field (as flat) · definite article + noun, common masculine singular absolute
flock	צֹאנֽוֹ tzo.No	H6629	a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats) · noun, common both genders singular construct + pronominal suffix, 3rd person masculine singular

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (James Strong, 1890/1894), public domain; digitized by Open Scriptures (CC BY-SA). KJV word tagging: eBible.org (public domain). Original-language text, parsing and brief lexicon: STEPBible.org data from Tyndale House, Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

Commentary

Matthew Henry on Genesis 31:1-16

Jacob is here taking up a resolution immediately to quit his uncle's service, to take what he had and go back to Canaan. This resolution he took up upon a just provocation, by divine direction, and with the advice and consent of his wives. I. Upon a just provocation; for Laban and his sons had become very cross and ill-natured towards him, so that he could not stay among them with safety or satisfaction. 1. Laban's sons showed their ill-will in what they said, Gen 31:1. It should seem they said it in Jacob's hearing, with a design to vex him. The last chapter began with Rachel's envying Leah; this begins with Laban's sons envying Jacob. Observe, (1.) How greatly they magnify Jacob's prosperi…

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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Genesis 31:4

Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah--His wives and family were in their usual residence. Whether he wished them to be present at the festivities of sheep shearing, as some think; or, because he could not leave his flock, he called them both to come to him, in order that, having resolved on immediate departure, he might communicate his intentions. Rachel and Leah only were called, for the other two wives, being secondary and still in a state of servitude, were not entitled to be taken into account. Jacob acted the part of a dutiful husband in telling them his plans; for husbands that love their wives should consult with them and trust in them (Pro 31:11).

Adam Clarke on Genesis 31:4

Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah - He had probably been at some considerable distance with the flocks; and for the greater secrecy, he rather sends for them to the field, to consult them on this most momentous affair, than visit them in their tents, where probably some of the family of Laban might overhear their conversation, though Laban himself was at the time three days' journey off. It is possible that Jacob shore his sheep at the same time; and that he sent for his wives and household furniture to erect tents on the spot, that they might partake of the festivities usual on such occasions. Thus they might all depart without being suspected.

John Gill

Dictionary and topics

Field — (Heb. sadeh), a cultivated field, but unenclosed. It is applied to any cultivated ground or pasture (Gen. 29:2; 31:4; 34:7), or tillage (Gen. 37:7; 47:24). It is also applied to woodland (Ps. 132:6)…
Jacob — One who follows on another’s heels; supplanter, (Gen. 25:26; 27:36; Hos. 12:2-4), the second born of the twin sons of Isaac by Rebekah. He was born probably at Lahai-roi, when his father was…
Leah — Weary, the eldest daughter of Laban, and sister of Rachel (Gen. 29:16). Jacob took her to wife through a deceit of her father (Gen. 29:23). She was “tender-eyed” (17). She bore to Jacob six sons…
Padanaram — By this name, which signifies the table-land of Aram, i.e. Syriac, the Hebrews designated the tract of country which they otherwise called the Aram-naharaim, “Aram of the two of rivers,” the Greek…
Husbands · Duty of, to wives: To consult with them — Duty of, to wives: To consult with them
Laban · Outwitted by Jacob — Outwitted by Jacob
Leah · Flees with Jacob — Flees with Jacob
Rachel · Steals the household images (teraphim, legal — Steals the household images (teraphim, legal

Dictionary: Easton's (1897) and Smith's (1863), public domain. Topics: Nave's Topical Bible (1896) and Torrey's Topical Textbook (1897), public domain. Both as parsed by NEUU (CC BY 4.0).

Genesis 31:4

Word by word — the Hebrew

Commentary

Matthew Henry on Genesis 31:1-16

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Genesis 31:4

Adam Clarke on Genesis 31:4

John Gill

Dictionary and topics

Genesis 31:4

Word by word — the Hebrew

Commentary

Matthew Henry on Genesis 31:1-16

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Genesis 31:4

Adam Clarke on Genesis 31:4

John Gill

Dictionary and topics

John Calvin on Genesis 31:4

Tyndale Open Study Notes on Genesis 31:4-13

Rashi on Genesis 31:4