What Does Genesis 31:3 Mean in the King James?
And the LORD said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The Hebrew root for “return” also means “restore,” so this homeward turn carries the language of restoration.
THE MEANING
You are called back toward the land and people bound up with your beginnings, with the promise of presence held inside the return. The Hebrew root behind “return” also appears in the language of restoration. Your return is not an isolated movement.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The belief that returning means managing the journey alone is undone by the promise: “I will be with thee.”
THE ROOT
שׁוּב
shuv
GROWS FROM
שׁוב
Turn back, return, come back.
English makes “return” sound like travel back, but שׁוּב (shuv, “turn back; return”) also appears in a Hebrew verb translated “restoreth” in Psalm 23:3. The turn toward home carries the same root-motion as restoration.
ALSO GROWS
teshuvah: return, turning back
תְּשׁוּבָה
The same root names a turning back, showing that return is a change of direction as well as a journey to a place.
yeshovev: restores, brings back
יְשׁוֹבֵב
This form of שׁוב appears in Psalm 23:3, where it describes the restoring of the living soul.
מוֹלַדְתְּךָ
moledetkha
GROWS FROM
ילד
Bear, give birth.
The word translated “kindred” comes from ילד (yalad, “bear; give birth”) and can refer to birthplace or family origin. The return is toward both the land of your fathers and the people connected to your birth.
ALSO GROWS
yeled: child, one born
יֶלֶד
The word shares the birth-root beneath “kindred,” tying the return to the people who belong to your beginnings.
toledot: generations, offspring
תּוֹלְדוֹת
Generations are what is brought forth; this branch makes the family line within “kindred” audible.
THE PATTERN
The promise of divine presence accompanies a return or sending that changes where you stand.
And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.THE THREAD
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.The Hebrew verb translated “restoreth” comes from שׁוב (shuv, “return; bring back”), the same root translated “Return” here. The same root describes a return to land and the restoring of the living soul.
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