Passage

Jacob bears the loss

Source and translation

World English Bible, Protestant Edition · Public domain · en

³⁹That which was torn of animals, I didn’t bring to you. I bore its loss. Of my hand you required it, whether stolen by day or stolen by night.

Genesis 31:39World English Bible, Protestant Edition

The scene

Jacob tells Laban that he bore the loss of animals torn by beasts and was held responsible for animals stolen by day or night.

To understand

He recalls twenty years with Laban’s flocks, drought by day, frost at night and lost sleep. The complaint is part of his argument with Laban over how he was treated.

A question

Who does Jacob say bore the cost of lost or stolen animals?