Genesis 31:8 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Bible Comments

All the cattle. All is here, as oft elsewhere, put for the greater or the better part, as appears from Genesis 31:1,8. Or, for all that Jacob desired to be such. The ring-straked shall be thy hire; hence it appears that Laban through envy and covetousness did break his agreement made with Jacob, and altered it as he thought meet, and that Jacob patiently yielded to all such changes.

Genesis 31:8

8 If he said thus, The speckled shall be thy wages; then all the cattle bare speckled: and if he said thus, The ringstraked shall be thy hire; then bare all the cattle ringstraked.