40 Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from mine eyes.
40 This was my situation: The heat consumed me in the daytime and the cold at night, and sleep fled from my eyes.
40 There I was: by day the heat consumed me, and the cold by night, and my sleep fled from my eyes.
40 I was out in all kinds of weather, from torrid heat to freezing cold, putting in many a sleepless night.
40 There I was! In the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night, and my sleep departed from my eyes.
40 "I worked for you through the scorching heat of the day and through cold and sleepless nights.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Genesis 31:40
Commentary on Genesis 31:36-42
(Read Genesis 31:36-42)
If Jacob were willingly consumed with heat in the day, and frost by night, to become the son-in-law of Laban, what should we refuse to endure, to become the sons of God? Jacob speaks of God as the God of his father; he thought himself unworthy to be regarded, but was beloved for his father's sake. He calls him the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac; for Abraham was dead, and gone to that world where perfect love casts out fear; but Isaac was yet alive, sanctifying the Lord in his heart, as his fear and his dread.